Test Your Hearing! Silver vs Gold Plated vs Gold

Can you hear the difference between sterling silver, a silver outer tube and gold plated inside, and a 14 carat gold headjoint? Test yourself-- listen closely! On a funny note, my husband doesn't really hear a difference. It can be subtle. Click Show More to view the results in this description, but don't click until you have a guess.
Thanks again to the Flute Pro Shop in Wilmington, DE and Flutacious! in Glendale, CA for letting me try headjoints. I'm super excited for my new, beautiful headjoint from Flutacious!
Headjoint 1: Powell aurumite (sterling silver outer tube, gold plated inside)
Headjoint 2: Sterling silver Brannen
Headjoint 3: 14 carat gold Brannen
Did you guess any correctly? Comment below!

[@thenewhindemithians8629]

#2 was the most pleasant to my ears: clearer and with more harmonic interest

[@Thedreadedflutist]

I liked all three I will say the mix of metals works really good for you. One correction; the Powell headjoint- there is not plating. It’s actually gold fused to silver

[@theboyL8]

I really like the 2nd headjoint! I thought it had a bigger contrast in dynamics and more color. Either way, you sound beautiful thank you for sharing!

[@mikeparlett]

Actually IMO you sounded best on the silver Brennan. Clearer and more focused tone. I did like the gold one. It might be better for certain things, different color, but you sounded more comfortable on #2. Just my opinion. ;)

[@jocelyncrosby6357]

Yup, these things can be so subjective! And at the time of purchase, I obviously liked the headjoint enough to go with the whole flute.

[@LeeBerache]

I agree! The Powell (I'm sorry to say) sounded like you took a step backwards. :( I like the gold headjoint for your low notes! They sound bigger and warmer. But overall, I like the silver one that came with your flute.

[@yishihara55527]

@@jocelyncrosby6357 And that's how these flute makers scam people...their bread n' butter. I've been in the trenches since I was a child and have had personal relationships with the best players and flute makers in the world. Also, there has been scientific testing done to measure if the human ear perceives differences based on which metals are used. To the audience, it all sounds the same, but the flute manufacturers don't want you to know that because it goes against their interests. What happens is that the players perceives a change because their ears are so close to the instrument and since they are making contact with it, the vibrations travel through their body as well. But when you start moving microphones or human ears further away from the sound source (instrument), the difference between instruments played under the same conditionals are microscopic. That means that it doesn't justify purchasing a new headjoint or flute when there is hardly any difference. The biggest variable is always the flutist. I bought my Brannen back in the 80s and never had anything else since. I think looking outside oneself acts as some sort of distraction when in reality the flutist needs to work on their playing. For example, Emmanuel Pahud is going to sound fantastic regardless. Although he owns a total of four gold headjoints, I have a feeling this is based on some deals made and honoring friendships. It's very important to keep it real.

[@anabelsierras14]

I guessed the 1st one, but maybe I do not like so much the sound of gold flutes, because I thought the 3rd were the worst for me and I did not guessed it were the gold. The 2nd one is my favourite. 🎵💙

[@treviniaturner3881]

I liked #2 the best

[@TimothyTaylorson]

I’ll be honest. You sound pretty much identical on all three

[@debstrubel6217]

I got it right! Yay

[@debstrubel6217]

I got it right! Yay!

[@homestage4043]

Wow! Good ear!

[@kevinchoy5961]

Aurumite is not gold plated, it has a layer of gold inside and a layer of silver on the outside. Articulations and changes to tone color definitely sounds best on the 14k. Silver sound is appealing at first as it is louder and projects better, but it overwhelms the other details in the tone.

[@tonyarussell8419]

Yeah, I guessed correctly there was a subtle difference which was warmer on head joint 3!

[@jmgudde]

Hmm, I'm not quite as talented a listener as many of the other commenters. I thought #3 was the 14k gold on both clips. With the first headjoint I thought it was the silver until the 2nd clip of the 2nd headjoint then I thought #2 might be the silver. I do love that the 14k gold distinguishes itself and the commenters of all the comments I read could all tell #3 was the 14k solid gold.

[@silkescheffel7622]

I liked the gold headjoint best. I was right.

[@homestage4043]

Awesome! Great job picking that out. I definitely feel like I hear a difference, and I love my new headjoint!