What is a cost effective way to level match, for comparing different hifi components?

The most accurate way is with a voltmeter across the speaker terminals while test tones are playing. I've also used an SPL meter with pink noise (C weighting, slow response) to get a rough level match. Hopefully you have a volume control with small enough steps to make matching levels possible and a readout to make it easy to switch between different settings.

@tomic601 ,
"OP strict level matching is essential."
"As you probably already know, the ear brain likes louder and louder is just chasing your tail from a qualitative perspective, unless you can level match."

A couple of excellent and informative posts.

I don’t even bother comparing different masterings of favourite tracks unless I can level match them first.


Far too many times what, at first listen, seemed like obvious differences mysteriously disappeared into the ether once their volumes were matched. To all intents and purposes, what were quite different recordings all of a sudden became identical.

I’m not sure if I ever managed to get within 0.25db though, but it did really help me to distinguish between different recordings.


To claim that level matching is unimportant for evaluating components (or individual tracks) is either an example of naivety or an attempt at deliberate misdirection.

Hi all

Thanks all for the repsonses. Most are quite helpful. I wasnt intending this to be a debate about whether level matching when doing comparisons is useful, I already believe it is with little doubt. When we listen, our brain is fooled by loudness, thinking it is better.

I agree that playing a system at a comfortable level makes good sense, you want to compare at a volume that is normal for you for how you listen.

And yes I still have old test cds from stereophile etc with test tones, and can probably find similar tones and pink noise from the streaming companies. I was just wondering if a fancy microphone set up is really nexded to do this correctly, the voltmeter idea at the speakers is interesting too.

Cost effective is just using your ears.

I think it is a question of what you enjoy doing. If you get enjoyment out of doing analytical things, and solving problems of how to measure and achieve perfect balance… that is great. I can think of a bunch of different ways of doing it. I have a high quality microphone I had bought about 15 years ago for home theater and other audio measurements… feathering in subs… etc.

I guess I am getting lazy in my old age. My preamp will hold different settings between inputs. So last time when comparing streamers I just used my ears.

Nothing innately wrong with either. Use the approach that you enjoy most. The fate of the world does not rest in the balance on the outcome.

...voltmeter idea at the speakers is interesting too.

The XLO Test CD has a track and instructions for how to test voltage at the amplifier speaker taps.