Auditioning Amps And Speakers...

[bluegrassphile]

...How do you audition amps and speakers? Do you have a certain routine? Do you simply sit yourself (or stand) facing the speakers and make your decisions based on that? Do you do blind comparisons or blind listening? Have you ever sat facing away from the speakers and done blind A/B comparisons? What's your method? Do you have a method?

I'm going to be visiting Mike's store in a couple months with the goal in mind of making a decision on an integrated amp, DAC, and streaming components. I thought I might try making some blind A/B comparisons of amps, facing away from them. However, I'll start with just facing the amps, one by one, to see if there is/are amps that my ears immediately like. Perhaps there will be one or two in particular that really appeal to me vs the others. Then I'll proceed from there.

I'm sure there is no sure fire way to choose an amp. Mike has the same model speakers I currently own so I will have that advantage. So, how do you go about choosing speakers and/or amps? I'd appreciate any suggestions. Thanks!

Tom

[AJ Soundfield]

I thought I might try making some blind A/B comparisons of amps, facing away from them.

That isn't what "blind" is.
I can see amps perfectly clear when I blind test. "Blind" means don't know which is playing and...critically, at the same exact volume level. Even the slightest difference in volume produces audible differences, not perceived as "louder", but "better", "clearer", "deeper soundstage", etc, etc.
Thats why I use an AVA ABX box. It's essential for my design work (or serious entertainment with certain audiophiles).
However, no one that I know, listens like that at home. You are going to see, feel, know, read the reviews, etc, etc. as you "experience" that amp. That involves far more than sound>ears.
You best believe looks, street cred, price, etc, etc plays a huge role in satisfaction/enjoyment. Choose accordingly.

[Mr Peabody]

First of all, do not put your back to the system, that is not how you listen at home. At least, I hope

Don't get caught up in that blind listening crap, no one auditions like that. Sit in the sweet spot, put on some of your favorite tracks and just listen, you will know if you enjoy what you hear. If you don't want to be influenced by cosmetics or whatever, don't ask price until you find what you want and cover your eyes while Mike hooks up the cables. I fully believe there is a noticeable difference between the amps you were asking about and shouldn't have an issue.

Most of my gear I have been fortunate enough to just pull out a piece and pop the new one in, I play some familiar tracks and listen to see if I like it better or not. Sometimes I've had to swap the pieces in and out a couple times, sometimes a piece goes in and I know right off it isn't coming out. Sometimes, I've tried gear that I knew right off it wasn't staying.

Just relax and trust yourself, you will be the one at home sitting and enjoying the system, so it's you, you, have to please. You have a nice advantage being a musician, you know how things should sound.

Most likely the only problem you will have is, I like chocolate, I like strawberry, now, which do I like best, LOL

[Randy Myers]

Very good advice here.

I have found sometimes you have to move beyond extraneous influences. A great example is I had a really hard time getting pass the size of my T+A amplifier. I always believed an amplifier had to be physically large. The T+A is anything but... however when I got beyond that I came to really enjoy the amp and found out how amazing sounding it really is.

[Jack]

I agree, you're making this whole process far more difficult than it is. You will know which amp is right for you when you hear it.

[Al M.]

That isn't what "blind" is.
I can see amps perfectly clear when I blind test. "Blind" means don't know which is playing and...critically, at the same exact volume level. Even the slightest difference in volume produces audible differences, not perceived as "louder", but "better", "clearer", "deeper soundstage", etc, etc.
Thats why I use an AVA ABX box. It's essential for my design work (or serious entertainment with certain audiophiles).
However, no one that I know, listens like that at home. You are going to see, feel, know, read the reviews, etc, etc. as you "experience" that amp. That involves far more than sound>ears.
You best believe looks, street cred, price, etc, etc plays a huge role in satisfaction/enjoyment. Choose accordingly.

I don't usually listen blindly, but recently in a DAC shootout in another system I was able to repeatedly and reliably point out the better DAC that way.

But what you say about controlled volume is SO important! It cannot be stressed enough that, as you say, even *small* differences in volume can throw off your perception in ways you describe (one of the etc.'s would be dynamics, BTW). And outside of one's own system, the systems that are most impressive are often the ones that are played loudest. Next time when I go to a show I'll bring my SPL meter for context. I could beat myself on the head that I didn't do that last time.

Someone once joked that many components have been bought just on volume differences upon audition. I think that actually may be true.

[joeinid]

You’ll soon realize that whatever Mike demos for you, it will be superb. Just play music that’s somewhat familiar and listen to how it makes you feel. You will instantly react to the amp or speakers that connect to you. This is not a do or die situation, it’s music and a wonderful escape that’s for enjoyment.

Knowing Mike the way I do, any system he’s put together has been spectacular.

[AJ Soundfield]

Next time when I go to a show I'll bring my SPL meter for context.

To be clear, with all electronic components, like amps, I measure voltage for required precision, not SPL. Speakers, yes, SPL.

You’ll soon realize that whatever Mike demos for you, it will be superb.

Exactly. With the brands he carries, there won't be any "mistakes". Just a matter of picking which suits "you" best.

[joeinid]

Well said AJ.

[mep]

...How do you audition amps and speakers? Do you have a certain routine? Do you simply sit yourself (or stand) facing the speakers and make your decisions based on that? Do you do blind comparisons or blind listening? Have you ever sat facing away from the speakers and done blind A/B comparisons? What's your method? Do you have a method?

I'm going to be visiting Mike's store in a couple months with the goal in mind of making a decision on an integrated amp, DAC, and streaming components. I thought I might try making some blind A/B comparisons of amps, facing away from them. However, I'll start with just facing the amps, one by one, to see if there is/are amps that my ears immediately like. Perhaps there will be one or two in particular that really appeal to me vs the others. Then I'll proceed from there.

I'm sure there is no sure fire way to choose an amp. Mike has the same model speakers I currently own so I will have that advantage. So, how do you go about choosing speakers and/or amps? I'd appreciate any suggestions. Thanks!

Tom

You are way overthinking this. You need to relax and take a deep breath. Your ears will tell you which amp(s) you like and your budget will tell you which one you should buy.

[brad225]

Tom, what has been shared here is correct.
We all have the fear of spending our hard earned money on possibly the wrong piece of equipment.
You will know when you hear the sound you like. Try to just relax and have a good time doing it.
You can be sure this will not be a high pressure demo session.

[bluegrassphile]

Wow, guys.....great info here. Some stuff that would have never crossed my mind. Mike has even told me, just relax. The amps on my list are all going to sound really good. It's just a matter of picking the amp my ears like best. Then, like Mr. Peabody said (paraphrased)...like with ice cream, some like chocolate, some like vanilla.

I feel kind of bad as I've been asking Mike a barrage of questions over the last few months. However, as a result, I'm now pretty much to the point of having a fairly good working knowledge of amps and speakers. I know much more now about home audio systems than I did with my first systems in the late '60s and early '70s.

I still have a lot to learn about the technical aspects of audio systems. But for day to day knowledge and operation of a high end audio system, and the assembling of a good system, I can get by just fine, thanks to Mike. I've learned the difference between great and not so great components and systems. I've learned what systems give good bang for the buck and what systems give good bang for big bucks and even bigger bucks. And to think there was a time I was thinking about putting a system together all on my own, without any guidance from a knowledgeable person. Oh, I could have assembled a system. But not nearly as good of one as I'm able to assemble now. So I feel like I'm now on my way to being an "official" audiophile...what ever that is, LOL! Mostly thanks to Mike.

Tom

[kzhtoo]

I think you need to get music to those Harbeths right away.

[bluegrassphile]

Me too. But, gotta wait until January. Patience.

[p59teitel]

When I decided I needed a good system and started auditioning gear about 8 years ago, I already had a sound in mind, and just trusted my ears to tell me when I had heard what I wanted.

Now to be honest that approach ended up costing me about three times what I'd planned on spending, but otherwise it has worked out pretty well!

[iFi audio]

Even the slightest difference in volume produces audible differences, not perceived as "louder", but "better", "clearer", "deeper soundstage", etc, etc.

These words are golden. Level matching is a must.