What is Your Test for Comparing Two Audio Components?

[Kingrex]

I get the keep it simple. But we know cables and such can influence sound. Trying a variety of components in conjunction with something new would give you a chance to tune the new component into the system. There is no reason to believe dropping something in has optimized it in some way.

 

[wil]

For me, it’s simply which component do I enjoy listening to more. Enjoyment usually means which component sounds more natural. My reference is live acoustic music, both small and large scale, and I do long-term comparisons using a variety of music.

I like this approach.

Quite a contrast to the awesomely detailed analysis @treitz3 has laid out — which I could never do. I’ll take the simple-minded road!

 

[PYP]

Change one thing and wait a month (if the demo unit is fully broken in, less time is needed). Listen to lots of music. Does the new piece (gear, cable, etc.) draw me into the music more? Do I get a further insight into the musical story or the way the musicians communicate?

I only make a change when the difference is so obvious that I don't have to re-insert the previous gear for comparison. If you have had a piece of gear for years, you know how music sounds with it in the chain and how it affects you. This process is simplistic, but works for me.

 

[ssfas]

Change one thing and wait a month (if the demo unit is fully broken in, less time is needed). Listen to lots of music. Does the new piece (gear, cable, etc.) draw me into the music more? Do I get a further insight into the musical story or the way the musicians communicate?

I only make a change when the difference is so obvious that I don't have to re-insert the previous gear for comparison. If you have had a piece of gear for years, you know how music sounds with it in the chain and how it affects you. This process is simplistic, but works for me.

Takes me about half an hour to decide on anything.

A couple of years ago heard a performance of a nonet by Paul Hindemith. Nine instruments sitting in a semi-circle. A few days later I listened to a recording and it was all confused. I changed my DAC and it sounded a lot better.

I gave up on valve amplifiers thanks to listening to Hindemith’s sonata for piano and bass tuba.

Basically, I’m always happy with my hi-fi until I’m not, and then I find a way of fixing it. There are zillions of components out there. I’m not interested in comparing them because such a thing as impossible. I’m just happy when it sounds right. Consequently, brand recognition and other people’s opinions count for very little. Not because I don’t believe them (and I don’t believe them if they’re selling something or psychologically reinforcing their own purchasing decision), but because it’s a matter of personal taste.

So much the same as @PeterA. When your memory reference is live music, you know what sounds right or not pretty instantly.

When people say they spend weeks or months before making up their mind, I usually suspect that they either suffer from chronic decision or don’t know what they’re looking for. more likely the latter.

It is arguable that they want to make sure that a component or system is not fatiguing, but the reality is that live music can be fatiguing. Live performances last roughly 90 minutes to 4 hours tops, we often listen at home for much longer. Being able to listen to a system for many hours without fatigue is perhaps the biggest difference between live and domestic listening and for some manufacturers is a fundamentally important issue.

 

[exupgh12]

When I evaluate audio gear, I try to rely on two simple habits that help me cut through all the hype and noise.

First, I live with the component. Not for a day or two but at least a week (hard as not every distributor loan equipment for that period, if at all). I listen at different hours, in different moods, with familiar tracks I know inside out. I try not chase the initial "wow." I want the gear to get out of the way and let the music speak.
If something sounds off — a voice doesn’t feel human, or an instrument has that fake sheen — I’ll pick it up immediately.
I'm especially sensitive to midrange coloration and whether the soundstage feels natural or exaggerated. Most good gear won't draw attention to itself - it will usually disappear.

Second method, pull test. I take the component out and drop something else in. In analogy, it’s like taking a spice out of a dish — you suddenly notice what's missing. Maybe the bass softens, vocals lose presence, or that sense of air vanishes. Sometimes I realize the original was adding a bit of flavor I’d grown used to — and not in a good way.

I've learnt, it takes time, you don’t really know what a piece of gear will be doing until you live with it — and then live without it. If I pull something out and don’t miss it, well, that tells me everything I need to know.

 

[ssfas]

If something sounds off — a voice doesn’t feel human, or an instrument has that fake sheen — I’ll pick it up immediately.

Exactly, if something doesn't sound right, I'll pick it up immediately.

So why listen for weeks? I use sound segments - voices, percussion, various instruments, solo and in small groups. Usually 30 to 45 seconds. Never found the need to listen to a whole track, let alone a whole album. I'm not interested in an emotional element, just an honest sound I can relate to.

Conversely, I can understand that some might want to listen endlessly until they get an emotional engagement. Such an occurrence is more likely to be due to physiological and psychological reasons, rather than the performance of the hifi, just as one day I may want to listen to jazz and another classical.

M wife caught me out once. I was at the store listening to the speakers I'm listening to now, I was happy with them but still listening after close to an hour. She came in and said "have you made your mind up yet?". I thought for a second and realised I had, so we paid for them and went to lunch. The lunch reservation was probably more on her ,mind, or she was getting hungry, but she made a point.

It may be something to do with the fact that I've worked in Dispute Resolution for many years. I sometimes apply a 5-minute rule, either an issue can be resolved in 5 minutes or it won't get resolved that day. Go beyond 5 minutes and you get involved in arguments that make any further progress on anything near impossible. Same with hifi, it doesn't take long to scramble the brain, so decide before you get to that point.

 

[exupgh12]

So why listen for weeks?

It's easy to say whether you like something or not—but over time, I've come to realize that what feels right in the moment isn't always the best choice.
I prefer to approach things more thoughtfully rather than act on impulse (I'll be honest and say it isn't easy and not every time I succeed to suppress the impulse). Making decisions when you're emotionally unsettled— like when you're 'hungry' in any sense—is a bit like walking into a grocery store on an empty stomach. behavioral psychology will tell it's wrong..

 

[audiobomber]

Exactly, if something doesn't sound right, I'll pick it up immediately.

So why listen for weeks? I use sound segments - voices, percussion, various instruments, solo and in small groups. Usually 30 to 45 seconds. Never found the need to listen to a whole track, let alone a whole album. I'm not interested in an emotional element, just an honest sound I can relate to.

Conversely, I can understand that some might want to listen endlessly until they get an emotional engagement. Such an occurrence is more likely to be due to physiological and psychological reasons, rather than the performance of the hifi, just as one day I may want to listen to jazz and another classical.

M wife caught me out once. I was at the store listening to the speakers I'm listening to now, I was happy with them but still listening after close to an hour. She came in and said "have you made your mind up yet?". I thought for a second and realised I had, so we paid for them and went to lunch. The lunch reservation was probably more on her ,mind, or she was getting hungry, but she made a point.

It may be something to do with the fact that I've worked in Dispute Resolution for many years. I sometimes apply a 5-minute rule, either an issue can be resolved in 5 minutes or it won't get resolved that day. Go beyond 5 minutes and you get involved in arguments that make any further progress on anything near impossible. Same with hifi, it doesn't take long to scramble the brain, so decide before you get to that point.

Hearing differences between loudspeakers is not nearly as challenging as deciding on less obvious changes. Initial impressions with subtle yet important changes require time, as others have been saying. I have very little faith in short-term A-B testing. I've changed my mind many times after living with a change for a week or two. The results are worthwhile, carefully implemented small differences along the way add up to big gains.

 

[PYP]

When I evaluate audio gear, I try to rely on two simple habits that help me cut through all the hype and noise.

First, I live with the component. Not for a day or two but at least a week (hard as not every distributor loan equipment for that period, if at all).

I've learnt, it takes time, you don’t really know what a piece of gear will be doing until you live with it — and then live without it. If I pull something out and don’t miss it, well, that tells me everything I need to know.

For demo gear that has been thoroughly broken in, and this is not always the case especially if the gear has just been released by the manufacturer, I can get a sense of potential in a few hours (warm up time, I assume). Answering the question "Will it be a keeper?" takes me longer (one to two weeks). Any new piece will elicit our full attention, and full attention can itself be all that is needed to hear new details. We cannot forget our brains are the last piece of the chain.

For new equipment (usually smaller items) that has a return guarantee, the story is different. I take as much time as they allow and that is often 30 days. Even with new stuff, I often get a sense of the final sound in a few hours. But that is not sufficient since the final sound is always different for a completely settled in component (settling in for me is a combination of breaking in and how the new gear ultimately blends with everything else).

I sometimes imagine all these pieces of gear are communicating as they inevitably affect each other -- noise travels throughout the circuit. If they ultimately cannot get along (perhaps Dispute Resolution would help here?), the majority rules.

 

[ssfas]

It's easy to say whether you like something or not—but over time, I've come to realize that what feels right in the moment isn't always the best choice.
I prefer to approach things more thoughtfully rather than act on impulse (I'll be honest and say it isn't easy and not every time I succeed to suppress the impulse). Making decisions when you're emotionally unsettled— like when you're 'hungry' in any sense—is a bit like walking into a grocery store on an empty stomach. behavioral psychology will tell it's wrong..

I'm not suggesting blind A/B tests, but a thoughtful approach is to use consistent music samples and make as objective an assessment as possible. I certainly don't advocate acting on impulse. Personally I just want to eliminate as much bias, emotion and external influence as possible.

I own one watch. Bought it about 4 or 5 years ago. It's by a watchmaker I met a long time ago. I made the decision to buy the watch quickly, in about half an hour - 7 years before I actually bought it.

I don't let money get in the way either. That seems a big factor in decisions. I sometimes get the feeling some people buy things because they think they are getting a good deal rather than for what the product may bring them in terms of enjoyment. Some people's houses (often wardrobes) are full of stuff they bought because it was a good deal, but they have never used.

If I have a budget of, say, $10,000 (and my budgets are well below what I can afford), I won't consider anything over $10,000. So I never have the thought if it is too expensive or poor value. If I were then to buy something for $5,000, then it's a bonus, but price has not affected my decision. As for buying on credit, I've refused to sell things to people who said they were borrowing money to do so. I don't know how people can think it's worth getting in to debt for the sake of 0.1% better sound quality. Maybe I'm biased, I'm not Mr Moneybags, but I have no debt at all.

 

[Ron Resnick]

When evaluating a new component I think it's easy to notice something that sounds different. But I think it takes more time to notice something that is missing.

 

[A-Line]

When evaluating a new component I think it's easy to notice something that sounds different. But I think it takes more time to notice something that is missing.

It's always give & take on a small scale in the fine tuning process. Have to find your "happy point". Just my casual observations..

I auditioned around 40 different preamps from 2007-2011 before finding "the one"...

 

[Ron Resnick]

I auditioned around 40 different preamps from 2007-2011 before finding "the one"...

Wow! That's a comprehensive survey.

Why do you deny being an "audiophile"?

 

[Elliot G.]

Wow! That's a comprehensive survey.

Why do you deny being an "audiophile"?

It's always give & take on a small scale in the fine tuning process. Have to find your "happy point". Just my casual observations..

I auditioned around 40 different preamps from 2007-2011 before finding "the one"...

how did you do that? bought, borrowed???

 

[A-Line]

how did you do that? bought, borrowed???

Had to go to dealerships mostly. I got a Allnic on loan for a day. I only purchased when I was certain of what I was getting and was happy. Lots of big names that failed to impress me. Price is not a indicator of performance is mostly true.

Now, the ones that I didn't feel matched well with my McIntosh MC2102 are good products that are right for someone else. Not here to shame any brands. Everyone is on a journey with their systems. Everyone hears a bit different too.

 

[A-Line]

Wow! That's a comprehensive survey.

Why do you deny being an "audiophile"?

It's a 2 edged sword: I'm looking for a certain sound, a sound that I'll know when I hear it- that was my mindset. If I were a audiophile I would be all digital for convience but also for the revolving door upgrades that's part of the audiophile mystic..

 

[hogen]

Which one keeps you listening longer?
Which one makes you want to turn on your audio setup and listen?
Which one makes you eager to finish what you’re doing and get back home for more listening?
Which one makes you finish the album—even when you decided to switch it a couple of songs ago?

That’s the ultimate test.

You can find out which equipment sounds more impressive or striking with quick A/B comparisons and 10-second listening tests. But those qualities don’t necessarily guarantee better sound.

Totally agree with this. Try playing music an entire weekend, if you can't stop listening Sunday night then the system (and component) is doing the right thing

 

[audiobomber]

If I were a audiophile I would be all digital for convience but also for the revolving door upgrades that's part of the audiophile mystic..

Neither of those is needed to be an audiophile.

 

[A-Line]

Neither of those is needed to be an audiophile.

There's public opinion then there's the manufacturer's narrative vs the glossy mag reviews..

 

[Al M.]

If I were a audiophile I would be all digital for convience

Audiophiles predated digital by several decades, so I am not sure what this has to do with anything. Neither do I understand what convenience has to with being an audiophile.

By the way, if I really were into convenience I would be into streaming rather than physical CD playback.

but also for the revolving door upgrades that's part of the audiophile mystic..

I have upgraded all my digital in short succession this year. On the other hand I have kept my amp for 7 years and my preamp for 6 years and do not plan to change. Does all that make or not make me an audiophile?