A/B testing procedural fault

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General audio topics that don't fit into specific categories.

The following thought occured to me: if you can't tell what something really sounds like until you've listened to it for an extended period of time, like let's say a month, then how reliable can A/B testing be when you're listening to one component for maybe an hour, the next for an hour, or back and forth between components on the same track, etc.
I just had an experience that made me think about this a lot. I've been running EH 6SN7s in my amp for the past while (2 1/2 years). A month ago I got some RCA 6SN7GT silver label bottom getter and I put them in the amp just to make sure they're okay.
First impression was "these are great, so much better midrange, I can't listen to the EHs again if I can get decent NOS like this at reasonable prices" (I have a stash of KenRads, and Syl 6SN7 VT231s - but these are reserved for my "later days").
Did some quick back and forth and my impression remained the same. Then I left the RCAs in for the past three weeks, until just putting the EHs back in a couple of days ago (saving the "good" tubes for last, I guess).
Well, after getting used to the RCAs over the past three weeks, and then listening to the EHs again, my opinion is very different.
Yes, the RCAs have better midrange and aren't as "dry" as the EH, but the EH sound faster, have better bass, and are more forward which I find good for rock (or else the RCAs' highs are a little recessed). Now I think it's really a toss-up. Different sound but both are good. Equally so in my amp, to my ears.
Point not being a personal 6SN7 comparison, but that what I would have concluded as a "review" after initial A/B comparison was very different after "longer" term listening.
So A/B'ing equipment can be tons of fun, but I'm thinking maybe it's not actually effective unless you get extended listening time (more like "live with" time) - which makes things doubly difficult since there're very few dealers that are going to give say a one month audition.

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The Cable Cooker

Topic - A/B testing procedural fault - herb's go karts 09:39:35 03/08/07 (2)

Arguable.... - AbeCollins 17:03:38 03/08/07 (0)

Not very reliable... - mkuller 10:59:22 03/08/07 (0)

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