blind listening at dealers tomorrow

I know that some are believers and some are not but I do not agree with all of the statements made on both sides. I'm looking to achieve an in-principle decision that i will then take home for extended listening and room matching.

It is not strictly a double blind test (too difficult to set up as they have no switching gear), but almost is because the person at the controls is only allowed to say 'system 1', 'system 2' etc. I suppose that the point of a double blind test is that the person at the controls cannot influence you in anyway and this is what we will be doing. It is being carried out with someone I know well. Should be fun and I'm very interested to see what the results will be. I wonder what I will make of my current system (on a two day warm up with them) versus the competition. I'll keep you posted.

Dominic

 

Sounds interesting, do keep us posted What kit you looking to try out?

 

Hi Pete

Quad 99CDP, 99 int amp, 909 power amp and L12 speakers and SF concertinos. Also My Wadia transport and DAC as a benchmark. (I'm looking to downgrade.)

Dominic

 

If I was the dealer, I'd hobble your system, dominic. But then I'm sneaky. Unlike dealers.

 

Level matching..

Dominic

If I remember rightly, the quad cd player has a variable output, so, to help you in your test, you should level match the players, by varying the gain on the quad until it matches the wadia. Normally I'd suggest measuring with a multi-meter and test tones, but the dealer would think you insane. So, before you start, set the level by quickly swapping back and forth on the imputs while changing the volume on the quad.

If the quad sounds "softer", raise the output on the quad. If the quad sounds "brighter" lower the output. What you'll find is that if the players start off sounding different, then by the time you've correctly adjusted the output on the quad CD Player, they'll sound the same.

The idea is to leave the volume control on the pre-amp at the same place while you make these adjstments. It will probably be easiest to use headphones for both the setup and the player comparison.

Good Luck..

 

It sounds like a good idea.. I wouldn't have thought many dealers would be happy to do it though as most of the time people seem not to tell any difference. Then again you are downgrading so its not too bad I suppose.. Why would you want to downgrade anyhow DT?

Devil, how would you 'hobble' the system? Use crap cables or something?

 

Oh, Dominic check your PM

 

Dominic

I think in principle you are right to do this. One thing I do agree aboutre DBT is the visual clues we all get. Look at any magazine review and they alway have 'expect xxxx because that is the signature of company XYZ'

Sounds like fun though and you have a very helpful dealer. Mind you he is hoping to get a £3k sale or are you PX'ing?

Let us know how it goes.

 

I'd hobble it by putting dominic's system on, say, a seismic sink or something, and mystery system 'B' on Mana. Easy.

 

which one's hobbled bub?


hehehe
just kidding

 

Ah Dominic,

A kindred spirit I see. Nice one. Btw, I am still licking my wounds from the ridicule & 'ribbing' I got when I admitted on this forum that I choose my components in this way. This method, I must admit, has left me unimpressed with many high end components which I otherwise might have chosen through the influence of reviews, hype and their looks etc rather than by their sound alone. So, your results would be very interesting indeed.

Btw, IIRC, your current speakers are the SF EAIIs no? If so, why not look at the SF Concerto Homes which share a similar sonic signature (especially in the bass & warmth areas) to the EAIIs instead of the Concertinos which are lighter and faster and have more in common with the Signums (rather than the EAIIs) or are you just looking for a different sound altogether?



Enjoy the music,

Lawrie.