Comparing speakers at home questions

I always have to slow down. Fast A/B comparisons are fatiguing, not at all fun (for me), and can occlude some of the important nuances IMO - our brains are incredible pattern matchers (taking two slightly different data sets and finding their equivalence), which we DON’T want engaged here, and we’re also more acute at discerning differences when not in a frustrated / fatigued state. You should also take some time to tweak positioning / etc for the new speaker (glider feet can help a lot).

I think it's totally up to you. A quick A/B swap can be a ton of fun. But that's also not how most people listen. So it doesn't hurt to try living with the new ones for a week to let them settle in and get more familiar with their nuances, then switch back. Gives you a good sense of what it would be like living with them. 

I think that you are not doing a science experiment. Play one speaker for a couple of days, see how much you ENJOY listening to them, and of course how much fatigue you suffer. Then switch. Do the same.

The goal is not to put together an Excel spreadsheet but to ask what level of comfort and enjoyment suits you most at the end of the day.

Don't try to convince yourself about imaging or details.  Just see what you like and want to hear more of.

BTW, more than one audiophile has discovered they get bored with a single sound no matter what so they've learned to keep a couple of pairs of speakers and/or amps around so they can enjoy the best of them at different times.

While one is obligated to do a quick A/B or two, just to check for glaring differences. After that. I recommend maybe a week of listening then switch for a week. Try not to listen to the speakers... just listen to the music. Then try to forget when you swap them. This will bring out the real differences... this longer term comparison shows the big differences... in overall presentation, tonal balance.

If you do quick A/B you will use your minds eye (ear) to focus just on one instrument and sound type at a time... it is so limiting and is incredibly confusing. Best to do long term switches and the differences will become very obvious.

Good luck.

 You should have a good idea of what your current speakers sound like and are capable of. Just play the new ones with familiar recordings and decide if they're better for you.

If I were comparing I would pick one and listen to them for several days getting to know how they sound then switch.  In my experience, A/B switching doesn’t work well for me.  Unless the speakers are glaringly different, in which case A/B testing could prove useful, listening for an extended period will make even the subtle differences more apparent imo.  I would also suggest making some sort of playlist that covers the genres of music you like and use that for both extended listening periods.

Play the new speakers first, and they must be burnt in for a few hundred hours before critical listening, for a few minutes. Do you generally like their presentation ? If not - there is nothing to talk about. If you do, start comparing with the old ones. How best to proceed ? Whatever. A combination of quick comparison and extended listening of each pair. Complication might be that you like them both but that they are quite different, and you wouldn't know which ones to choose. Another complication - they might require different electronics and cables to sound best.

What particular speakers are you talking about ?

The best way to compare speakers is by combining A/B testing with extended listening.

A/B testing (quickly switching between speakers using the same song) highlights immediate differences in tonal balance, bass, vocal clarity, and treble sharpnes. It helps pinpoint detail retrieval, imaging, and frequency response.

Longer listening sessions (a day or more) reveal how a speaker feels over time. Some sound exciting at first but become fatiguing, while others grow on you. Testing different genres and volumes helps assess dynamics.

Start with A/B testing for a first impression, then follow up with extended listening to gauge long-term comfort. If possible, have someone switch them blindly to minimize bias. This balanced approach ensures the best choice.

Different speakers have  physical set up differences which have to be considered. Quite often very different. Unless you are time constrained it pays big dividends to spend the time to ensure the speakers are optimally positioned for their best sound. You can't assume that where your old speakers were placed is going to work for other speakers.

Also, long term listening to each speaker with familiar (very!) music is, for me anyway, essential. There are often subtle differences you might not hear, or which are obscured, during short sessions. And, if you find things like brightness or bass boom (or no bass) you've got to figure out if its the speaker, the speakers placement or it's amplifier.

Take your time! :-)

You already know your current speakers well, where they sound best, and that has an influence on what your current reference is. It often takes a while to pick up on subtle differences and nuances, and to determine where a different pair of speakers sound best in your room. Placement is a significant factor, and even small changes can make a difference.  It's very likely that the new speakers won't be optimized if you place them where the old ones were.  I think it’s wise to get familiar with the new ones, find their best placement, then maybe do some A/B.

Thanks for all the responses. I’m currently letting the new speakers play to burn in a bit before doing back to back or any critical listening. 
 

The speakers are Monitor Audio Silver 100 (old) and Dynaudio Evoke 20 (new)

both similar sized bookshelf speakers so placement isn’t an issue, just swap one for the other on the stands. 

First impressions are that the dyns have less treble and at least as much or more bass. Will see how it goes when I can critically compare them. 

Both. When I was reviewing speakers I’d listen to the new ones for a while and end with a song I knew well that contained the sonic characteristics I needed to assess a speaker across many parameters. In my case that was Keb Mo’s “Muddy Water” from his Slow Down CD, and when putting my speakers back and putting on that song it told me a lot and often redirected what I thought I was hearing on extended listening with the new speaker. In short, my assessments of the new speaker I thought were accurate in long-term listening were often wrong or misguided, and ascertaining those differences gave me clues for particular things to listen for going forward.  Point is, there’s value in doing both. But realizing differences is one thing and is interesting/informative, and as others have mentioned the final arbiter should always be the ones you just enjoy listening to the most longer term. Hope this helps.

+1

I think that you are not doing a science experiment. Play one speaker for a couple of days, see how much you ENJOY listening to them, and of course how much fatigue you suffer. Then switch. Do the same.

I'd do both. A few comments. When going back and forth I often notice I hear differences best when starting from my one set of speakers, going to the new ones AND especially when going back to the 1st speaker. Secondly, if the new speakers are really new make sure you give them some time to break in.

When going back and forth I often notice I hear differences best when starting from my one set of speakers, going to the new ones AND especially when going back to the 1st speaker.

@dynamiclinearity  Big +1 on that.  Forgot to mention that earlier.  Switching back to the first speaker is absolutely critical. 

I’ve done both.  I find having both for an ideally a couple of weeks gives me time to listen and get comfortable with the sound and the decision. A more thorough audition than just A/B certain songs and Less buyers remorse.  No better way to buy speakers or equipment in my experience.  

I understand the arguments on both sides—short-term vs. long-term listening. I've tried both approaches. However, the key is a blind test.

Best to do both. Big differences can be noticed quickly and are obviously most important 

subtle differences may require more time but are more prone to mistakes. Optimal set up for the speakers will differ and if you don’t get them both set up properly the difference you perceive may result from suboptimal set up, not something inherent in the speaker. Level matching, etc can also be an issue, as can expectation bias. 
As others have suggested, have a set group of songs that you are familiar with to use for the test. I would suggest some that are very well recorded, and some not so well recorded 
 

good luck 

Give thought to the choice of music for comparing speakers. You’ll want to audition speakers using music of the type you favor. Speakers can behave very differently across music types. Differences in speakers can be minimized or seem more notable by the choice of music.

I would echo a previous response about adequate break in of the new speakers. I am assuming they’re brand new and have the time. The sound can change significantly after a 100 hours on them. 
Just my thoughts which are probably meaningless 

@mattldm 

Relax and take it slow, one set of speakers at a time.  Listen for the good and the bad, take notes including what track you are listening to and then after a week or two go to the next pair of speakers. Listen in a relaxed state, take notes again, the good and the bad- and note the track you played.  

F few back and forths should give you a clear picture of which you like the best.  

+1 @soix . Our long term auditory memory is quite bad, actually. Differences show up much better with quicker A/B testing. Preferences and fatigue, however, can take more time to evaluate. A combination of both short and longer term comparisons works best for me.

I had thoughts about this. A question came to mind. Is the speaker you will be auditioning, Brand New? Some speakers, especially "high end" speakers suck right out of the box. Needing break-in time. Receive, Unbox, Setup and Listen maybe dreadful.

I have a cd compilation of "test" pieces I’ve used for years. Jazz, orchestral, solo vocal, solo piano... I may use vinyl if a thought comes to be, picky.

I can’t do quick A/B test listens. I prefer to set the new speakers exactly where my present speakers are. Needing just a bit of toe in/out, forward/backward. Subwoofer comes later.

A long listen for me. See how much of that or other "something" bugs me. I would not be looking for another speaker if something is not bugging me about my present speakers or system. Continuing down the audio rabbit hole.

This is an easy one, in fact. Try to compare tubes when the difference is subtle.

I also once had fun comparing RCA cables that sounded very very similar and very close to each other in my system. Both were absolutely excellent, and the price difference used was $1000.00. Good for me that I needed them both. The more expensive one was a little more neutral and balanced, and the less expensive one was a bit more vivid and colorful, but not colored.

The less expensive cable was Gabriel Gold Infusion 2.

The more expensive one was Wywires Diamond.

I compared with analogue source, both phono stage and cassette deck, from the source to preamp.

@mattldm 

I also own a pair of Dyn Evoke 20. They have a somewhat long breaking period. I noticed recessed treble when I first installed them in my system. Over time the sound evens out. If you like sparkling treble, I’m not sure the dyns would be to your taste.

I have been searching for my next speaker for about 5 years to replace speakers I have had for 7.  I know my system's sound so well so I have not had the need to A-B speakers.  When I have purchased components like DACs and streamers I do a LOT of A-B sessions.  I bet you will know within the first few songs what you think about the new speakers, and to others' advice, unless something really jumps out as a negative to their sound, listen for a week and go back.

Your initial impressions are right on.

You already know what the Silver 100s sound like. I would hook up the Evoke 20s and listen to them for a few weeks. After spending some time with the new speakers, go back to the old ones. You will know pretty fast which ones you prefer.

Going from the punchy Silver 100s to the more relaxed presentation of the Evoke 20s will take some adjustment.

My guess is that if you listen to rock or more modern music, you will prefer the Silver 100s. If your taste runs to acoustic music, jazz, and small ensemble classical the Evoke 20s will grow on you.

It’s not just the sound of the speakers, but the way you listen to music. If you jump around and like a lot of variety in your listening session, the Silver 100s will shine. If you tend to put on a side and listen more contemplatively, I think you will find the Evoke 20s less fatiguing; in the end the Evoke 20s will make you forget about the speakers and allow you to go deeper into the music.

In any case, you will benefit from a well matched sub(s). I use a single REL T/5 with my Harbeth P3ESR speakers (admittedly smaller than either of your contenders). I dial in an almost imperceptible amount of low level sub bass and the difference it makes is magical. I had to experiment with placement to get the room nodes to work with a single sub (I guess I’m lucky, I can place my speakers anywhere I want and arranged the furniture to accommodate the speakers). If you are locked into a decor, two subs will make it easier.

Pull those speakers away from the walls. I have my Harbeths on Sound Anchors (I replaced the spikes with carriage bolts so I can slide them around and can easily push them back if they get in my way). They sound fine about 18" from the wall, but are decidedly more balanced (less muddy – not that the Harbeths are inherently muddy, they are not, but the room reflections tip the low mids when they are close to the walls) and cast a better soundstage when I pull them about a third of the way into the room.

@kahlenz  You might wanna try these Herbies Gliders.  They’re not very expensive and may give you a nice performance bump over the carriage bolts.  Many people have reported significant improvements with them over spikes.  Just a thought FWIW.

https://herbiesaudiolab.com/products/threaded-stud-glider

@soix I'll have to try those. Cheap enough to have some fun. Thanks for the tip!

The carriage bolts work remarkable well on my rather thick and expensive vinyl floor which is laid directly on concrete. Better than the spikes in cups. And for a guy that likes to move his speakers around, imminently more practical.