dbg@ihldt.UUCP (07/13/83)
How I test speakers:
Equipment needed:
1. Your own stereo system.
2. the manufacturer spec sheet of the speakers being tested,
3. a recently purchased album, (one you've listened to just enough
to be familiar with but haven't yet read all the liner
notes for, should be one you like)
4. a bottle of your favorite wine (preferably a dessert
wine), or your favorite beer (Pilsner Urquell, St Pauli Girl,
etc), or other favorite attitude adjustment substance.
NOTE: item 4 can be omitted according to preference as it is not an
essential link in the chain.
Procedure:
1. Move your current speakers each to the side. (distance
approx equal to width of speakers under test) Connect
new speakers.
2. Place the album of choice on the t-table and adjust the
volume control slightly higher than normal level. (I
sometimes like to turn my favorite cut way up -- in
which case you may want to lock the door and place the
phone off-hook)
3. Place the spec sheet on the coffee table in front of you
next to the album cover and liner notes.
4. Open the bottle of wine (or beer, or whatever) and pour.
5. Place the open bottle and glass on the spec sheet (to
protect the nice coffee table) and finish reading those
liner notes.
6. Continue to listen to speakers until opinion is formed
and/or bottle is empty.
Warning: Do not attempt to perform any A/B comparisons since it is
almost always more misleading than useful.
Results:
If the system doesn't sound any better than before you might
consider returning the speakers and looking into a new
cartridge.
ihldt!dbgwm@tekchips.UUCP (07/18/83)
It is very difficult to compare speakers. Even if you have the test conditions set up just right, and you can hear noticable differences between the speakers, how can you decide which sounds "better" unless you have the live music there too for comparison? The problem is that people are trying to compare the distortion and coloration of speakers, and you cannot directly compare this. I have found that the only way that I can compare speakers is to give them the "nervous test". You can do it in the showroom, you can even do it at a friend's house. The only requirement is that the rest of the system is comparable, especially the parts that might color the sound in the same way as a speaker (e.g., the phono cartridge). What you do is listen to the speakers for awhile and wait for when you get "nervous". Telltale signs are wanting to "change the station" when you are listening to a record, figiting, talking about the weather, and so on. The point of all this is that your subconscience will tell you when you have had enough of a certain sound. The best speakers for you are the ones that make you feel comfortable listening to music (this even applies to listening to punk), and lets you listen to music longer without fatigue, or makes you want to listen to music more. I have used this method for years, and it has survived all the fads. When boomy bass was popular, people were buying speakers with oversized woofers, and getting headaches listening to them. Oh, the other (newer) name for this test is the StarWars test and is summed up as follows: 1- Listen to speakers for at least an hour with different material, until you can "feel the Force". 2- "Reach out with your senses" and "trust your feelings". Sorry, Wm Leler tektronix!tekchips!wm