Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site tekchips.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!microsoft!uw-beaver!tektronix!tekchips!wm From: wm@tekchips.UUCP Newsgroups: net.audio Subject: Re: speaker testing for the connoisseur Message-ID: <234@tekchips.UUCP> Date: Mon, 18-Jul-83 12:46:33 EDT Article-I.D.: tekchips.234 Posted: Mon Jul 18 12:46:33 1983 Date-Received: Tue, 19-Jul-83 22:10:43 EDT References: <1783@ihldt.UUCP> Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR Lines: 33 It is very difficult to compare speakers. Even if you have the test conditions set up just right, and you can hear noticable differences between the speakers, how can you decide which sounds "better" unless you have the live music there too for comparison? The problem is that people are trying to compare the distortion and coloration of speakers, and you cannot directly compare this. I have found that the only way that I can compare speakers is to give them the "nervous test". You can do it in the showroom, you can even do it at a friend's house. The only requirement is that the rest of the system is comparable, especially the parts that might color the sound in the same way as a speaker (e.g., the phono cartridge). What you do is listen to the speakers for awhile and wait for when you get "nervous". Telltale signs are wanting to "change the station" when you are listening to a record, figiting, talking about the weather, and so on. The point of all this is that your subconscience will tell you when you have had enough of a certain sound. The best speakers for you are the ones that make you feel comfortable listening to music (this even applies to listening to punk), and lets you listen to music longer without fatigue, or makes you want to listen to music more. I have used this method for years, and it has survived all the fads. When boomy bass was popular, people were buying speakers with oversized woofers, and getting headaches listening to them. Oh, the other (newer) name for this test is the StarWars test and is summed up as follows: 1- Listen to speakers for at least an hour with different material, until you can "feel the Force". 2- "Reach out with your senses" and "trust your feelings". Sorry, Wm Leler tektronix!tekchips!wm