What is the best way to demo speakers.

[adk highlander]

In the next couple of months I am going to take the plunge and upgrade my speakers. I have two local dealers who carry most of the brands I am looking to buy. I know I should use the same CD's in both places but does anyone have suggestions on other things I should do to get the most out of each demo. Should I move the speakers so I hear each one from the exact same position?

These are the brands I am going to demo:

Dealer 1:
Monitor Audio - Silver
Paradigm
Wharfedale - EVO 2 10

Dealer 2:
PSB - Image and G-Design
Mordaunt Short
KEF - IQ series

I am also interested in the AV123 Rockets (450 or 760) so if anyone has these and compared them to any of the companies I have mentioned please speak up.

Thanks.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

See if they will let you put down a deposit and try them at home, in the exact positions where you hope to end up using them. Also, be sure to listen at the exact same loudness (actual SPL at the listening position, not volume setting), and with the exact same material.

 

[mtrycrafts]

In the next couple of months I am going to take the plunge and upgrade my speakers. I have two local dealers who carry most of the brands I am looking to buy. I know I should use the same CD's in both places but does anyone have suggestions on other things I should do to get the most out of each demo. Should I move the speakers so I hear each one from the exact same position?

These are the brands I am going to demo:

Dealer 1:
Monitor Audio - Silver
Paradigm
Wharfedale - EVO 2 10

Dealer 2:
PSB - Image and G-Design
Mordaunt Short
KEF - IQ series

I am also interested in the AV123 Rockets (450 or 760) so if anyone has these and compared them to any of the companies I have mentioned please speak up.

Thanks.

You may find it difficult to move the speakers into the same spots but you can try. At least you can compare the three speakers in each store, but not at all to the other speakers in the other store. Memory is just not that good.
Also, the acoustic space in each will be different and also different from your home as Joe eluded to by trying it at your home. That may not be possible.

And as Joe indicated, try to do it at the same volume levels. May want to use a test tone at say 1kHz and a volume level, say 70dB spl, then your musical selections. Do this at both stores.
Hard to try to match levels with music; which instant segment?

You may also want a brief excursion to higher volume levels to hear problem areas.

 

[mazersteven]

Audition with your own material (CD's, DVD's). Listen to the same songs, and movies over, and over again with the different speakers. Take your time, and have fun auditioning.

Another great way is to get involved with member get-togethers. Something I don't see on this forum (I might start a thread on this). It's a great way to
1. Meet new people.
2. Learn.
3. Audition speakers.

 

[MUDSHARK]

GTG thread would be a great idea for all the reasons you mentioned.

 

[adk highlander]

Thanks for the responses. I know it will be hard to know what they will sound like at home compared to the places I will be doing the demos. Both places do not have good listening rooms so it should only get better when I am home. I think once I narrow down the choices both dealers would let me bring them home to test.

I was quoted a great price on the Monitor Silvers so if I like them they could be my choice from that dealer. I have always liked the PSB's when I have heard them so I may try and compare those to the Monitors.

 

[annunaki]

I would highly suggest using music you are familiar with. Be sure to match the volume as close as possible. Bring a notebook to take notes for each one. Note what you like and dislike about each speaker. Sound, aesthetics, appearance all of it comes into play. Obviously the sound is the most important, but the other things are all factors.

 

[WmAx]

Unfortunately, simply listening without an accurate reference point is all but useless. I recommend a very high quality and linear headphone as a reference point. This reference point is unaffected by room acoustics and it will provide a steady reference in which you can make notes to compare. However, you must try to equal SPL between the headphones and speakers as well as possible. It can be done measurably with a SPL meter, but it will still have a 1dB or slightly higher error. To equalize volume - use a *band limited white noise source(500hz-3khz band is sufficient) and set the speaker volume at listening position to a predetermined Db level. Now, to set the headphones, play the same signal through them, but have a small wooden box made with 4 sides(no front or back is needed) that is the same width of your head, with a hole drilled in it for the SPL meter mic to fit into(have the mic fit flush with board surface and use some thin closed cell weather stripping material to line the hole for a snug air-tight fit) at the ear position and a shelf for the SPL meter to rest/be stabilized. Place the headphones on this and play the signal and adjust volume to achieve the desired SPL value.

You can also set volume by ear, but a 2 or 3dB error can easily result.

-Chris

*Band-limited signal is suggested in order to avoid the frequency response differences in response that will occur outside of the suggested band due to head/jig differences.