[ruiz00tx]

I bought 2 pairs of front speakers and was wondering what the best way to compare them was. I've never done this before, should I play 1 song from a CD on one pair then connect the other pair and listen to the same song? Or do I listen to CDs and TV for an entire day with one pair then listen to the other pair the next day?


Right now I am auditioning 362's and RTi8's. After a while everything starts to sound the same. Also does it matter which one you can turn up to the higher volume. Example, let's say I would usually listen (on receiver with volume 0-99) at a 40 - 60 level. Would it matter if 1 pair could play at 70 and sound find while the other sounded like it was straining at 70 since I would probably not listen at that high of a level anyway or does that say something about the speaker?

 

[jnickrand]



Quote:
Originally Posted by ruiz00tx /forum/post/15408809


I bought 2 pairs of front speakers and was wondering what the best way to compare them was. I've never done this before, should I play 1 song from a CD on one pair then connect the other pair and listen to the same song? Or do I listen to CDs and TV for an entire day with one pair then listen to the other pair the next day?


Right now I am auditioning 362's and RTi8's. After a while everything starts to sound the same. Also does it matter which one you can turn up to the higher volume. Example, let's say I would usually listen (on receiver with volume 0-99) at a 40 - 60 level. Would it matter if 1 pair could play at 70 and sound find while the other sounded like it was straining at 70 since I would probably not listen at that high of a level anyway or does that say something about the speaker?

Ideally you'd have an A/B or zone 2 on your receiver so you could switch back and forth instantly.


It's important that you level match the speakers. Typically if one speaker is a shade louder than the other it will sound "better". You should have a rat shack meter or something similar to level match.


I'd say high volume matters only if you like to utilize that high volume. I push my speakers hard sometimes, so yeah it's important. But one thing to consider, if your speakers aren't level matched running one at 78 and one at 70 doesn't necessarily mean the 78 is playing louder.


These things help, and take some of the variables out of the equation, but at the end of the day you either hear the differences or you don't. I'm kinda noobie to comparing speakers and I think it takes time and experience to do it well. At least for the less than obvious differences.


Have fun and good luck.

 

[jakewash]

To do justice to both speakers you have to level match them somehow, so first you need to play some pink noise through them and take a reading on a SPL meter with one set then the other. Now you know which speaker will be louder than the other and roughly how much you need to turn the volume down/up for each speaker set, now you can start to listen to each for as long as you want and just take notes on what you hear with each speaker, ie. highs to noticeable, sibilance, lack of midrange/ low end etc. As long as the speakers are playing at the same volumes you should be able to ascertain which one you prefer, if they are not level matched you, and most people, will always chose the louder speaker as sounding better, as long as the 2 speakers are of a good quality.

 

[ruiz00tx]

I do have a Zone 2 ability but the wires are hooked up to 2 speakers mounted in the ceiling of my patio. I need to see if I have any extra wire laying around.

 

[jnickrand]



Quote:
Originally Posted by ruiz00tx /forum/post/15409070


I do have a Zone 2 ability but the wires are hooked up to 2 speakers mounted in the ceiling of my patio. I need to see if I have any extra wire laying around.

no extra speaker wire laying around? You could always unhook the patio speakers and leave the wires, then run new sets to the speakers you are demo'ing.

 

[ruiz00tx]

How much do SPL meters run?

 

[ruiz00tx]

Are there 1 or 2 keys I can focus on or is it more just some innate, unscientific preference that will eventually lead me in one direction or the other?

 

[ruiz00tx]

Checked out Radio Shack online for Sound Level Meters, looks they cost around $50. Call me cheap but I would hate to spend $50 to test speakers that cost me $120 and $150 ea. respectively.

 

[elee532]



Quote:
Originally Posted by ruiz00tx /forum/post/15409388


Checked out Radio Shack online for Sound Level Meters, looks they cost around $50. Call me cheap but I would hate to spend $50 to test speakers that cost me $120 and $150 ea. respectively.

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