# Do Stradivari violins sound or play better than the best new violins? · Stradivari "secret" > Three answers have been proposed. There is no general audible superiority; individual instruments differ more than old from new, and reputation… leads… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/stradivari-secret/questions/QST0CQAGNVA2FZ6/do-stradivari-violins-sound-or-play-better-than-the-best-new Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:58:53+00:00 --- **0** # Do Stradivari violins sound or play better than the best new violins? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·3 answers·0·0 following **Answered: There is no general audible superiority; individual instruments differ more than old from new, and reputation…** Passed its tests and review. ## Where it stands Three answers have been proposed. There is no general audible superiority; individual instruments differ more than old from new, and reputation… leads, with evidence 1 for, 1 against: supported by its tests. Two are still possible. ## Why it matters Every search for a secret assumes there is something to explain. The premise was not tested under blind conditions until 2012⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CQAGCT832ZH/player-preferences-among-new-and-old-violins). ## Answers 3 [**There is no general audible superiority; individual instruments differ more than old from new, and reputation…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/stradivari-secret/answers/ANS0CQAGR1M7TYY/there-is-no-general-audible-superiority-individual) Supported by its tests Evidence: 1 for, 1 against Most likely [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/stradivari-secret/answers/ANS0CQAGRS242Y2/none-of-these) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: none yet Disputed [**Stradivari violins are reliably preferred and identifiable when players and listeners cannot see them.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/stradivari-secret/answers/ANS0CQAGPTJ0BVR/stradivari-violins-are-reliably-preferred-and-identifiable) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: 1 for, 3 against Disputed ## History 1. 2012[Fritz et al. puts forward: stradivari violins are reliably preferred and identifiable when players and listeners cannot see them.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CQAGCT832ZH/player-preferences-among-new-and-old-violins) 1. 2012[Fritz et al. puts forward: there is no general audible superiority; individual instruments differ more than old from new, and reputation…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CQAGCT832ZH/player-preferences-among-new-and-old-violins) 1. 2012[Fritz et al.: 21 violinists preferred a new violin most and a Stradivari least; most could not tell if their favourite was…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CQAGCT832ZH/player-preferences-among-new-and-old-violins)Against: Stradivari violins are reliably preferred and identifiable when players and listeners cannot see them. 1. 2014[Fritz et al.: six of ten soloists chose a new violin; soloists could not tell new from old better than chance.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CQAGD222YYZ/soloist-evaluations-of-six-old-italian-and-six-new-violins)Against: Stradivari violins are reliably preferred and identifiable when players and listeners cannot see them. 1. 2014[Fritz et al.: each study used few instruments (six to twelve), limiting generalisation to all Stradivaris.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CQAGD222YYZ/soloist-evaluations-of-six-old-italian-and-six-new-violins)Against: There is no general audible superiority; individual instruments differ more than old from new, and reputation… 1. 2017[Fritz et al.: hall listeners judged new violins to project better than Stradivaris and preferred them on average.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CQAGD9W2GEZ/listener-evaluations-of-new-and-old-italian-violins)Against: Stradivari violins are reliably preferred and identifiable when players and listeners cannot see them. 1. 2017[Fritz et al.: three independent blind studies with players and listeners found no old-violin advantage.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CQAGD9W2GEZ/listener-evaluations-of-new-and-old-italian-violins)For: There is no general audible superiority; individual instruments differ more than old from new, and reputation… 1. 2018[Tai et al.: stradivari violins show higher formant frequencies than Amati violins, a measurable tonal signature.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CQAGGQ87K8D/acoustic-evolution-of-old-italian-violins-from-amati-to)For: Stradivari violins are reliably preferred and identifiable when players and listeners cannot see them. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/stradivari-secret/questions/QST0CQAGNVA2FZ6/do-stradivari-violins-sound-or-play-better-than-the-best-new%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/stradivari-secret/questions/QST0CQAGNVA2FZ6/do-stradivari-violins-sound-or-play-better-than-the-best-new%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/stradivari-secret/questions/QST0CQAGNVA2FZ6/do-stradivari-violins-sound-or-play-better-than-the-best-new%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/stradivari-secret/questions/QST0CQAGNVA2FZ6/do-stradivari-violins-sound-or-play-better-than-the-best-new%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/stradivari-secret/questions/QST0CQAGNVA2FZ6/do-stradivari-violins-sound-or-play-better-than-the-best-new%23add-source) Where it fits Stradivari "secret" **Do Stradivari violins sound or play better than the best new violins?** Key question · you're here [ Ask a question under this one ]