@twoleftears
I think it does level the playing field. However, what I take is being asserted as common wisdom means that is not so important.
This is what I gather the common wisdom is:
(a) speaker selectors degrade the sound. The question becomes "how much"? If they don't degrade either too much, then there is something to be learned by using the selector as *one factor.* (We have all compared this way, and I know from my experience that I heard some differences of a general kind worth heeding.)
(b) longer term listening is the primary way to make the comparative judgment. This kind of critical listening takes practice and patience and should not be sidelined by the urge to switch quickly.
(c) longer term listening renders sufficiently solid judgments that it makes what can be learned by quick switching negligible.
I think it does level the playing field. However, what I take is being asserted as common wisdom means that is not so important.
This is what I gather the common wisdom is:
(a) speaker selectors degrade the sound. The question becomes "how much"? If they don't degrade either too much, then there is something to be learned by using the selector as *one factor.* (We have all compared this way, and I know from my experience that I heard some differences of a general kind worth heeding.)
(b) longer term listening is the primary way to make the comparative judgment. This kind of critical listening takes practice and patience and should not be sidelined by the urge to switch quickly.
(c) longer term listening renders sufficiently solid judgments that it makes what can be learned by quick switching negligible.