Playground for practical listening exercises

[Tendaberry]

Thanks for posting the clips David.

I’m usually in agreement with the mob here, but on this occasion I have a preference for the second clips on both pair 1 and pair 2. Both of the first clips sounded to me as though they were really struggling with the rhythm and tune. The second clips appeared to be better in that respect.

For the 3rd pair of clips I preferred clip 1

The recordings are great too. What did you record them on?

Actually, I'm with you on this, Spannko. So you're not alone...

[David Neel]

I've had to delete the previous links to make space in Dropbox, but thanks for all the comments.

Here are three more pairs. The first is now deleted to free up dropbox space.

1. deleted
2. deleted

1. https://www.dropbox.com/s/y8uxfz42140az ... 5.mp4?dl=0
2. https://www.dropbox.com/s/39pixwgl5oi93 ... 7.mp4?dl=0

1. https://www.dropbox.com/s/n2c7f6a2m09y6 ... 5.mp4?dl=0
2. https://www.dropbox.com/s/by9k6xvnoox82 ... 7.mp4?dl=0

[Charlie1]

Hard for me to compare with this type of music. I had some success with the last piece of music, starting half way through. I preferred clip 1 - easier for my brain to interpret and follow.

Interested to know what you think of all these clips. What about yesterday's clips?

[David Neel]

For yesterday's clips, I'm with Spannko and Tenderberry. I prefer my LSNAS to my HAKAI NAS. But do remember there are other variables in the build.

For today's, I've only listened to the clips enough to check they are working. I have, of course, listened to them live. I know which I prefer in the flesh, and I suspect that the differences in presentation are not necessarily well captured in the clips. I'm looking for more input before I show my hand!

Edit: I'm going to delete the first pair, too quiet. Will add something else shortly.

[tokenbrit]

I'm also with Spannko on the first 2 rounds. Still need to listen to the 3rd round of clips to decide... Hopefully later this eve when it's quiet, and will have had a glass or 2 of Tuscan wine to relax ;)

[ThomasOK]

I've had to delete the previous links to make space in Dropbox, but thanks for all the comments.

Here are three more pairs. The first is now deleted to free up dropbox space.

1. deleted
2. deleted

1. https://www.dropbox.com/s/y8uxfz42140az ... 5.mp4?dl=0
2. https://www.dropbox.com/s/39pixwgl5oi93 ... 7.mp4?dl=0

1. https://www.dropbox.com/s/n2c7f6a2m09y6 ... 5.mp4?dl=0
2. https://www.dropbox.com/s/by9k6xvnoox82 ... 7.mp4?dl=0

I'm sorry I missed the NAS clips but I was in Canada for the Labor Day holiday enjoying Lake Erie and the beautiful marshes of Point Pelee.

I expect I am not listening to NAS units on this as it looks like the LP12 is playing. I preferred clip 1 in both cases. I found that they let me relax into the music whereas the 2nd clips made my chest restrict a bit and I couldn't feel the flow as well. The system sounds quite nice, too bad you have to look at such a poor view while you are listening! ;-)

[David Neel]

I'm sorry I missed the NAS clips but I was in Canada for the Labor Day holiday enjoying Lake Erie and the beautiful marshes of Point Pelee.

I expect I am not listening to NAS units on this as it looks like the LP12 is playing. I preferred clip 1 in both cases. I found that they let me relax into the music whereas the 2nd clips made my chest restrict a bit and I couldn't feel the flow as well. The system sounds quite nice, too bad you have to look at such a poor view while you are listening! ;-)

Great excuse for missing the NAS clips, hope you enjoyed it!

No, this isn't NAS, as you correctly infer from the LP12 playing. It's all to do with power strips and cords, and is forcing me to question my sanity, as some results contradict what I was hearing a few days ago. I'm working back to see what may have caused this, so please bear with me as I tease these comparisons out.

As for the view, nothing will ever top the Glasgow one :)

[beck]

+1 to Thomas comments.

Being classical trained I gave a good listen to the last set of clips (is it Wagner?). I really do not like how it sounds at the end listening to the second clip. I feel like the violins are playing against the rest of the orchestra carving a space for themselves instead of playing together with the other instruments. It is easy to hear the difference in “sound” but to enjoy the music I would choose the first setup.

One more thing: listening to clips can still surprice me and I have done it for quite a while so do not be too surpriced that they may convey something that you did not notice when sitting in front of your system listening........ :-)

[lejonklou]

One more thing: listening to clips can still surprice me and I have done it for quite a while so do not be too surpriced that they may convey something that you did not notice when sitting in front of your system listening........ :-)

Very true!

Although in-room clips strip away the finer detail, they can highlight other - and sometimes more fundamental - aspects of the reproduction. I find that after listening to my own clips, I am often more enlightened regarding the presentation and can later hear those aspects when listening in the room as well.

[lejonklou]

I've had to delete the previous links to make space in Dropbox, but thanks for all the comments.

Here are three more pairs. The first is now deleted to free up dropbox space.

1. deleted
2. deleted

1. https://www.dropbox.com/s/y8uxfz42140az ... 5.mp4?dl=0
2. https://www.dropbox.com/s/39pixwgl5oi93 ... 7.mp4?dl=0

1. https://www.dropbox.com/s/n2c7f6a2m09y6 ... 5.mp4?dl=0
2. https://www.dropbox.com/s/by9k6xvnoox82 ... 7.mp4?dl=0

I think 1 is better than 2 in both cases.

[David Neel]

Thank you beck,

Yes, it's Wagner, the Rienzi overture, conducted by Klemperer.

[David Neel]

I think 1 is better than 2 in both cases.

I'm afraid I agree with you! This not the answer I wanted.... my face is red....

[Spannko]

First clips for me too. At least we’re all in agreement this time!

Re: Conflicting results when changing the mains wiring.

I almost started a new thread about this today, but I wanted to try and understand a bit more about what’s going on first. However, since you’ve brought it up I’ll share my very tentative thoughts.

I’ve noticed a pattern whereby a newly plugged in wiring arrangement sounds pretty poor in comparison to the same arrangement after a period of use. I don’t know what causes the variation in performance, but I am wondering if it is linked to mechanical stresses in the cables and/or connectors gradually relaxing resulting in a better sound? I know that Naim claim that stress in some of their cables adversely affects performance, which is why they designed their own low stress mains plugs. They also recommend that their owners shake the snaic in order to reduce stress (titter ye not!) and improve sound quality. Alternatively, it could simply be that although the system has only been powered down for a matter of seconds it still takes about 10 mins to come back on song. Either way, it’s important to allow enough time between changes in order for everything to settle down again. The second explanation is most likely to be the correct one, but it’s not very interesting and certainly doesn’t give the same opportunity for a bit of gratuitous smut! lol :-)

[David Neel]

Thank you Spannko! Your hypothesis fits well with my observations, the number two clips have in all cases been immediately after a power-down and cable change. I will experiment further tomorrow.

[tokenbrit]

Chianti accord: +1 for #1

[matthias]

David,

I think it would be very interesting to compare with clips the ESI DAC to Akurate DS.

Matt

[Charlie1]

I’ve noticed a pattern whereby a newly plugged in wiring arrangement sounds pretty poor in comparison to the same arrangement after a period of use. I don’t know what causes the variation in performance, but I am wondering if it is linked to mechanical stresses in the cables and/or connectors gradually relaxing resulting in a better sound? I know that Naim claim that stress in some of their cables adversely affects performance, which is why they designed their own low stress mains plugs. They also recommend that their owners shake the snaic in order to reduce stress (titter ye not!) and improve sound quality. Alternatively, it could simply be that although the system has only been powered down for a matter of seconds it still takes about 10 mins to come back on song. Either way, it’s important to allow enough time between changes in order for everything to settle down again. The second explanation is most likely to be the correct one, but it’s not very interesting and certainly doesn’t give the same opportunity for a bit of gratuitous smut! lol :-)

What about making a change before doing the first clip? That way the setup is changed around before each recording. Just an idea.

[Spannko]

I’ve noticed a pattern whereby a newly plugged in wiring arrangement sounds pretty poor in comparison to the same arrangement after a period of use. I don’t know what causes the variation in performance, but I am wondering if it is linked to mechanical stresses in the cables and/or connectors gradually relaxing resulting in a better sound? I know that Naim claim that stress in some of their cables adversely affects performance, which is why they designed their own low stress mains plugs. They also recommend that their owners shake the snaic in order to reduce stress (titter ye not!) and improve sound quality. Alternatively, it could simply be that although the system has only been powered down for a matter of seconds it still takes about 10 mins to come back on song. Either way, it’s important to allow enough time between changes in order for everything to settle down again. The second explanation is most likely to be the correct one, but it’s not very interesting and certainly doesn’t give the same opportunity for a bit of gratuitous smut! lol :-)

What about making a change before doing the first clip? That way the setup is changed around before each recording. Just an idea.

The deterioration in musicality (not so much sound) is quite substantial. Switching everything off before each recording wouldn’t do justice to the equipment and would make it harder to come to any meaningful conclusions.

Other than that, it’s a great idea idea charlie1. Keep ‘em coming! :-)

[Spannko]

David,

I think it would be very interesting to compare with clips the ESI DAC to Akurate DS.

Matt

Agreed !

[Charlie1]

Other than that, it’s a great idea idea charlie1. Keep ‘em coming! :-)

LOL :)

[David Neel]

David,

I think it would be very interesting to compare with clips the ESI DAC to Akurate DS.

Matt

That will happen. But for the moment I will focus on the power strips.

[matthias]

David,
I think it would be very interesting to compare with clips the ESI DAC to Akurate DS.

That will happen.

Thank you.

Matt

[lejonklou]

David,

I think it would be very interesting to compare with clips the ESI DAC to Akurate DS.

Matt

Do you mean HAKAI versus ADS? Or how else would you compare a DAC to a complete source?

[matthias]

David,
I think it would be very interesting to compare with clips the ESI DAC to Akurate DS.
Matt

Do you mean HAKAI versus ADS? Or how else would you compare a DAC to a complete source?

Yes, HAKAI vs. ADS or is it possible for HAKAI to work as renderer for ADS so this would be a third configuration to test.

Matt

[David Neel]

So this set of pairs is for matthias and Spannko:

1. https://www.dropbox.com/s/8i7igr7jpftu6 ... 1.mp4?dl=0
2. https://www.dropbox.com/s/oivahlxtbpc47 ... 9.mp4?dl=0

1. https://www.dropbox.com/s/nba1h175yjr51 ... 4.mp4?dl=0
2. https://www.dropbox.com/s/14gnt1h29oca7 ... 1.mp4?dl=0

1. https://www.dropbox.com/s/vtraj14na4h1p ... 7.mp4?dl=0
2. https://www.dropbox.com/s/115frao6y49ay ... 9.mp4?dl=0