Playground for practical listening exercises

[Spannko]

Double post

[Charlie1]

Much prefer A. Don’t like B at all after hearing A.

Whereas I enjoyed both last time.

[Spannko]

I prefer B, it is more coherent musically

Coherent musicality is essential, but very difficult, if not impossible, to quantify. However, once experienced, its presence is immediately obvious.

[ThomasOK]

I prefer B, it just sounds more together and expressive to me. On the previous two I preferred C.

[beck]

I prefer B

[markiteight]

I connect with the music better through B.

[lejonklou]

B

[tpetsch]

I went back and forth several times on this one because I was struggling to get a musical grasp of either clip. Then I focused on just the singing and the guitar and when I did this "A" clearly made more sense.

[tokenbrit]

A shades it for me. I hear more harmonisation between the voices in A that conveys more expression & emotion. In B the second voice is just there but not adding anything...

[springwood64]

I found this one harder than Grace Jones and in the end preferred A.

A: CD played on optical drive on Mac Mini, Music App, AirPlay to Källa

B: Spotify app on Mac Mini, AirPlay to Källa

[matthias]

I found this one harder than Grace Jones

Agree...

[matthias]

But it'll interesting once "Music Pro" is added to Spotify. The lossless audio could result in a step up in both sound quality and musicality.

Do you really think they will release it?

[Spannko]

I found this one harder than Grace Jones

Agree...

Interesting. I found it much easier, almost instantly. I wonder if we’re listening for different things? With the GJ clip, I also had a feeling that Spotify to Källa was preferable for me, but due to me having seen everyone else’s feedback before listening, I couldn’t trust my own judgment, so kept quiet, particularly since everyone preferred the CD route!

[tokenbrit]

I found this one harder than Grace Jones

Agree...

Interesting. I found it much easier, almost instantly. I wonder if we’re listening for different things? With the GJ clip, I also had a feeling that Spotify to Källa was preferable for me, but due to me having seen everyone else’s feedback before listening, I couldn’t trust my own judgment, so kept quiet, particularly since everyone preferred the CD route!

Curious about the split between A&B, I gave the clips another listen… I had already listened a few times on my phone, which I know isn’t the best for these comparisons, as well as a laptop, and via headphones on my desktop - 3 different OSs. This time I used the iPad Mini as I had it handy from Fredrik’s challenge. I was not expecting a change in my preference, so any expectation bias was in favour of A. Playing A first sounded familiar but B somehow got a boost, and really benefited from comparing on my Mini 6. It’s irritating that it’s not consistent between devices; that I can’t trust my judgement or the result I get changes with device/OS, but it is an interesting vindication of Apple devices for things musical. Does anyone else get different results depending on the device used to compare clips, or is it just me?

[Spannko]

It’s interesting that you say that tokenbrit. I was only thinking something very similar yesterday, but from a slightly different perspective. I was wondering if our preferences are related to the musicality levels of our individual systems? Similar to what you’re saying, but you’ve taken it one step nearer to the source, which in theory should have more impact.

With regard to expectation bias, I’m not sure I can rule out my own entirely self generated expectation bias even when I’m listening to two unknown items. As soon as I formulate a preference, it’s not easy to challenge my belief that one is better than another. Ideally, I could do with 10-20 randomised comparisons to check that I can genuinely hear a difference.

[springwood64]

I wonder if we’re listening for different things?

I'm more often unaligned with evaluations on this thread than otherwise, which is why I value people's comments on why they choose one clip over another.

I can then go back and listen again, differently.

I continue to find applying the tune method both difficult and the only reliable route to enduring improvements.

[springwood64]

Does anyone else get different results depending on the device used to compare clips, or is it just me?

I can more easily get an instinctive assessment on my phone, but find the more analytical listening easier on my Mac Mini plus headphones.

I've given up doing comparisons using iPad Mini and Källa as I find the tonality aspects overpowers the tune differences.

[Charlie1]

I suppose if in doubt just leave it a couple of weeks and then go back. Tune dem is only supposed to be a sped up version of doing that.

I tend to follow that approach in the office as I’m listening a lot and feel less pressure to pick the winner. I think it’s more reliable as it takes into account your listening habits over time which for me is what it’s all about.

[Spannko]

I suppose if in doubt just leave it a couple of weeks and then go back. Tune dem is only supposed to be a sped up version of doing that.

I totally agree charlie1 👍

[Whatsmynaim]

But it'll interesting once "Music Pro" is added to Spotify. The lossless audio could result in a step up in both sound quality and musicality.

Do you really think they will release it?

Yes, this time I believe they will. There's many reports online telling the release is happening late 2025.

[matthias]

Yes, this time I believe they will. There's many reports online telling the release is happening late 2025.

They do this year for year since 2021, but nothing happened.

[Whatsmynaim]

Yes, this time I believe they will. There's many reports online telling the release is happening late 2025.

They do this year for year since 2021, but nothing happened.

I know. I know. However this time there's more detailed information than ever. And I really want it to happen so I chose to believe it will ;)

[tokenbrit]

I can more easily get an instinctive assessment on my phone, but find the more analytical listening easier on my Mac Mini plus headphones.

I tend to rely more on instinct than analysis when it comes to comparisons - when I'm listening to music, I prefer that to be a relaxed, emotional connection than an (over) analytical one. In this case though, across the comparisons on different devices, my assessment(s) changed, so I question whether I can rely on either approach...

I've given up doing comparisons using iPad Mini and Källa as I find the tonality aspects overpowers the tune differences.

I've not tried this for the same reason - given the nature of the clips, I tend to think the simplest comparison (optionally including headphones) is better for a more direct connection to differences in musicality between clips. I just wasn't expecting that to be device dependant, to influence the outcome in the way that a full system might.

[tokenbrit]

I was wondering if our preferences are related to the musicality levels of our individual systems?

Do you mean comparing the clips by playing through our systems, as Pete mentioned, where "the tonality aspects overpowers the tune differences", or just what we're used to listening to/for in terms of "musicality levels"?

[Spannko]

I was wondering if our preferences are related to the musicality levels of our individual systems?

Do you mean comparing the clips by playing through our systems, as Pete mentioned, where "the tonality aspects overpowers the tune differences", or just what we're used to listening to/for in terms of "musicality levels"?

Yes, I think so. The more musical the system, the easier it should be to hear musical differences.