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In Reply to: RE: A/B testing set up...... posted by vinnie2 on October 23, 2014 at 05:42:04
Hi!
In my experience such a set up is not needed to compare amps. While many claim that you need such an AB testing set up to compare two pieces of equipment, I find it totally inadequate to assess the sound of amps.
I believe that our short term memory is not very capable to compare sounds. The long term memory is much better for that. In such a set up when you are switching rapidly between amps, the sound impression is only stored in the short term memory.
I find it much easer in a more relaxed set up. I usually have no problem to judge between amps even if I listen to them on different days. Of course only if the difference is significant and the system is capable to reproduce the differences.
I am aware that this is mostly contrary to common opinion. This is all just my subjective experience and I don'r expect anybody to take it for granted
best regards
Thomas
Follow Ups:
It would be better to get the basic circuit qualification measurements together first.
A computer based measurement system would let him look at distortion/harmonics , phase, bandwidth, etc.
Software is not expensive or can be downloaded free.
If there is a significant difference in the measurements of the two amps, then do some A/B listening tests.
Measurements don't tell everything, but can give helpful clues to the builder.
I think someone else suggested longer term listening for comparison too, it just seems counter intuitive. That probably means it works. I will have to give it a try along with the short term testing.
Thanks
For long term comparisons, one first has to be intimately familiar with system "A" before hand.
A lot of people change things about their systems so often that they are not that familiar with what they've got.
Whenever I make a change in my system I find myself listening to the system, and not the music, for at least the first couple of weeks or so.
I recommend that you start with a system that you haven't made any changes to in a long time, a system that you really understand. A system that you are intimately familiar with in terms of how it sounds.
Now make the change. In this case change to the "new" amplifier.
Don't be fooled by first impressions. Don't switch back and forth.
Listen to the new amp and get familiar with the sound of your system with the new amp in place. Leave the new amp in place until long after you stop "listening to the system" and are relaxed and just listening to the music. 2 or 3 weeks or more.
Now that you are really familiar with the "new" amp, switch back to the "old" amp.
I believe you are now in a position to make valid comparisons between how your system sounds with amp "A" vs. amp "B".
Tre'
Have Fun and Enjoy the Music
"Still Working the Problem"
Not quite sure I understand what you are suggesting. Do you mean listen to the old amp for 2 or 3 weeks, then listen to the new amp for 2 or 3 weeks and then start switching back and forth between them to listen for differences?
I mean listen to the old amp long enough to get totally familiar with it (if you haven't already) switch to the new amp.
Listen to the new amp long enough to get totally familiar with it.
Then switch back to the old amp and you should be able to tell which one you like the best.
Tre'
Have Fun and Enjoy the Music
"Still Working the Problem"
Do you really think the impression of the old amp will last that long? It seems like too long a time to remember it.
Hi!
I know people who can memorise sound impressions for months or even a year.
I see two possibilities for you:
1: Since you are not hearing differences, stop bothering and just enjoy the music.
2: If you want to be able to hear differences, maybe get someone who has some extensive listening experience and let him help you how to listen. Or of he also doesn't hear a difference in your set up. Try to find out why and what to change to make things audible.
As NickelCore said, differences should be very easily audible between vastly different amps. Maybe there is a bottleneck in the system which prevents that. Then any kind of A/B switching set up will not help either. I find it much easier to spot differences by casual listening. As soon as you switch to 'technical' listening mode, it gets very difficult
Thomas
.
Have Fun and Enjoy the Music
"Still Working the Problem"
I think that will depend on just how intimately familiar you are with the sound of your system with the old amp.
And remember, at the end of the 2 to 3 weeks with the new and you switch back to the old amp.
Tre'
Have Fun and Enjoy the Music
"Still Working the Problem"
Sorta +1 toward Tre's view. For me, it takes a little longer, like maybe 3-4 weeks. You just live your daily life with a rig for basically a month, flip stuff for another month, and flip back. At each flip you learn things that you didn't know (hearing education, maybe?). That way, there's no "critical listening" etc. All the "life" variables seem to sort for me to have a solid position on something in that time.
And yeah, of-course, the short-term thing when it works in your life. Sometimes if there's a big block of time, I'll drag-out every odd speaker I have and spin them around with the same set of material. That, too, is interesting and educational, but in a different way and doesn't serve the same way as the long-term thing does.
I could be fooling myself, too, but that's what seems to help steady the rudder here.
Well, I promised myself I would try both ways of A/B ing, the long and the short, so we'll see what happens.
This is what I tried, put both speakers side by side and mono one speaker to one amp and the other speaker to the other amp, do what you must if your amp needs protection for the unconnected speaker output. Now figure out the quickest way to swap sound from speaker to speaker ... balance control, volume up one volume down other, power on one power off other, you may prefer 2 channel mono music for those tests, (you can convert it with software) or swap the input RCA over, whatever you can think of, even better if you can achieve it while still sitting in your seat.
I can see that would work, but I found another way that's ok too. See post at top of thread.
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