Recently bought new speakers, and I did the same as Johnto so I could make comparisons based on the same music.
What source do you use to demo equipment?
Hello. After decades of enjoying my home audio system, I find myself beginning to look for my final end-all dedicated music system. So I am beginning to look at speakers, amps and source components.
The question is: with all of the new streaming services and hardware, when you go into an audio salon, what do you listen to as your baseline music and via what format? I used to take a few CDs along, which were familiar to test the musicality of equipment. With all of the streaming and source hardware variables, what do you use? I had an experience recently where I had a salon queue up a familiar song via their streamer and it sounded horrible. It lacked any dynamics compared to what I was familiar with. I went home and listened to it on my streamer and the same thing. It sounded terrible compared to the CD version.
So how do you get the consistency of sound for listening tests? What sources do you listen to when testing?
- ...
- 33 posts total
About four years ago, before selling my expensive CD player (I haven’t spun vinyl in over 30 years), I did extensive and exhaustive A/B comparisons between CD and streaming with Tidal and Qobuz. I’ve been streaming via Qobuz exclusively every since, and in over 30 years, I’ve never been happier. When I visit my local dealers, I always audition with streamed music via either Tidal or Qobuz, preferably Qobuz. Happy listening |
@Cooperdude6 Attempting to experience all sources under one roof at a typical retail outlet may prove difficult. My experiences are such that I use a Analogue and CDP source, and am well aware of their differences in how the End Sound is delivered. I have no prejudice or preference for what either are able to conjure. FTR: It took me almost 20 years to get to the place the Digital Source was to sit with the Analogue Source. There is today the intention to also have a Streamed Source sit with the above two, I see no reason why this should not be. At a friends home on a very very familiar system, I am able to listen to a very impressive Analogue Source. Additional to this, I have been demo'd the resident CDP Source along with a selection of CDP Sources and the resident Streaming Source. There are differences in the End Sound produced, but for myself, I again look to see where the feel good factor of listening to the music is to be discovered. Either Source can offer this in a variance of how noticeable they are able to impress, even though quite distinguishable from each other where the End Sound is produced. Anybody not having heard a particular Source for a long period and especially not being heard in their home system, are reporting on a memory of a experience. This of a Source, which does not substantiate any value in the present. What actually was compared are usually unclear in a description supplied? How the system remains in the current time to the period being reported on are also usually unclear. Overtime, it is not unusual for an individual to make changes that are quite an impact on how a End Sound is structured, drawing on the past encounters with a sound produced, and believing it is accurately related to a current sounds produced is fantastical. It really is best to do foot work, have sat in front of experiences and get to a place where a demo' had the deep impact that creates a stimulus that is desirable to be maintained. I also suggest, do not overlook the importance of how the chosen Power Amp' synergises with Speakers. Coupling the selected Speakers to the space within the listening room can be quite easy if aesthetics are not a constraint. Amp>Speaker -- Speaker>Room Coupling are the Cornerstone to enabling the Source to be more than what was expected. |
| Post removed |
@ghdprentice "So your audio store is gonna be set up with streaming" Such a definitive generalization based upon what? Auditioning at Gestalt Audio in Nashville I listened via vinyl, cd and streaming. And, within the last week a friend asked me to go with him in Memphis to audition some integrated amps and it was via vinyl. |
- 33 posts total