Comparing systems through phone recordings

Thanks millercarbon. We're thinking in the same direction. Sound comparison is possible even if diifficult. And a way of learning more.The method used over here is just to record a standard digital track. To hear the basics of the amp - speaker - room integration. Later, maybe, analog recordings.

thanks jond - i agree.

On the plus side: its free and easy to do, and even if it does not come close to the direct listening experience (and cannot be used for strict A/B comparison), it can give a rough idea of the sonic signature of each system. On the minus side - all the things mentioned above.
Two dilemmas: 1) I can get better recordings using Rode mics into a Steinberg UR22. However, then I would not follow the mobile "standard", it would depend on the others using the same or a very similar recording setup.
2) Comparing system A and B by playing the B recording through A is obviously not ideal, since the B sound will be ’tainted’ by the A sound. In fact its amazing that the differences are notable at all. Yet I hear them. My friend with the B system has much more costly speaker drivers than I have, and I can hear it, especially in the treble. I think this is due to the fact that the sound changes in the mid region, which the mobile pics up, although it cannot fully capture low bass or high treble. In order to avoid the two-in-one problem I've used another system C to test A and B recordings. C is a small (OTL + single driver speakers) home office system. In practice, I hear much the same differences between A and B whether I play them on system C or A (except for bass, which is limited on C). 

One more minus: on some phones, including my p30pro, the sound is better in video than in sound-only recordings. No idea why, but this phone is extremely focused on visual/camera performance, while the sound is almost like an afterthought (e g it only records in mono). I see that the video recordings can be 100mb or so for a couple of minutes, while the sound-only is 1 or 2mb. So, clearly, a much lower level sound format. Further, converting the large mp4 video file into a sound-only file (as lossless as possible) is a problem I haven’t solved yet.

I wrote a post, with a thank you to Millercarbon, Geofffkait and others, for comments - just what I look for in Audiogon debate, making me revise my intitial ideas - but it seems it didn't appear here. Anyway, short version, I will certainly look out for too many variables, and I probably will shy away from teleportation too!

Nearfield listening is another variable. My friend’s system is tuned to nearfield listening. We’ve exchanged recordings, but he says its difficult to compare, since our speaker systems are so differently designed, his for nearfield, mine for all-room listening. Good point, a challenge, but I dont think the barrier is insurmountable. 

I agree with mozartfan. The challenge is, we cannot directly hear each others systems, around the world. As consumers and audiophiles, we would be much better off it we could do this - instead of relying on second-hand writing and opinion-making. So, to dismiss this challenge as stupid or undoable, is wrong, in my humble opinion. The question, rather, is how to do it. How to reduce the problem factors. First, we would need a decent level of recording, doable for many Audiogon members. I've bought a Zoom H6 that does the job, with a decent mic. Maybe a good mobile phone recorder and in-built mic can work also. Second, there is the playback of this recording, but a fairly good stereo setup should do. Maybe, the main obstacle is in the listening - what exactly is it, you hear. Since there are more potential errors, more "gremlins" than if you were listening in your friend's room, directly. But there are ways to improve this (test with some friends, direct vs through a recorded file). Like the Norwegian rock musician Anne Grethe Preuss said, "sometimes, one millimeter is enough".

I am not saying it can be done. I am suggesting a method, to test it. To get a little better at it. What is the problem with that?

Hi Larryi

I agree on your points but think you exaggerate - with a quite bleak view.

It would be great if Audiogon members could exchange sound clips from their systems. Even if this is at first low level mobile phone recordings with all kinds of faults. Don't you agree? This way, we would have a better data base for our choices regarding sound. If the clip is published to members with info on the type of mic, system and room dimensions, we would have more info for critical listening.

Sure this does not replace listening to the speaker or component 'live', at a dealer or even at home. But it would be a real help for this forum, I believe. I don't fear that Audiogon members woul be 'deluded' - but maybe I am naive.