Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!decwrl!flairvax!ellis From: ellis@flairvax.UUCP (Michael Ellis) Newsgroups: net.audio Subject: Re: power amp query Message-ID: <163@flairvax.UUCP> Date: Thu, 14-Jul-83 06:40:27 EDT Article-I.D.: flairvax.163 Posted: Thu Jul 14 06:40:27 1983 Date-Received: Thu, 14-Jul-83 19:34:01 EDT References: ihuxr.504 Lines: 28 I disagree about A/B speaker test comparisons. They're only misleading because nobody does them right. Here's how I selected my speakers: 1. Borrow an amplifier identical to the one you own. 2. Take home the speakers to be compared. This may require considerable amount of cash, if you're like me and hate credit cards. But it's worth it. Specially if the leading contenders are at different stores. 3. Hook everything up so both systems play the same source. Then adjust each amp separately so that volume differences on each pair of speakers have been compensated for. This part is great fun. You can adjust bass/treble on one to sound best for that speaker, and then try to match that sound on the other, etc. This is where the strengths and weaknesses of each brand of speaker really show up. Do this for one week. 4. Return the losing speakers and go to another store to pick up yet another brand to continue the test. After a month or two, you'll KNOW you have the right speakers. It is true, however, that A/B speaker comparisons are almost meaningless in the store. Especially when there's only one volume control for several speakers, and no way to reposition an unfavorably placed pair. Michael Ellis - Fairchild AI Lab - Palo Alto CA - (415) 858-4270