Playground for practical listening exercises

[Spannko]

There’s obviously something about the standard table that people like, but for me, I prefer the modified version. The standard version appears to make the band play in a metronomic way, with an old naim style strong percussive leading edge. Whereas the modified version seems to make the band sound like a really well rehearsed group of old timers who just relax into the music and let the rhythms flow.

[Charlie1]

There’s obviously something about the standard table that people like, but for me, I prefer the modified version. The standard version appears to make the band play in a metronomic way, with an old naim style strong percussive leading edge. Whereas the modified version seems to make the band sound like a really well rehearsed group of old timers who just relax into the music and let the rhythms flow.

Tx, I will listen again. Do you hear this more in one clip than the others?

[Spannko]

There’s obviously something about the standard table that people like, but for me, I prefer the modified version. The standard version appears to make the band play in a metronomic way, with an old naim style strong percussive leading edge. Whereas the modified version seems to make the band sound like a really well rehearsed group of old timers who just relax into the music and let the rhythms flow.

Tx, I will listen again. Do you hear this more in one clip than the others?

Not really, tbh. It’s there in both clips for me. It’ll be interesting to see how you get on with longer listening, cos this is always the acid test - the one you prefer to live with.

[Charlie1]

I've been listening again and think I'm with spannko now (with maybe exception of the very first pair of clips) - sorry beck and Tendaberry. Don't worry, I'll have changed my mind again by end of play today!

[V.A.MKD]

Ok, clips uploaded.
A variation of yesterday’s clips.

3a
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-cvB ... R-1280.mp4
3b
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-RNL ... 8-1280.mp4

4a
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-X3H ... n-1280.mp4
4b
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-kPX ... V-1280.mp4

Enjoy!

A little bit late ... I'm for meow ... :-)

Use only 3 and very hard for decision ... very very small advantage on A.

[V.A.MKD]

Old ground but perhaps still of interest...

Standard Lack: https://www.dropbox.com/s/05afvqnu0q1xv ... D.MOV?dl=0
Lack with innards removed: https://www.dropbox.com/s/5xaxu6p88eylo ... D.MOV?dl=0

Hopefully, Oscar won't have heard this track a million times :D

I choose "Standard" ... more ... hard to find words ... OK
"Modified" is "like" they are on the beach, do not care how they will sound and send the message to the audience ... just relaxed for party ...

[V.A.MKD]

Which one do you prefer?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/s7uzqz8sy7be1 ... H.mov?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/83dsthm3yiw5h ... R.mov?dl=0

/Kallesprätt

I think all who responded thought the first clip was better, the differences is always bigger in the room. My girlfriend thought the second clip was unlistenable when she heard the differences in the room.

Now, same test different source:

Which one is best:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/2twzvfy1llw38 ... H.mp4?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/zsdzyrsznnoaw ... R.mp4?dl=0

/Kallesprätt

Clip 3 is better for me ...

[V.A.MKD]

The swap back:
Without innards: https://www.dropbox.com/s/4ttgzzifbrekj ... D.MOV?dl=0
Standard: https://www.dropbox.com/s/w68f9kbr5e6gi ... D.MOV?dl=0

Perhaps the cut out Lack was never better then. I did my first one 30 years ago cos the dealer said it was better, and that was the end of it.

Standard again is better for me ...

[maffe]

@Charlie1: Standard for me

I was going to make a few more clips tonight, but then I remembered that it’s SINGularity and Entity night at Tonläget. So sorry, it have to wait :P

[V.A.MKD]

@Charlie1: Standard for me

I was going to make a few more clips tonight, but then I remembered that it’s SINGularity and Entity night at Tonläget. So sorry, it have to wait :P

Make Clip with SINGularity and Entity ... :-)

[Charlie1]

Entity vs Urika 1 would be good too.

[V.A.MKD]

Entity vs Urika 1 would be good too.

That is clear ... :-)
SINGularity vs Entity x 2 ..... :-)

[ThomasOK]

Post edit: I realise by listening again to the clips that the difference here is too small with this set to be heard. Well, I will try again if I find a better example.

I think that's a good example.

The second clip is clearly much better beck ;) ... just kiddin'!

I didn't have a problem with them. The second one sounds disjointed and stilted, first is rather good.

[ThomasOK]

The swap back:
Without innards: https://www.dropbox.com/s/4ttgzzifbrekj ... D.MOV?dl=0
Standard: https://www.dropbox.com/s/w68f9kbr5e6gi ... D.MOV?dl=0

Perhaps the cut out Lack was never better then. I did my first one 30 years ago cos the dealer said it was better, and that was the end of it.

Better standard on both the first two sets of clips.

[ThomasOK]

Which one do you prefer?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/s7uzqz8sy7be1 ... H.mov?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/83dsthm3yiw5h ... R.mov?dl=0

/Kallesprätt

I think all who responded thought the first clip was better, the differences is always bigger in the room. My girlfriend thought the second clip was unlistenable when she heard the differences in the room.

Now, same test different source:

Which one is best:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/2twzvfy1llw38 ... H.mp4?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/zsdzyrsznnoaw ... R.mp4?dl=0

/Kallesprätt

Clip 3 is better for me ...

I prefer Clip 3 as well.

[ThomasOK]

Yes, I can now hear the trap (recording) I might have fallen in, as with the ThomasOk clips! Maybe we (I) are reaching a kind of limit when differences are small? Or I have to adjust......

Don’t think you have fallen into any trap!
Testing different variations with one vs two slipsik

So when are you going to let us know which is which?

[ThomasOK]

OK, more clips, aided and abetted by Bella. There are three clips here but they are not an A/B/C. Compare Clip A to Clip B and let me know which one you feel is better. Then compare Clip B to Clip C and do the same. You are comparing two different changes, they just have Clip B in common.

Clip A
https://www.dropbox.com/s/4vf8fay8nxc2v ... m.mov?dl=0

Clip B
https://www.dropbox.com/s/9mtmlv0yarn87 ... m.mov?dl=0

Clip C
https://www.dropbox.com/s/e7k1q9ftpwgzm ... m.mov?dl=0

[tokenbrit]

Not sure what you're changing but, using B as the reference, it sounds a little clipped, almost staccato... A flows better but a bit too much that it almost seems to blend into one & looses impact... not sure I like either, but would pick A if I had to go with the flow... Comparing B & C is much easier: B separates too much (A blurs) while C brings the elements together in a balanced & enjoyable way - C is my Goldilocks. (Bella agrees: she was obviously trying to figure what was wrong with A & B; could settle down & relax with C :)

[markiteight]

OK, more clips, aided and abetted by Bella. There are three clips here but they are not an A/B/C. Compare Clip A to Clip B and let me know which one you feel is better. Then compare Clip B to Clip C and do the same. You are comparing two different changes, they just have Clip B in common.

Clip A
https://www.dropbox.com/s/4vf8fay8nxc2v ... m.mov?dl=0

Clip B
https://www.dropbox.com/s/9mtmlv0yarn87 ... m.mov?dl=0

Clip C
https://www.dropbox.com/s/e7k1q9ftpwgzm ... m.mov?dl=0

A vs. B: B. Starting with A I wondered if this was an alternate take or a different version than the one I'm accustom to. Switching from A to B was like removing a pair of new, stiff boots after 10 hours and slipping into a favorite pair of slippers.

B vs. C: C. Now the slippers are perfectly broken in. This is the music I've come to expect from your clips. Thanks for letting it play for a bit.

[markiteight]

The swap back:
Without innards: https://www.dropbox.com/s/4ttgzzifbrekj ... D.MOV?dl=0
Standard: https://www.dropbox.com/s/w68f9kbr5e6gi ... D.MOV?dl=0

Perhaps the cut out Lack was never better then. I did my first one 30 years ago cos the dealer said it was better, and that was the end of it.

Better standard on both the first two sets of clips.

Agreed. Modified sounds a bit trappy. I want to like it, especially with the Valhalla deck, but standard seems more natural.

[tokenbrit]

The swap back:
Without innards: https://www.dropbox.com/s/4ttgzzifbrekj ... D.MOV?dl=0
Standard: https://www.dropbox.com/s/w68f9kbr5e6gi ... D.MOV?dl=0

Perhaps the cut out Lack was never better then. I did my first one 30 years ago cos the dealer said it was better, and that was the end of it.

Better standard on both the first two sets of clips.

Agreed. Modified sounds a bit trappy. I want to like it, especially with the Valhalla deck, but standard seems more natural.

+1 - there's something missing without the innards...

[beck]

OK, more clips, aided and abetted by Bella. There are three clips here but they are not an A/B/C. Compare Clip A to Clip B and let me know which one you feel is better. Then compare Clip B to Clip C and do the same. You are comparing two different changes, they just have Clip B in common.

Clip A
https://www.dropbox.com/s/4vf8fay8nxc2v ... m.mov?dl=0

Clip B
https://www.dropbox.com/s/9mtmlv0yarn87 ... m.mov?dl=0

Clip C
https://www.dropbox.com/s/e7k1q9ftpwgzm ... m.mov?dl=0

B is my clip. I think it is “perfect”. Listening to both A and C I hear something as “bended”.

[beck]

I would like to warn against the use (my use) of the word “perfect” :-).

Nothing is perfect. Even when we get close to what we search for using “the tune method” things can still be less than satisfying. There are too many unknowns in the mix. We cannot get around them all.

The tune method is just the best tool we have in the box right now.

If this imperfect example can make me happy:

Link removed

there is room for a wealth of different systems to make us all happy.

The “playground” should not end up as an excluding tool pointing fingers at joyful hifi systems. :-)

[OscarH]

OK, more clips, aided and abetted by Bella. There are three clips here but they are not an A/B/C. Compare Clip A to Clip B and let me know which one you feel is better. Then compare Clip B to Clip C and do the same. You are comparing two different changes, they just have Clip B in common.

Comparing A-B I clearly preferred B. The intro is tighter and fuller (the latter may be a matter of preference rather than tune though...)

Then when I got to B-C I suspect B had already become how I wanted/expected it to sound so unsure my opinion is objective...

[Charlie1]

Not sure what you're changing but, using B as the reference, it sounds a little clipped, almost staccato... A flows better but a bit too much that it almost seems to blend into one & looses impact... not sure I like either, but would pick A if I had to go with the flow... Comparing B & C is much easier: B separates too much (A blurs) while C brings the elements together in a balanced & enjoyable way - C is my Goldilocks. (Bella agrees: she was obviously trying to figure what was wrong with A & B; could settle down & relax with C :)

My preferences align with tokenbrit's above.
I too struggled between A and B.
The only other thing to add is that I particularly enjoyed C's more vicious vocal.