What is Your Test for Comparing Two Audio Components?

[Iamrael]

LED. Look at the shadowing

I understand the whole fixation on led lights/dimmers, etc. I’ll defer to you since you are the expert but I have found that the noise level (which is inaudible to me) is better than having pot dimmers.
The Hue lighting system comes with its own hub and is networked on a completely separate Vlan and controls via Wi-Fi on its own, third party, or with my Harmony remote app/remote control.
Also never responded unkindly to any command whether it be color or dimming.
I hit pause when I’m watching a movie and the (selected) lights turn up to designated level.
I want to read while listening to music, press a button and the light above my head turns on and to the color and brightness i programmed.
Need to go upstairs to grab a snack……..etc.
As a bonus, the kids on my street where I live love what the lights do on Halloween when they knock on our door for treats.

 

[PYP]

I'm looking forward to AI (NOTE: not the @Al M. known and loved here) doing the comparison for me. It will choose the component based upon the optimal level/blend of dopamine, oxytocin and serotonin. I won't even need to be aware of how I feel about a change since AI will know. Whew. And AI will let me know when my attitude is perfect for listening, then choose the music while it monitors the result.

Well, the good AI anyway. Evil AI will choose the music so that you go nuts and throw gear out the window. (Well, analog anyway given AI's preference for silicon, of course.) Or some other dastardly act.

 

[Kingrex]

I understand the whole fixation on led lights/dimmers, etc. I’ll defer to you since you are the expert but I have found that the noise level (which is inaudible to me) is better than having pot dimmers.
The Hue lighting system comes with its own hub and is networked on a completely separate Vlan and controls via Wi-Fi on its own, third party, or with my Harmony remote app/remote control.
Also never responded unkindly to any command whether it be color or dimming.
I hit pause when I’m watching a movie and the (selected) lights turn up to designated level.
I want to read while listening to music, press a button and the light above my head turns on and to the color and brightness i programmed.
Need to go upstairs to grab a snack……..etc.
As a bonus, the kids on my street where I live love what the lights do on Halloween when they knock on our door for treats.

Maybe Hue have a better interface. Technology does improve. I have some led that when you try and nudge it up or down, not all go even. But once they are programmed for a level, at times only part will change, but hit the button again and all change to the correct preset level.

I do not like slide dimmers either. They are very noisy. Much worse than a LED driver. But I only use Lutron Maestro dimmers that have much better filters and are a soft start and soft off. They don't shock the bulb with instant current which breaks the filament.
I go back to incandescent as no matter how much you dim a led, if your eyes have direct exposure to the diode, its blinding. To me. Reflected off a white ceiling they are fine.

 

[Iamrael]

I guess the $$$ question is how much of the gap that many miss out on with the home system can be filled if we put on on a pair of VR glasses that had “pick your favorite venue” uploaded.

 

[Rt66indierock]

I guess the $$$ question is how much of the gap that many miss out on with the home system can be filled if we put on on a pair of VR glasses that had “pick your favorite venue” uploaded.

We are closer than you think without VR glasses.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

I guess the $$$ question is how much of the gap that many miss out on with the home system can be filled if we put on on a pair of VR glasses that had “pick your favorite venue” uploaded.

if you could integrate perfectly high level reproduction performance with the A.I. visuals, that would be a big step up. in theory Dolby Atmos 9.3.6 gets us close. i have that with a 4k laser projector in a separate room and.......it's just a theory. could the headgear get closer than that? maybe.

then there is the question of which environment you prefer to feel you are in.

my own view on that is that i really like being at home. in my own personal space that i did my way. listening to music on my system. but for some teasing you are in one of the great halls somewhere else is the ultimate. a matter of personal preference. but unless/until i tried the VR glasses don't know what i don't know.

 

[mitch2+]

So how did process to get to a mature system differ? And is it the owner who decides his system has now matured?


That isn't mature, that will happen when you get to analog

The process to achieve what I consider a mature system differed in my willingness early on to make wholesale system changes when I realized I had taken a direction that was ultimately not going to achieve the sound I was looking for. By saying that I now consider most of my system "mature" I am implying that the majority of my system (preamplification, amplification, speakers, subs, and supports) have achieved a level of sound quality that I will be happy with for the foreseeable future. The one area that I do not yet consider mature, or where I could see myself making more changes, is my digital front end. I have improved the sound of my digital source considerably in the past 5 years but since the industry itself has not fully matured in that area, I suspect that I will be open to trying new things as they are introduced to the marketplace.

To your question, at least in my case, the owner (me) is the only person I need to satisfy so I am the only person to determine whether my system is mature, relative to my needs, tastes, and budget. My discussion posts here are from the perspective of what works for me in my system, and are not intended to universally apply to others. As to analog, I understand the appeal and appreciate those who embrace it, but I have chosen to opt out due to the relative convenience of digital.

 

[tima]

Do you ever find yourself having to consciously put yourself in review mode?

Yes I do. There are times it is so tempting to stop taking notes, put down my pen, and simply enjoy what I'm hearing. Sometimes I do. I also try to observe myself -- what thoughts and reactions I have while listening and will make notes of that. I have kinda developed the ability to write while listening. It can be very stream of consciousness.

 

[Kingrex]

Funny thing. I set up a futon bed for a guest and I loved the change to my bass response. Just one listen. No back and forth. Put it in, heard it, loved it, kept it. Now I have a bed sitting next to me in the listening room.

 

[Kingrex]

By saying that I now consider most of my system "mature" I am implying that the majority of

@Mike Lavigne
I know you have a lot to say on this Mike, what is Mature. Do we have a thread on that?

Who decides what is mature. A dealer. A enthusiast.
What is mature? If a dealer sold me a system and set it up properly in my room, is it a mature system?
Do I have to have a dedicated room with all sorts of treatments or design elements to be mature.
Do I have to have all my electrical done right to be mature.
Do I have to use filters to be mature.
Do I have to have a level of speaker, amp, cables to be mature.
Could I just have a CD player and be considered mature.

The concept does tie into, how do you compare components. If your speakers are set up poorly in a room, how are you going to know what is a better amp? If your server sucks, did the DAC actually improve something or does it just filter noise better. A new server may make the old DAC sound better than the replacement. If your amp is not right for the speaker, maybe your selecting a preamp with to much gain to make up for the loss of power in the amp.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

@Mike Lavigne
I know you have a lot to say on this Mike, what is Mature. Do we have a thread on that?

never seen one, but lots of system building threads. really same thing, just that 'mature' indicates a certain degree of destination/fulfillment of intension. some degree of time lived with and multiple minor/major niggles sorted thru. gear broken in and settled. sorted.

Who decides what is mature. A dealer. A enthusiast.

easy to recognize a mature system when the owner seems satisfied with it over time. it's more the viewpoint of the user, than anyone else. i suppose maybe we use mature talking about higher level involved systems that do have rigorous levels of comprehensive cohesive attention.

What is mature? If a dealer sold me a system and set it up properly in my room, is it a mature system?
Do I have to have a dedicated room with all sorts of treatments or design elements to be mature.
Do I have to have all my electrical done right to be mature.
Do I have to use filters to be mature.
Do I have to have a level of speaker, amp, cables to be mature.
Could I just have a CD player and be considered mature.

none of that. no specific things. more that within the intended level of gear and source efforts they are optimized and have bases covered. but there is a wide range of valid opinions on what does that exactly mean.

The concept does tie into, how do you compare components. If your speakers are set up poorly in a room, how are you going to know what is a better amp? If your server sucks, did the DAC actually improve something or does it just filter noise better. A new server may make the old DAC sound better than the replacement. If your amp is not right for the speaker, maybe your selecting a preamp with to much gain to make up for the loss of power in the amp.

the question is whether the owner has confidence of a solid reference and getting truthful results. not anything specific.

the term mature.....or sorted.....just indicates serious efforts of system building has reached a good spot. so the gear in that system can be counted on to be optimal.

We can get into specifics of particular aspects of a system and say that the power grid is lacking, or the room is suspect, or the cables are not synergistic or really anything like that is not yet figured out and that this or that part still needs work. Is it then not mature, or not as mature as it could be?

Sure.

conversely a system still in flux where there are questions of synergy and ancillary pieces still getting figured out are not mature. that takes time to get figured out and months/years of listening and small adjustments applied. i think we know when our systems are where we like them to be. that they have arrived. not that we don't still pursue better, but that we feel right with them.

i do think that within each system building philosophical silo there are different viewpoints on what elements constitute mature. not one size fits all.

 

[mitch2+]

I have suggested every reviewer for the major publications have me come over, inspet, clean and repair if necessary their electrical. It was dramatic the change at Fremers when I did his house. Some would say the baseline just changed. But there are other characteristics that come out when the noise from old, dirty, poorly laid out electrical is fixed. I have looked at other reviewers home electrical and some is very lacking and just wrong. Others is decent.

I agree, a stable, quiet, electrical feed is important to the proper function and optimal performance of electronic audio equipment.
You also talked about "have all my electrical done right" in post #370.
Can you suggest a guide or reference that the typical audio enthusiast could access to better understand the steps necessary to have their "electrical done right"?

 

[tima]

system building philosophical silo

I like that phrase.

 

[Tangram]

Funny thing. I set up a futon bed for a guest and I loved the change to my bass response. Just one listen. No back and forth. Put it in, heard it, loved it, kept it. Now I have a bed sitting next to me in the listening room.

I hear organic latex mattresses elevate the listening experience to a whole new level.

 

[Kingrex]

I hear organic latex mattresses elevate the listening experience to a whole new level.

Rats, mine is a cotton futon. I am only getting partial performance.

Its has taken my bass to where I am totally unaware the sub is playing until I pull and interconnect. Then it is very apparent the goodness it is bringing and I immediately plug it back in.

You also talked about "have all my electrical done right" in post #370.
Can you suggest a guide or reference that the typical audio enthusiast could access to better understand the steps necessary to have their "electrical done right"?

That was my business for a long time. Unfortunately it seems to go from a phone call and couple email to many phone calls and 20 to 30 email. I am in the middle of gutting my house and remodeling. I am busy. As well as local business have found me and want me in the field installing and hooking up commercial equipment. Commercial work actually pays the bills.
I am still going to mess with the battery power supply as its of interest to me. But I am not taking on any additional consulting.

 

[microstrip]

I agree, a stable, quiet, electrical feed is important to the proper function and optimal performance of electronic audio equipment.

Great sounding, but unfortunately and in fact almost meaningless sentence. In reality mains is a dynamic and noisy signal.

You also talked about "have all my electrical done right" in post #370.
Can you suggest a guide or reference that the typical audio enthusiast could access to better understand the steps necessary to have their "electrical done right"?

IMO good electrical materials and the basic rules of mains wiring. Unfortunately all else depends on our particular system sensitivity to noise and our wishes.

 

[Iamrael]

This is my first attempt to post a video. Just going through the motions to learn.
I posted it here because eventually I want to try and capture the eff3ct that different lighting can have on listening to stereo at home per previous post in this thread.
I recorded it on my iPhone and downloaded to YouTube.