What's your process for comparing new gear, cables, etc.?


It's a staple of many if not most posts to compare auditory experiences and attribute them to different factors — larger components (room, speaker, amp, dac, etc.) and the rest (speaker wire, cables, power) etc. This is how we choose new gear or compare what we already have.

Given the number of components and how short auditory sensory memory is, any comparison should change the fewest variables possible, as quickly as possible. (And auditory memory is short, even for simpler sounds. We compare using complex sounds and want to judge complex dynamic effect — soundstage, tonality at various frequencies, overall character or musicality, etc.) Doing things quickly is a challenge with tube amps, which must be shut down properly in order to swap things out. Then, they must be turned on and warmed up a bit.

I'm curious how people conduct their comparisons given whatever factors they contend with. Do you take notes? Have a standard vocabulary (e.g. the one in Harley's book)? Use a checklist? Have certain test tracks that you have virtually memorized? And so on. I'd like to know what works for you.

Most of the time, I'm just listening to music and enjoying it. But when I do want to add gear or make a change, it's natural for a critical comparison to call for some kind of procedure. I'm still trying to figure out what procedure can provide reliable, practical information. When my procedure seems too random or complicated, I feel a bit absurd — like I'm just doing kabuki-science! 


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@big_greg I agree. I’ve found as I put my system together, that people say things like, "Get 3 different cables and try them out." Etc. And I know that anyone who’s built a system has had to do close listening comparisons to try to hear differences — unless they’re just willing to buy something based on reviews, price, etc. And I also agree that A/B differences do show that there is a difference, but I have been reading about a multitude of factors which can be responsible — time, mood, other gear, etc. — and so sometimes I wonder what the cause of the change is — and even IF there really was a change. And everyone who pays attention to how they listen knows that there are times you *think* you heard something, but you didn't. Whenever one pushes the boundaries of one's perception and then tries to label it, there's a margin of error.

@tvad — glad to share.
In voicing a preamp design I just added a rotary switch in the back that I could rotate and hear five different resistors.  That way I was able to switch on the fly in different recordings without having to solder different ones in to see what I was hearing.  I left the switch in as I didn't think that I should decide on one or the other for the person buying the preamp.

Happy Listening
My prowess for comparing new gear, cables, etc is excellent...
Oh! "Process".  Nevermind.  ;)
I listen to certain instruments during playback. Since I was a musician for many decades I know what some instruments sound like. I don’t like boomy bass, I’d rather have clean solid bass. I know what a certain cymbal is supposed to sound like. In 1978 when I purchased my 1st hifi system, I brought in albums that had songs that represented the instruments that I listened to to see how the components presented these areas