The Match Test

Sharing an early “audiophile memory”:

During my later half of the 70’s college days, we had a simple litmus test for our stereo systems.  It was a pass/fail test. 
Step 1: Fire up your stereo.

Step 2: Clean side 2 of your Yes, Close to the Edge lp.

Step 3: Que up “And You and I: Cord of Life/Eclipse/The Preacher”.

Step 4: Lower the tonearm.

Step 5: Crank up the volume ( we were in painted cinderblock dorm rooms and didn’t care, plus our dorm buddies male and female were usually in there to enjoy the test).

Step 6: Just before Steve Howe finishes his amazing guitar intro, light a match.

Step 7: Hold the lit match a few inches in front of one of your woofers (grilles off).

Step 8: When Chris Squire plays his first thunderous bass notes; if your speakers blew out the match, You Passed, and your system was anointed as “Awesome” or “Wicked Good” a favorite phrase my Boston buddies used all the time!
 

I witnessed several systems that passed. Unfortunately, my Thorens TD-165 table sourced no name brand (but lifetime warranty) speakers with 15 inch woofers couldn’t quite get enough from my Marantz 30 w/ch 1030 integrated. It always gave the match flame a serious flicker, but never blew it out. 
 

My music tastes and approach for evaluating where and how I might approach an improvement/tweak have evolved over time, but we all had to start somewhere and its fun to think about the journey.