How to Evaluate Multiple Hi-Fi Components
Comparing multiple pieces of hi-fi equipment can be made easy, even downright simple.
A/B testing allows you to decide which sounds better, option A or option B. Music lovers at any stage of their hi-fi journey can benefit from this - first-time hi-fi owners choosing for their first system to hi-fi owners deciding on an upgrade for their system.
The listening environment
A/B comparisons attempt to create an unbiased environment to compare two hi-fi components.
The two pieces of equipment are set up side-by-side for use with the same speakers, same speaker cables, and same physical space. Listen to a short excerpt of music (10-30 seconds) on your first option and then switch to the second component, repeating the same passage of music.
If you compare a Naim Uniti Atom and Uniti Nova all-in-one player, the hi-fi retailer should manually switch the speaker cables from the Star to the Nova after 10-30 seconds of listening. With the Uniti Atom’s sound still at the front of your memory, you have an objective internal reference to compare with the Uniti Nova playing the same track.
A/B testing can be used for any component or hi-fi system in your home or at a hi-fi specialist’s listening room.
Keeping all else equal, you can compare in the same listening environment whether you will benefit from the upgraded power supply and choose between different preamplifiers.
Tune Dem Method
You should use the same method to evaluate both systems. We recommend the way discussed in our blog post ‘How to Judge a Hi-Fi System’, also known as ‘Tune Dem’, by Linn. Involving listening to the music and asking yourself a few questions:
Can you hear all the musicians playing all of the instruments all of the time?
Can you always follow the tune played by every instrument?
How easy is it to sing-along/follow with the melody?
Conclusion
A/B testing combined with the Tune Dem provides a reproducible and accurate method of choosing the right hi-fi system or component for you. Listen to a short 10-second passage of music on two options, A or B and repeat until you decide which sounds better.
A hi-fi specialist should provide you with the opportunity to listen and decide on the hi-fi gear that will bring the most musical enjoyment into your home.
Linn Tune Dem: https://www.linn.co.uk/about-us/tune-dem
Thumbnail Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash