ABX testing with AQ Dragon power cords

This thread has gone way off topic with talk about speaker positioning! As if that is going to make one power cord distinguishable from another! Oy ve!

Is the amplifier and preamplifier plugged into the wall or is that a power strip / power conditioner behind the rack?

@baylinor Nailed it and meticulous installation of the various components from ground to panel, picking phase legs, wire to dedicated outlets and hospital grade high clamping force outlets are a must.

To the OP…. your rack / gear make a nice proxy wall… how far off that are you ? 

BTW power cords, given competent appropriate grade and gauge materials and fantastic shield are the LAST thing i muck around with….

Best to all in music ;-)

I listened for awhile & I do like the sound so I'll keep it like this for awhile & play some records. Time will tell. 

Looks like toe in is about the same, and since the speakers are closer together you might try a little less toe in especially if images seem too centered and soundstage width is compromised or less than desired.  I’d think bass may also sound a bit different and along with it the overall frequency balance of the sound that’d be worth assessing as you listen further.  In my system/room this type of positioning produced a bigger 3D soundstage, the bass was better integrated and balanced with everything else, and the speakers disappeared better so some things to listen for but your experience could well be different.  As always, lotsa variables and your ears will tell you what’s right/better, and after a while moving the speakers back to their original position will likely be very telling and informative.  Anyway, glad to hear there are at least some things you like so far, and keep us posted with your findings if you could.

1. OP Please make a comparison video. I am sure I can hear them difference.  Alex/WTA

I’ve rarely witnessed so much worthless energy and emotion expended. 
 

Bye Felicia 

Good of you to try!

The equal triangle distance is something that is rebuked by many. The ideal distance between the speakers should be about 83% of the distance between your ears and the speakers. Meaning you would be better off 100" from the speakers since they are 83" apart. The other important component to all that is to have at least 8 feet behind your head to the back wall. If you don't then you would need to shorten the distances between the speakers and yourself. Anyway, once I found this out, I have never had any inclination to change it. Main difference is my speakers have less than a 1/2" of tow in because my acoustic treatments allow for it. The toe in thing is obviously speaker dependant but the room has a lot to do with it. Your speakers look like the kind that could sound best if aimed straight out if your first reflection points are correctly treated. I use high diffusion there with absorption for second reflection points right next to it. Funny how this thing started with cables and moved onto things that will have much bigger impacts. Glad you are keeping an open mind. Enjoy the journey!

In all the cable cable controversy, it is the cable believers who so quickly go to the ad hominem remarks and get upset so quickly. This is no surprise since they are the ones who have fell for the anti-science paycho acoustic depths and spent so much money they could have spent on room acoustics or speakers. 

There is a physics principle that says you can't get more information than the original signal. Your system has cables that are probably better than most recording studios so any differences you hear using super duper cables are outside the limits of what the recording engineer, musician and producer heard in the first place. There is no getting around this argument. 

Another reason you can't hear the difference is because you have well designed power supplies in your components, the argument that the better the system is the more you can hear the cables is backwards.

The owner of the amp/cable company heard no difference. He still thinks that there is a reason for it and is working to help me determine why.

Under normal circumstances we shouldn’t expect to hear differences between these cables, so I don’t think looking for a reason is appropriate here. Looking for a reason when a difference is perceived makes more sense. If a way is found to make a perceivable difference happen, then we’d like to know what kinds of things were changed, and it’d be interesting to see if measurements can pick up on something, and maybe we’ll solve a mystery.

Room looks nice! How resolving it actually is I can't say with any confidence by looking at it. You could test that too, using REW. You can also listen to bass and lower midrange clarity using a gated burst test like the MATT:

I've moved the speakers out & closer a bit. The center of the speaker is now 55" from the back wall. The speaker centers are 82" apart and the listening position is 82" from the center of each speaker. I listened for awhile & I do like the sound so I'll keep it like this for awhile & play some records. Time will tell. 

@dwcda Thank you for your post and your reasoned responses to several hostile and incredulous responses. You and I share a similar philosophy about the audible effects of cables and cords. I've tried to hear the difference in interconnects and power cords at least a dozen times over the years. So far I can't tell one from the other. I am not saying that someone else cannot hear the difference. If they believe that one cable has more detail or better soundstage than another cable then that is their truth.

Due to my life sciences background when I do a comparison between components or cables I try to reduce the influence of expectation-bias as much as possible. I have two DACs, an SACD player, and a CD player. Using Blue Jeans cables as a control, I can compre the sound of two components to get a baseline. My Berkeley DAC (using the SACD as a transport) and my Marantz KI Ruby sound very similar playing a standard CD. When I replace the interconnects in one component I can compare the sound against a standard (the other component).

Lots of people on the forums have said that silver cables have a distinctive sound. So I bought a pair of AudioQuest silver RCA cables to see if I could hear a difference. I left the cables in for several months so they could "burn in" and I could compare them every so often to see if I could hear any of the sonic effects that others describe. Short answer - no.

AFAIK, there is no ABX or double blind test that shows that audiophiles (or normal people for that matter) can tell the differnce between interconnects or power cords. There are dozens, maybe hundreds, of tests that show the opposite - that if the listener does't know the brand or story of the cord he/she is listening to, they can't tell cables apart. If anyone is aware of a scientifically rigorous blind test that shows that listeners, even trained listeners, can hear the difference between cables please let me know.

What is interesting about this debate is that merely reporting that one cannot hear a difference between cables brings forth a surprising degree of defensiveness. It's similar to the response you get if you challenge someone's religion.

If I understand the OP correctly, he is not saying that cable differences do not exist. He is just stating that using the methods, materials, and conditions he has at his disposal, he can't hear a difference. That makes two of us.

@jdougs 

Oops.😁

So, it’s treason, then…. 

Plus yours are too in line with the equipment cabinet between them which causes sound placement interference.

@baylinor makes a great point here that I neglected to mention, and I agree the speakers can probably use at least another foot out from the wall if not more.  Just use your ears, which you obviously already do, and you’ll know pretty quickly what you prefer, and Goodonya for being open to trying something different!

My apologies — I initially said decrease toe in when pulling speakers out further and should’ve said increase, but obviously you’d decrease toe in as necessary when moving the speakers closer together that I think you should also play with.  My bad. I’d expect you’d get a deeper and more 3D soundstage with doing this (recording permitting of course) and look forward to hearing your thoughts. 

@curiousjim Think you tagged the wrong person here! haha

I agree with the last two posters. Your speakers are too close to the front wall. I also have huge corner bass traps floor to ceiling behind mine but I still put the speakers out nearly 5 feet. Plus yours are too in line with the equipment cabinet between them which causes sound placement interference. Specially the way they are towed in which aims their reflection at the cabinet. I would put them at least a full foot further out with less toe in. It may do wonders for your soundstage and specially 3D effects. But if you are happy as is, great.

@jdougs 

The others are right about pulling your speakers away from the wall. The manual says the speakers should be away from the corners and they should be a meter from the front wall.

Give it a shot, you’ll be amazed 😀

@zuesman I’m talking about the wall behind the speakers too. The front edge of the speakers is 4 feet from the wall behind them. But I’ll give it a try later today & move them another foot from the wall, change the toe-in and see what I think.

@dwcda 

I don’t want to hijack your thread, but I am very interested in your G5’s. I have an appointment next week to hear a pair, but I’d really like to hear your honest thoughts.

Please DM me when you get the chance.

Thanks.

I know it’s your room and tastes, but I agree with @zuesman that those speakers look like they’re begging to be another 6” - 12” or so into the room and maybe a little closer together as well (obviously you’d increase toe in a bit as well when pulling them out). They’re far too close to being in the corners for my liking even with the bass traps and just look like they need more room to breathe to fully open up. I’d definitely give that a try if you haven’t already and hey, unlike almost everything else in this expensive hobby it’s free! Just my $0.02 FWIW.

dcwa,

I'm talking about the wall behind the speaker It's like inches away from the wall if you pulled the speaker out further into the room I guarantee it'll sound a lot better, The speakers are way too close to the wall behind them.

@zuesman The front edge of the speaker is 4' from the wall. I've tried other positions and this was the best for me. There is a 7" monster bass trap behind each speaker and a 17" square soffit trap in the corner. The soundstage is great.

dwcda,

Do you think if you pull the speakers out further into the room you would then hear a difference? I love SF speakers but I think they're too close to the front wall, if you go to the CARDAS site you can plug in the width of your room into their formula and it will tell you how far away from the front wall and the sidewall the speaker should be, When I did that my sound stage just opened up incredibly.

@audphile1 The owner of the amp/cable company heard no difference. He still thinks that there is a reason for it and is working to help me determine why. Unlike you, my mind is not closed to other opinions. I have no skin in this game, my ego doesn't need me to be right. If I can be shown that these cables are worth buying I'll ante up and be happy for the improved SQ. You argue and call people liars to protect your fragile ego.

@rodman99999 waste of time. His neighbors said there’s no difference. 
 

Can you hear the sound difference from my new video?

2 Power cords sound test

Your ears should be neutral for the test. Please equalize your ears (pinch nose and blow very gently and swallow saliva) and speak "Hello" to yourself 5 times.

1) click 3:51. open YT window.

2) In YT, make a small YT window (narrow & tall, right half screen) to see the video screen and 2 time stamps (3:51, 9:37 in description) are in the same screen.

3) Listen at least 1 minute each and repeat. Just relax and feel what comes to your ears when you click.

** Please visit my room (#272) at THE Show 2024, OC. Costa Mesa audio show on June 7-9. Alex/WTA

@rodman99999 If I believe in science to determine whether cables make a difference you say I'm in a cult. If I trust my ears and audition cables and decide there is no difference you ignore that and c/p reams of arguments that have nothing to do with my post. Given your posts and mine on this thread, who do you think an objective observer would guess was in a cult?

           WELL: the Cargo Cult's building another runway.

                                         Time for a rewind:

Cargo cult science is a pseudoscientific method of research that favors evidence that confirms an assumed hypothesis. In contrast with the scientific method, there is no vigorous effort to disprove or delimit the hypothesis.[1] The term cargo cult science was first used by physicist Richard Feynman during his 1974 commencement address at the California Institute of Technology.[1]

Cargo cults are religious practices that have appeared in many traditional tribal societies in the wake of interaction with technologically advanced cultures.

     Do a bit a research and you'll learn those primitives were limited in their understanding, of what they saw with their eyes, based on their prior experience, education and BIASES.

                                                A rewind:

                 It isn't that the Denyin'tologists are ignorant.

               It's they're knowing* so much, that's WRONG.

                       *heart of the Dunning-Kruger Effect

                                              OR, two:

     The Church of the Naysayer Doctrine (like every other faith-based, religious cult) has as many dopes as it does Popes.   

     Bring up anything resembling SCIENCE/PHYSICS, dated later than the 1800’s and they become apoplectic, not having the formal education to comprehend the concepts, or- possible ramifications.    THAT would be hilarious, were it not so pathetic!        

           Gimme That Old Time Religion, Gimme That Old Time Religion, etc.

        At the very first mention of something as simple as Wave Function (a BASIC tenet of Quantum Mechanics), the Cargo Cult will label you a KOOK.

        But remember: they can only view/understand you, based on their limited experience, education and BIASES.

         They have overlooked the fact that, if not for the hypotheses/theories and experimentation, regarding Quantum Mechanics: a plethora of modern conveniences, medical devices and the gear they so love, would not exist.

          Had scientists, chemists and inventors shared the doctrines of the Cargo Cult (Denyin'tologists), there would be no semiconductors, computer chips, LASERs, or Magnetic Resonance Imaging devices (MRIs).

                                         Solid State amps?

                                     OOPS (back to tubes)!

                                        Your Smart Phone?

                                        FA'GET ABOUT IT!

                                         Your car's GPS?

                                                NOPE!

    Then too: some may be willfully ignorant and just enjoy being contentious.

                        Others: obtuse, uneducated*, misinformed?

      *Typically, from what's been exhibited here: H.S. STEM, if that, would be a safe inference.

      Either way: the result, when the Cult begins it's rhetoric is a classic demo of the Dunning- Kruger Effect.

                                          But, I digress: 

       Bring up those pesky details, regarding the likes of QED, Dielectric Absorption, Poynting's theorem and possible application/effects, relative to frequency, that our musical signals are carried via photon or wave, outside the conductor and you're a KOOK?

         Again: the Cargo Cult can only understand anyone with an actual background, experience and education in Physics/QED, based on their beliefs, education, experience and biases

                                      Remember this?

     One anecdote  that some may find interesting: their walks in the woods and how Feynman's father would encourage him to look beyond the fact that something in nature exists, but into why and how.

     It saddened him that while attending college, during a visit home and one of their walks: his dad asked what he was learning in college.

     At that moment, he realized: if he tried to explain what he was learning, there was no way his dad could understand.                               

                            It wasn't an insult or condescension.

                                                Just reality.

                                    Oh well: let 'em go build a runway!

                                                    references:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Applications_of_quantum_mechanics#:~:text=Examples%20include%20lasers%2C%20electron%20microscopes,systems%2C%20computer%20and%20telecommunication%20devices.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/chadorzel/2015/08/13/what-has-quantum-mechanics-ever-done-for-us/?sh=37c459944046

https://uwaterloo.ca/institute-for-quantum-computing/quantum-101/quantum-applications-today

          But: I'm a kook, because I believe in the SCIENCE, from which all that sprang?

     https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/five-practical-uses-spooky-quantum-mechanics-180953494/

           Einstein got that last one wrong (Quantum Entanglement), BUT- I still wish he'd been alive, when the Hubble Telescope proved, what he considered his, "greatest blunder" (his inability to bring symmetry to his field equation, without lambda).

  https://www.aps.org/publications/apsnews/200507/history.cfm#:~:text=Einstein's%20original%20equations%20had%20been,how%20the%20universe%20will%20end.                                            How about that?

Another example of a hypothesis/theory, with no way to EXPERIMENT/MEASURE, what you're sure must be there, in some detectable way, or another.

                                               Just for fun:

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/6-times-quantum-physics-blew-our-minds-in-2022/

                                            Happy listening!

                                 "substantive facts" ?

 Inescapable FACT: No one understands exactly how electricity works.     

              That’s why there’s so much Electrical THEORY.     

      The number of Wiki-Scientists on these pages, attempting to win the IG-Nobel Prize in Pseudo-Physics, is always amusing.             

       Whenever some highly educated person actually does discover exactly how electricity functions, they’ll be lauded by the scientific community, will have solved some of the disparities between Relativity and Quantum Mechanics, receive a Nobel and we’ll hear about it.     

      Newton’s THEORIES were largely superseded by Einstein and Bohr's.   Then came Feynman’s.       For now; none of you can absolutely prove your statements (theories), regarding electricity, FUSES, wires, or anything else, as regards our systems.    

             The following articles, read in sequence, illustrate my point:

 https://www.thegreatcoursesdaily.com/how-einstein-challenged-newtonian-physics/     

      then:

  http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Forces/qed.html#:~:text=Quantum%20 electrodynamics%2C%20co....               

       and: 

https://bigthink.com/hard-science/an-updated-feynman-experiment-could-heal-the-rift-between-quantum-mechanics-and-general-relativity/

I am?

                   Thank you for telling me how I feel!       

The shouting caps and repeated reference to the Church of Naysayers were my clues. That's not typically how calm differences of opinion are discussed.

I can only tell you my history with powerlines and cables.  When I started on my journey of improving it, I had a dedicated 20A  line installed by a pro.  Not a great upgrade by itself, so I bought new powercords for all electronics which were highly touted by a audiopphile mag,  After a month or so there still was very little to no difference.  Hmm.  So I bought a audiophile rated wall outlet and in the process of taking out the old one, I noticed it was a lightweight $2 or so 15A outlet, stamped metal etc.  Afterward,  I listened to see the improvement and BOOM!  Music in living color literally jumped out of the speakers.  Moral of the story is that this was the weakest link in the powerline.  So that's what you should look for. 

When your proof relies on such words as speculations,  seems likely (at least to me), lends credence, I would hope it's a given, just seems to me, not a big stretch to believe, I haven't tested this, it wouldn't surprise me.. you know you're speaking about subjective opinion and not substantive facts.

@dwcda -

 Yet still you’re pissed off at me for documenting these experiences.

                                          I am?

                                           🤣

                                  Now: some for something different:

     Back in March 2022: a thread about power cords and break/burn-in was started.

     I hate to type, so: I'm going to copy/paste some of my speculations.

     That a highly complex musical signal, MIGHT affect Poynting vectors and signal speeds*, in interconnects, in a much more profound manner than a simple AC (ie: a fixed 60/50 Hz) signal, in a PC, seems likely (at least) to me, as; in EVERY formula regarding *those two, a signal's frequency (frequencies) always factors in greatly.

     Further: the above and what I'll c/p (seems to me) lends credence to how the application of a stronger, DC voltage/field, outside a dielectric (ala Synergistic MPC and Audioquest DBS systems), might stabilize those vectors and signal speeds, PERHAPS eliminating some time smear and, "burn-in". 

rodman99999 5,456 posts 03-31-2022 at 12:13am    @holmz-       Bear with me a minute, in my folly, far as a possibility on why a power cord might make a difference.       Based on some of the theories on how electricity works, simplified:       The conductor acts as a waveguide for the signal/voltage.       Within the conductor: when excited by an AC current, electrons oscillate, generating photons/electromagnetic waves that travel, always from the source, to the load.        Keep in mind: all signals (ie: music, AC) are sinusoidal  waves        Those photons/electromagnetic waves travel through and outside the dielectric, which (according to it's permittivity/Poynting vectors) will have various effects on those waves.    One of the most obvious is the dielectric's effect on the speed of the signal.       The better designers of printed circuit boards, even take the above into account, when choosing materials for their products.        I posted a link on the first page that included data on the manufacture of semiconductor chips and what was observed when materials were cryo'd, during the process.     Short version: better contact/lowered resistance between layers.           Under the scanning microscope: much smoother surfaces observed.        I would hope, by now, it's a given that various cable constructions, twists, braids, etc, can make for a cleaner transmission of signals (ie: Litz, etc).                     Just seems to me (a hypothesis): given the above (some theories and some things established/measured/proven), it's not a big stretch to believe a power cord, built of the best conductor (ie: Ohno CC silver*), wrapped in a very low dielectric coefficient dielectric (ie: Teflon), cryo'd for the smoothest transfer of those photons/magnetic waves and twisted in some crazy way, might not smooth out some of perturbations/noise, from the crap an AC waveform had to go through, back to it's generator.  (run-on, much?)          *Many mention NOT noticing an improvement with upgraded PCs, when owning Pass Labs gear (KUDOS to Nelson).   Of MUCH interest is the fact that Frank Dickens, the owner of Silent Source cables is basically on staff with Pass and:they voice their equipment with his cables and power cords, made largely with Ohno CC metals.        I haven't tested this, actually comparing two circuits, but: it wouldn't surprise me, if a power supply that used a choke, would be less affected by a better power cord, as the former can eliminate a lot of the high freq garbage, etc, that's either created by, or makes it through all the big converting/filtering stuff, in the power supply, before.        Never thought about PCs before the good stuff hit the market, but: the Physics/QED made sense.             I tried 'em, I like 'em and the science makes my head feel better.                               Don't care WHAT it does to anyone else's!

rodman99999 5,456 posts 03-31-2022 at 12:27am         OH, and: it takes some time for the dielectric to form, take a charge, polarize, or however one chooses to define the process, when a dielectric is subjected to electromagnetic waves, which affects the Poynting vectors, measurably/predictably.                                             The lower the material’s dielectric constant: the longer that takes.                                                               PC (interconnect/etc)  burn-in?    Maybe?

                                                                                         Happy listening! 

The companies producing these expensive power cords have no engineering data to corroborate their claims. Therefore Hitchins' Rule applies: That which is asserted without proof can be dismissed without proof.

            Now: ask yourself, "Should I take advice from one that POSES as a FICTIOUS Intel Operator?"

@rodman99999 I did exactly what you’re describing, I didn’t take anyone’s word for it, no one told me what to expect, I experimented with new cables 3x now and found no difference. I trusted my own senses. Yet still you’re pissed off at me for documenting these experiences. It’s almost like you’re only willing to hear things that you agree with.

As for the dealer coming by, he wants to hear for himself. I’m not trying to prove him wrong, I’m interested to see his reaction. If he could truly pick out his cables from mine reliably and blind I will have learned something. Maybe he could educate me to listen better as that seems to be my weakness. The same goes for the local cable maker. I’m going to be returning his cables in person and bringing mine. I look forward to be shown the error of my ways. I’ll gladly upgrade my cables if he could show me a reasonable improvement in SQ. It’s not the cost that bothers me, I don’t want to throw my cash away needlessly.

The companies producing these expensive power cords have no engineering data to corroborate their claims. Therefore Hitchins' Rule applies: That which is asserted without proof can be dismissed without proof.

+1 @baylinor 

Installing dedicated electrical lines to the stereo room has produced a similar experience… correct (as much as possible) the issue at it’s source.

When power cables make a Huge difference on highly engineered and market hardened equipment …well… 

I understand that not everyone has the opportunity to do so but if upgrading the panel and separate, electrical wires, boxes and outlets Can be done there are Huge rewards. (And diminishing returns on upgrades in power cables).

BTW… Take Five Audio are a first rate operation.

What a long and drawn out tirade to explain you can't hear discernable changes in cabling. Don't buy them, you won. But wanting your dealer to hear your system in some odd attempt to prove them wrong or prove yourself right is a futile endeavor. 

@vuch,  ​​@tom2015, @kerrybh,  @ghdprentice, @krelldog, @audphile1 -

                                               +1 (each)

        Understanding the plethora of variables we face in improving the performance of our systems, using common sense while taking advantage of the many ways we can try new additions to our systems for a mere pittance (ie: audition & Return Policies) and blocking out the INCESSANT, INTRUSIVE, ambient noise from the rabid Naysayer Church adherents, can go a long way* toward enhancing one's musical enjoyment.

                                             *a 50% improvement?

                                        100%: a subjective opinion!

           Music is one of the Arts and like any other art form: when it comes to what we enjoy, are listening for and desire from our systems varies widely, 

                                                 GET OVER IT!

There is one obvious point that seems to be ignored by both posters going at it back and forth: The quality of the electrical feed to the listening room. In my house of stereo, the electrical is completely separated from the main house and produces as clean and constant a feed as can be expected. The end result is power cords in my case make the smallest of improvements, if any at all, of all cables swapping I experience with. The most obvious differences in cables in my case are interconnects specially on the digital side of my system. So there is no wrong or right about power cables, it really comes down to your electrical feed first.

Before trying a Dragon HC power cord on my preamplifier all of the power cords on my rig were the basic black power cords that come with new gear. I noticed a very nice improvement in sonics when I put the Dragon in. I kept it in the rig for a month and then returned it. I put the black cord back in. After a couple weeks of listening (I went through a bunch of my favorite music) I thought the rig sounded perhaps a little dull? There was something missing, it just didn't sound the same as I remember it sounding with the Dragon in there. I bought the Dragon HC and put it back in on the preamplifier and the initial improvement I heard was back. 

During the initial testing with the Dragon, I also improved all of the cables on everything except the turntable: mono blocks, phono preamp & power conditioner but they aren't as expensive as the Dragon was. To my ears, the biggest improvement came when I put the Dragon on the preamplifier.

My gear at the time of the power cord experimentation: Herron VTPH-2A, NAT Audio Symmetrical Balanced Line Stage, NAT Audio 805 Generator mono blocks, Transparent Powerbank 6.

Since then I've upgraded the mono blocks to NAT Audio Magma M HPS. 

So he can’t hear the difference. Fine, he saved himself some money.

Untrained people that don’t know what to listen for are useless to evaluate high end stereos. My daughter says her iPhone sounds as good as my system…

I have Dragon HC, Cerious Matrix, Snake River Signature, SR Master Coupler and generic cords.

All sound different in the amount of detail, bass, mid, high frequency they provide.

OP ... great system!

Thanks for the post!  You have offended and impressed many

@lordrootman +1! The OP was brave to post his results here because they are  upsetting to those so invested emotionally and monetarily in their gear!

I’m always amazed at how emotional these discussions become. This seems simple. If you don’t hear a difference, be happy that spending the money is unnecessary for your experience. Trust what you hear. I don’t understand why that would be upsetting to someone who has a different experience or vice versa. 
 

spend your money on something that does make a difference. This doesn’t seem difficult. My experience with trying different power cords, speaker, cables, etc., in my system is that the differences are discernible, but subtle, certainly nowhere near 50%. But if somebody else has a different experience either way  then so be it. 

I would say if you can't hear a difference without straining or having to swap multiple times - then the utility of change is marginal.  Why spend an absurd amount of money when it's not going to improve your listening experience?  Why even pursue the dealer coming over?  Even if he does hear a difference - it should not make a difference for you and your listening endeavors. 

Just send it back.  It's not worth the aggravation or cost.