How to Audition Speakers

[admin]

Shopping for and auditioning speakers can be a daunting experience for newcomers to home theater, and even some veterans for that matter. There are a myriad of brands, styles, price points, and plenty of people willing to give their opinions. For many, the most exciting part of shopping for speakers is sitting down and demoing them. We have to agree. Unfortunately, walking into a HiFi shop and asking to listen to some speakers probably won't get you very far. Sure, the sales person will be happy to crank up some Pink Floyd from their iPod to ear bleeding volume levels and ask if it is the most amazing thing you have ever heard (yes, this happens quite often), but how do you know what you are hearing is because of the speakers and not the receiver, room, iPod, etc.


Discuss "How to Audition Speakers" here. Read the article.

[goodman]

Thank you for this well-crafted and clearly written article, perhaps the best I have ever read on how to audition loudspeakers.

[ack_bak]

Or, you can plan to come to the annual Audioholics Get Together (GTG) in Clearwater, Florida this October

Oh man... I am going to try and make it out for this. I grew up near Claarwater and have family nearby.. Just need to schedule a vacation with the family to Florida and then find a way to work this...

[Nuance AH]

The part about heavy metal music and "taste" is offensive, as I do listen to some of that, and I have great taste and am not deaf. Other than that the article was good, and is almost the same procedure I've been using to audition.

[gene]

The part about heavy metal music and "taste" is offensive, as I do listen to some of that, and I have great taste and am not deaf. Other than that the article was good, and is almost the same procedure I've been using to audition.

I listen to some heavy metal (no death metal though) and I would NEVER use it as demo material. With the exception to Porcupine Tree, very few metal or rock bands produce good quality recordings.

[Spookyfoot]

I listen to some heavy metal (no death metal though) and I would NEVER use it as demo material. With the exception to Porcupine Tree, very few metal or rock bands produce good quality recordings.

Progressive Metal bands such as Opeth, Dream Theater & Pain Of Salvation can be great choices for auditioning speakers with a lot of swings and dynamic shifts.

[gene]

Progressive Metal bands such as Opeth, Dream Theater & Pain Of Salvation can be great choices for auditioning speakers with a lot of swings and dynamic shifts.

I have much of those and they still don't compare to a really good Jazz recording or even the likes of music from Sting, Eagles, etc. Hey use all the music you like and as much diversity b/c ultimately it's what you listen to!

[Nuance AH]

I listen to some heavy metal (no death metal though) and I would NEVER use it as demo material. With the exception to Porcupine Tree, very few metal or rock bands produce good quality recordings.

That happens to be one of the bands that came to mind (Porcupine Tree), and also Dream Theater's "Awake" and Joe Satriani's "Electric Joe Satriani: An Anthology." It's not so much that it's not a genre that has good recordings, it's that he said:

" If you primarily listen to heavy metal or dance music, consider bringing along a friend who actually has taste and, you know, isn't deaf... "

Well all know heavy metal and rock isn't usually well recorded, but that comment had nothing to do with that. I understand he tries to justify it later in the article, but he fails to do so. That comment is an intentional insult.

I have much of those and they still don't compare to a really good Jazz recording or even the likes of music from Sting, Eagles, etc. Hey use all the music you like and as much diversity b/c ultimately it's what you listen to!

I agree with that, but some of it is pretty dynamic, not to mention can aid when you're listening for panning effects and separation of instruments. I include at least one rock song on my audition CD/tracks. It's usually Tool, Dream Theater or Joe Satriani.

Anyway, it is what it is...

Progressive Metal bands such as Opeth, Dream Theater & Pain Of Salvation can be great choices for auditioning speakers with a lot of swings and dynamic shifts.

Word.

[Spookyfoot]

My favorite tracks to play when showing off the abilities of my KEF's are...

1. Devil's Sweet - Chicago
2. Octavarium - Dream Theater
3. All The Love Of The Universe - Santana
4. Deacon Blues - Steely Dan
5. Awaken - Yes

All these tracks have moments of great space as well as passages of congestion to really highlight or expose your speakers.

[gene]

The part about heavy metal music and "taste" is offensive, as I do listen to some of that, and I have great taste and am not deaf. Other than that the article was good, and is almost the same procedure I've been using to audition.

I re-read this passage and I can see how it's insensitive to our readers so I changed it as follows:

If you primarily listen to heavily compressed music, consider bring along an audiophile friend (or his choice music collection) that has a wide diversity of quality recordings so you can use higher quality source material to really appreciate the qualities of the speakers you’re comparing.

thanks for bringing this to my attention.