2. amps-preamps
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Best way to A / B test amps? Use a switch?

I have two systems I want to do some a / b testing.  Instead of believe what you tell me I should hear, I want to see for myself.

I believe that the mind forgets what it heard 5 mins ago and internal biases kick in strong.  Therefore, I'd like to be able to immediately switch between two amps or two preamps immediately.

Any thoughts on how to do this without damaging one of the systems?
dtximages
imhififan's avatar
imhififan
2,232 posts
 
I built my own switcher using multiple speaker relay paralleled to minimize contact wear causing distortion.

Or use a abx-switch-comparator
wspohn's avatar
wspohn
622 posts
 
Problematic if you are talking about tube gear that doesn't like to be on when no speakers are connected, but no problem with solid state.

Just have a friend hook up one at a time - a swap of interconnects from one to the other (when muted, of course) takes a minute - turn them off if worried about it.

Listening blind and not knowing which is on is the acid test of whether you are really hearing a difference or imagining one based on cost, expectation etc.
imhififan's avatar
imhififan
2,232 posts
 
Problematic if you are talking about tube gear that doesn't like to be on when no speakers are connected, but no problem with solid state.
Connected to a dummy load resistor before disconnecting speaker from a tube amp can solve the problem, and no need to power off the tube amp to eliminate warm-up time.
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