There’s always a difference. I can use a sheet of paper under a record and hear the change! What you are doing is mostly fine. I use tracks that I know intimately. Listen for fine inner detail, speed of transients, blackness between notes, color of the music, does the music sound cohesive? Are the musicians playing together? Depth and power of bass, reverberation times, space, air, depth. You might even make a checklist on paper as you listen. Then move the list into your head as you get used to what to listen for. Always do an A-B-A test to check your findings. Always one change at a time.
Techniques for isolating and comparing a component upgrade or change
Recently, I've changed my turntable mat from a leather mat to an acrylic mat. I was wondering what techniques members try to compare sound of one item vs. another? My approach is to minimize as much change as possible other than the item upgraded which entails same, components, same room, same music selection.
Ideally a dual set up with an A/B switch between the two identical set ups might be nice, but not very practical for most situations. In my case I'm playing the same music track with one mat; then switching mats and playing the same single track. I then progress to playing a full album side and switching mats again.
With a change so subtle I struggle to find real difference between the two; I think I hear more clarity with one and then I'm not sure. Is there another way to measure small changes that an alternative mat may produce? An approach that might work for comparing other small changes like new cables or other components?
My system is detailed in my profile. And yes, I've considered that there is no difference or that I'm overthinking this one 😉
12 responses Add your response
Cogent and practical advice, thanks @noromance |
Nice system and room. My technique for evaluation is to do a couple quick comparisons, back and forth, just to see if anything sticks out.
Then to get serious. Put the on new thing in and leave it for a couple weeks… absolutely paying no attention. Let your subconscious experience the music. Then, swap back the old one… and go back to listening to music (not for changes). You will become aware during listening to the old. I find swapping to the old is the most telling, unless there are huge differences. Write it down. Listen for a week or two… switch. You should be able to sense and describe really subtle differences this way. Unless there are big differences… quick A - Bing is hard. Your minds eye has one specific focal point… you have to flit around perceiving stuff… but listening to music let’s your subconscious (~ 95% of your brain power) assess the sound in its entirety.
|
Is there another way to measure small changes that an alternative mat may produce? An approach that might work for comparing other small changes like new cables or other components?
Not as far as I know. Quick a/b swapping is best as far as I can tell.
On the few occasions I’ve got friends to chime in with their impressions the results haven’t always been helpful. Sometimes they’ll agree, and sometimes they won’t.
Even worse, after they tell you of their impressions you tend to start hearing them too. Whereas with a quick a/b it’s difficult to not hear any clear differences, if they exist.
A similar analogy for example might be any comparison of 2 different things, eg Budweiser or Heineken, Coke or Pepsi, Marilyn Monroe or Jane Russell etc.
What your memory tells you that you think you prefer might well be at odds with what a direct comparison tells you.
Whether we like it or not our memory does fade and it can certainly play tricks on us. This has been tested time and time again. I’d love a photographic / eidetic memory but the best I can do is a passable recreation if a d when I’m in the correct mood.
So it’s probably best to rely on memory as little as possible and more on immediate impressions when making direct comparisons.
I can understand you wanting to know for sure, I used to too, but nowadays, unless the differences are fairly obvious, I don’t see the point. I spent far too much time with nonsense such as turning the turntable mat upside down and turning the drive belt inside out (as advised by such parties as Linn etc) to bother with such stuff nowadays.
Did any of it make a difference?
Maybe it did theoretically, maybe it was one that could be distinguished by some advanced measuring device, but it certainly wasn’t one that I could hear.
A blind listening test is usually even more unsympathetic to whatever preconceived notions we may have regarding sonic performance. |
@ghdprentice Thanks, I like the 2 week synch idea, I will try that out. |
@cd318 I totally agree on friend opinions; no one I know locally takes the time to really listen to a system at a level I do. But they are in for casual enjoyment not analysis so I don't expect much depth of analysis. Also, agree on the first impression vs memory comment and over obsession with small changes. Yea, I'm guilty at times, but most of us would not be on this forum if we weren't tinkering with details. Sometime its just fun for me to obsess, other times, I just relax, sit back and enjoy the music and lyrics. Thanks for your input. |
Yea, I'm guilty at times, but most of us would not be on this forum if we weren't tinkering with details. Sometime its just fun for me to obsess, other times, I just relax, sit back and enjoy the music and lyrics.
It's taken me years and years to get the balance back from critical listening to primarily enjoying the music once more. Funnily enough I've also gradually shifted a little from being predominantly a lyrics first man at the same time.
Of course you're right, we wouldn't be here if we didn't deeply care about the sound. I still check the sound quality when buying anything from a smart TV to a smartphone. From a laptop to PC speakers. From headphones to portable speakers. From vacuum cleaners to washing machines - ok, maybe not the SQ but certainly the dB noise levels.
One of my friends has just replaced his Arcam 7 amp with an Arcam 8r and wants me to have a listen. Kind of puts me in a dilemma because if I can't hear a difference, I'm sure he's going to be disappointed. (Perish the thought it might actually sound worse!).
Anyway, I'm not too worried as I recall the 8r getting some favourable reviews back in the day. It might not sound much better but it certainly shouldn't sound any worse.
Anyway, I hope you can always enjoy your audio journey. |