Classical violinists have long valued older Italian Stradivari violins over newer models with the belief that the older instruments provide a better sound.

However, a new study conducted in Paris and New York suggests otherwise.

Professional soloists played sets of both old and new violins in various settings with the make and age of the violin hidden from both the audience and the violinist.

Researchers found that neither group, regardless of their musical background, could distinguish between the instruments and the majority preferred the sound of the newer ones to the older ones.

The study is published in the journal “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences”.