Playground for practical listening exercises

We use the Tune Method to evaluate performance

Moderator: Staff

Charlie1
Very active member
Very active member
Posts: 4831
Joined: 2007-12-11 00:30
Location: UK

Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Post by Charlie1 »

Tendaberry wrote: 2019-10-31 14:00 In room the differences aren’t that small, but after listening to the clips I can understand the difficulty.
I have made three new clips, hopefully it will be easier this time. Two are the same cable, but in one I have done a little tweak.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/3xmlg8wgzb8xa ... 7.mov?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/jxlpiol2w7smz ... 1.mov?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/cioo62jp2ug7e ... 1.mov?dl=0
I started by comparing 1 and 2. I couldn’t really pick a clear favourite but if pushed I’d go for 2 which just seemed a bit snappier. Comparing 2 to 3 and I found 3 flowed better so that’s my pick of those clips.

EDIT I just listened again and preferred clip 1 to all three so I’m gonna have to admit i am all over the shop for some reason.
tokenbrit
Very active member
Very active member
Posts: 2038
Joined: 2012-03-22 19:47
Location: New England

Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Post by tokenbrit »

Charlie has picked all 3 so that doesn't leave me with anything... ;)

This is like Goldilocks and the Three Bears: too hot/hard; too cold/soft; just right... with 3 being just right to my ears. I'm not about to break any chairs over it tho' :)
Spannko
Very active member
Very active member
Posts: 2292
Joined: 2008-01-24 21:46
Location: North East of The Black Country, UK

Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Post by Spannko »

I’m going for No 1. I didn’t hear the same sound differences this time, but felt that No 1 was just a bit more musical.
teatime
Active member
Active member
Posts: 167
Joined: 2007-02-11 23:37

Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Post by teatime »

Tendaberry wrote: 2019-10-30 13:45 Here's a comparison of two ethernet cables: Audioquest Cinnamon vs. Blue Jeans Cable 6a.
Which do you prefer? Mind you, the BJC are brand new. 3 cables were exchanged: router - Cisco/NAS - Cisco/Cisco - ADSM

https://www.dropbox.com/s/zr4130z0bhy2w ... 4.mov?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/u4rzvmks6trrk ... 4.mov?dl=0
I found this comparison quite confusing. Initially, I found #1 better. Voice and piano seemed to harmonize better, and the additional detail in clip #2 was just confusing.

This was when listening through my Grado 1000e headphones, and has been pointed out many times, it might not benefit the experience to have "too good" playback for a given source.

When switching to the computer speakers, it was far easier to appreciate #2.. which in the end mostly leaves me confused.
teatime
Active member
Active member
Posts: 167
Joined: 2007-02-11 23:37

Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Post by teatime »

Tendaberry wrote: 2019-10-31 14:00 In room the differences aren’t that small, but after listening to the clips I can understand the difficulty.
I have made three new clips, hopefully it will be easier this time. Two are the same cable, but in one I have done a little tweak.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/3xmlg8wgzb8xa ... 7.mov?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/jxlpiol2w7smz ... 1.mov?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/cioo62jp2ug7e ... 1.mov?dl=0
Here (again on computer speakers) I would order them 3, 2, 1.

#1 has a nice-ish sound, but doesn't move me.

#2 feels much better

#3 better yet. Soundwise a smaller step than 1->2, but #3 is the only clip where I'm sorry that it (abruptly) ends
Last edited by teatime on 2019-11-01 15:42, edited 1 time in total.
Spannko
Very active member
Very active member
Posts: 2292
Joined: 2008-01-24 21:46
Location: North East of The Black Country, UK

Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Post by Spannko »

Here’s another couple of mains cable experiment videos. The setups are identical except for the ground/earth cables being star connected in two different positions. One is at the equipment end, where the power flexes would be plugged into the wall/power strip, and the other is star connected at the consumer unit/service panel.

In no particular order:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/p3lskeih7bzc ... 2.mov?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/jxpxcwbe0wzn ... 2.mov?dl=0

Enjoy!
teatime
Active member
Active member
Posts: 167
Joined: 2007-02-11 23:37

Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Post by teatime »

Spannko wrote: 2019-11-01 14:30 Here’s another couple of mains cable experiment videos. The setups are identical except for the ground/earth cables being star connected in two different positions. One is at the equipment end, where the power flexes would be plugged into the wall/power strip, and the other is star connected at the consumer unit/service panel.

In no particular order:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/p3lskeih7bzc ... 2.mov?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/jxpxcwbe0wzn ... 2.mov?dl=0

Enjoy!
Very hard. I found #2 somewhat more engaging, but that's probably because it's louder. (It is, I pulled it into Audacity to verify.)
User avatar
Tendaberry
Very active member
Very active member
Posts: 982
Joined: 2010-08-30 16:08
Location: Hamburg

Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Post by Tendaberry »

In the comparison with 3 clips, the order was this:

1. Blue Jeans untreated
2. Audioquest Cinnamon
3 Blue Jeans after slightly massing the cable, it is quite stiff when new.

My favourite is definitely clip 3
tokenbrit
Very active member
Very active member
Posts: 2038
Joined: 2012-03-22 19:47
Location: New England

Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Post by tokenbrit »

Gratifying to know since it was between 1 & 3 for me, with 3 sounding a bit more relaxed, in a good way, compared to 1. 2 just sounded wrong - I haven't liked the Cinnamon in either clip... Guess I should place an order for some Blue Jeans Cables then :)
tokenbrit
Very active member
Very active member
Posts: 2038
Joined: 2012-03-22 19:47
Location: New England

Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Post by tokenbrit »

teatime wrote: 2019-11-01 15:56 Very hard. I found #2 somewhat more engaging, but that's probably because it's louder. (It is, I pulled it into Audacity to verify.)
Agree that was tricky & close between the two, but thanks for highlighting the volume difference. I adjusted the laptop volume to try to 'equalise' the two clips... After doing so, I had a very slight preference for 1 - it just seemed a little more harmonious with a more natural dynamics & flow than 2.
Last edited by tokenbrit on 2019-11-01 18:33, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Tendaberry
Very active member
Very active member
Posts: 982
Joined: 2010-08-30 16:08
Location: Hamburg

Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Post by Tendaberry »

@ tokenbrit: I would certainly recommend it, they're much better "in room" than the clips show.
Spannko
Very active member
Very active member
Posts: 2292
Joined: 2008-01-24 21:46
Location: North East of The Black Country, UK

Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Post by Spannko »

Charlie1 wrote: 2019-10-31 11:47 It's now a Tidal, Qobuz and Spotify comparison. I had decided to ignore Spotify. I thought it would be like Google Play and just end up with tons of drop outs cos it wasn't fully integrated into Kazoo but so far so good. Perhaps under the hood it's not working quite the same way as Google Play did. For those that don’t use a Linn streamer, you can control Tidal and Qobuz via Linn Kazoo, whereas Spotify must be controlled through their app, same as Google Play.

All three are the basic, non-HiFi / non-CD quality services.

I wanted to try and avoid the issue of different releases over the years so picked two from this year. Qobuz is not so good for rock/pop (our taste) so Ariana Grande seemed a safe bet. But then I was very surprised they had a local band called Foals.

Tidal - Foals: https://www.dropbox.com/s/4p4qmo74czz49 ... 5.MOV?dl=0
Tidal - Ariana: https://www.dropbox.com/s/dwv1r1hfgnbrr ... 6.MOV?dl=0

Qobuz - Foals: https://www.dropbox.com/s/essxbvni8dkgt ... 7.MOV?dl=0
Qobuz - Ariana: https://www.dropbox.com/s/04ai0s2oqh1kb ... 8.MOV?dl=0

Spotify - Foals: https://www.dropbox.com/s/jhy25pwtw07r9 ... 0.MOV?dl=0
Spotify - Ariana: https://www.dropbox.com/s/sl7cju49oklew ... 3.MOV?dl=0

As a side event, you can watch me slowly get a log burner going although I did get there eventually.
I prefer the cheapest one! The “best” one isn’t worth the extra expenditure imho :-)
Spannko
Very active member
Very active member
Posts: 2292
Joined: 2008-01-24 21:46
Location: North East of The Black Country, UK

Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Post by Spannko »

Tendaberry wrote: 2019-11-01 15:57 In the comparison with 3 clips, the order was this:

1. Blue Jeans untreated
2. Audioquest Cinnamon
3 Blue Jeans after slightly massing the cable, it is quite stiff when new.

My favourite is definitely clip 3
I preferred the BJ to the AQ twice. I think it’s about time I did the BJ vs Meicord vid!
David Neel
Very active member
Very active member
Posts: 975
Joined: 2008-02-08 23:17
Location: The Magical Forest

Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Post by David Neel »

Spannko wrote: 2019-11-01 23:06 I think it’s about time I did the BJ vs Meicord vid!
Yes...
The search for knowledge is not nourished by certainty, but by a radical distrust in certainty
Charlie1
Very active member
Very active member
Posts: 4831
Joined: 2007-12-11 00:30
Location: UK

Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Post by Charlie1 »

teatime wrote: 2019-11-01 15:56 Very hard. I found #2 somewhat more engaging, but that's probably because it's louder. (It is, I pulled it into Audacity to verify.)
Yes, I'm struggling too. #1 is more polite and I also seem to get more out of #2.
Charlie1
Very active member
Very active member
Posts: 4831
Joined: 2007-12-11 00:30
Location: UK

Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Post by Charlie1 »

Spannko wrote: 2019-11-01 23:01 I prefer the cheapest one! The “best” one isn’t worth the extra expenditure imho :-)
I'm only looking at the standard £10 per month Tidal service. However, you've made me question if the 3-month initial trial has been streaming at higher quality...

EDIT: Checked and Tidal/Qobuz were 44.1kHz/320kbps. Spotify was 44.1kHz/16bit 1.4Mbps which is annoying - unless that's the quality on offer by the £10 service...
tokenbrit
Very active member
Very active member
Posts: 2038
Joined: 2012-03-22 19:47
Location: New England

Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Post by tokenbrit »

Couldn't hear much difference, if any. Maybe a little sound difference in favour(?) of Qobuz... Any meaningful musical difference in room?
Since it's for streaming rather than critical listening, if there's little to nothing in it musically, then other factors likely weigh higher, inc content, cost, integration/usability, reliability...
Charlie1
Very active member
Very active member
Posts: 4831
Joined: 2007-12-11 00:30
Location: UK

Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Post by Charlie1 »

tokenbrit wrote: 2019-11-02 13:48 Couldn't hear much difference, if any. Maybe a little sound difference in favour(?) of Qobuz... Any meaningful musical difference in room?
Since it's for streaming rather than critical listening, if there's little to nothing in it musically, then other factors likely weigh higher, inc content, cost, integration/usability, reliability...
Not such of a musical difference. I had a slight preference for Tidal.

But similar to your comment, the actual decision has been made based on pressure from the kids - i.e. they want to use the Spotify app (can't say I blame them).
Last edited by Charlie1 on 2019-11-02 14:54, edited 1 time in total.
Spannko
Very active member
Very active member
Posts: 2292
Joined: 2008-01-24 21:46
Location: North East of The Black Country, UK

Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Post by Spannko »

David Neel wrote: 2019-11-02 11:42
Spannko wrote: 2019-11-01 23:06 I think it’s about time I did the BJ vs Meicord vid!
Yes...
Where’s the embarrassed emoji when you need one! (David sent me a BJC ages ago)
maffe
Very active member
Very active member
Posts: 300
Joined: 2016-02-14 20:05

Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Post by maffe »

Better or worst?
Just moved the power strip in the socket.
Kaos (Chaos), our cat, heard his name screwed out so he turned up in the second clip :P

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-9B8 ... W-1280.mp4

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-Q6h ... B-1280.mp4
Charlie1
Very active member
Very active member
Posts: 4831
Joined: 2007-12-11 00:30
Location: UK

Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Post by Charlie1 »

maffe wrote: 2019-11-02 21:17 Better or worst?
Just moved the power strip in the socket.
Kaos (Chaos), our cat, heard his name screwed out so he turned up in the second clip :P

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-9B8 ... W-1280.mp4

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-Q6h ... B-1280.mp4
Nice to get back to vinyl.

Second clip suits me much better.
beck
Very active member
Very active member
Posts: 2752
Joined: 2012-10-22 22:25

Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Post by beck »

I agree with Charlie1.

That cat has a nice influence on the music. :-)
Playing cd’s…………
maffe
Very active member
Very active member
Posts: 300
Joined: 2016-02-14 20:05

Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Post by maffe »

So there you have it, next big upgrade a cat that loves music!
Spannko
Very active member
Very active member
Posts: 2292
Joined: 2008-01-24 21:46
Location: North East of The Black Country, UK

Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Post by Spannko »

Here’s a little more light entertainment :-)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/jxpxcwbe0wzn ... 2.mov?dl=0

This next one has two changes applied. 1. The safety grounds are joined at the system end (with a 2.5mm2 ground wire going back to the consumer unit/service panel), rather than at the consumer unit/service panel & 2. The Dorik amp’s are both protected by one breaker & the DS + Melco are both protected by a second breaker ie one power circuit (of two radials) for the “brawn” (fluctuating high current) and one (of two radials) for the “brain” (more regular low current).

https://www.dropbox.com/s/kona4ki9lqmo ... 7.mov?dl=0

Enjoy!
Last edited by Spannko on 2019-11-03 08:03, edited 2 times in total.
tokenbrit
Very active member
Very active member
Posts: 2038
Joined: 2012-03-22 19:47
Location: New England

Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Post by tokenbrit »

There's something immediately engaging about the first one that wasn't there for me in the second...
Post Reply