magiccarpetride
07-05-2010, 20:06
Most of us often go through a rather stressful (or sometimes delightful) process of evaluating hi fi components, with the eventual purchase in mind. However, since hi fi usually implies substantial bucks, we want to be sure we're not just frivolously pissing our hard earned money away. In other words, what's the point in spending big bucks on some component if it doesn't really improve anything in our listening experience?
So how do we go about it? Basically, there's no other way but to rely on our feeble memory. Meaning, first we listen to the chosen music track with the new component thrown in, then we listen to the same track with the existing audio chain (or vice versa, whatever the case may be). The trick is to retain as accurate as possible the memory of how did the previous system sound at the moment when we engage in listening to the new one.
So the issue basically boils down to a few things:
1. Rapid switching between the two systems vs. prolonged switching
2. Fresh ears vs. saturated ears
3. Blindfold tests vs. sight tests
In the first case, some people prefer the rapid switching between two systems (say, 2 - 3 seconds of listening to the first systems, after which switch to 2 -3 seconds of listening to the second system, back and forth)
In the second case, some people only trust their aural judgment while their ears are fresh. Meaning, after a prolonged period of silence (no music), listen to one system for a minute or so; give it a rest (couple of minutes of silence) after which listen to the second system for a minute or so, and then just walk away. Then make your notes. Maintain freshness of the initial impressions.
Some, on the other hand, insist that they need to spend prolonged time on one system, let it soak in real well, before moving on to the second system. Let that one soak in, then make your comparative notes.
Lastly, some people only trust the so-called double blindfold test, while others rely mostly on the sight testing (i.e. seeing what system is playing when).
Which approach describes you the best? I must say that, after some protracted testing, I prefer the fresh ears approach. It's been giving me the most reliable results in the long run.
So how do we go about it? Basically, there's no other way but to rely on our feeble memory. Meaning, first we listen to the chosen music track with the new component thrown in, then we listen to the same track with the existing audio chain (or vice versa, whatever the case may be). The trick is to retain as accurate as possible the memory of how did the previous system sound at the moment when we engage in listening to the new one.
So the issue basically boils down to a few things:
1. Rapid switching between the two systems vs. prolonged switching
2. Fresh ears vs. saturated ears
3. Blindfold tests vs. sight tests
In the first case, some people prefer the rapid switching between two systems (say, 2 - 3 seconds of listening to the first systems, after which switch to 2 -3 seconds of listening to the second system, back and forth)
In the second case, some people only trust their aural judgment while their ears are fresh. Meaning, after a prolonged period of silence (no music), listen to one system for a minute or so; give it a rest (couple of minutes of silence) after which listen to the second system for a minute or so, and then just walk away. Then make your notes. Maintain freshness of the initial impressions.
Some, on the other hand, insist that they need to spend prolonged time on one system, let it soak in real well, before moving on to the second system. Let that one soak in, then make your comparative notes.
Lastly, some people only trust the so-called double blindfold test, while others rely mostly on the sight testing (i.e. seeing what system is playing when).
Which approach describes you the best? I must say that, after some protracted testing, I prefer the fresh ears approach. It's been giving me the most reliable results in the long run.