Comment Re:Moo (Score 1) 469
A modern instrument may sound better right away she says, but an old Italian may be able to produce more colors of sound that only become apparent after months of use, she says.
The phrase "confirmation bias" springs immediately to mind. People hear what they want to hear, and the knowledge that they're playing on a three-century-old, million-dollar violin gives them certain expectations.
If that were the case, then you'd expect them to think the older, more valuable one sounded better right away, not the newer, less special one; so this seems to be a statement against confirmation bias.
This is exactly what the test subject thinks. She chose modern one while blindfolded, but STILL thinks older one is better, because reasons, and $10mil price tag.