As a reminder of what the frequency response from Round 1 looked like, you can expect slightly better response in Round 2 as many of these are very high quality drivers. But just to remind you why things sound different, it's because their FR signature (or voice) is different.
Another way to look at it once gated to 4ms and put on same graph with offsets (as provided by pnix):
Another way to look at it once gated to 4ms and put on same graph with offsets (as provided by pnix):
Jay,
How can you possibly know what the Mms is from sound clips? I think you must be using software to analyze the clips and that was something I said in Round 1 not to do. So I remind folks not to analyze tracks with software!
How can you possibly know what the Mms is from sound clips? I think you must be using software to analyze the clips and that was something I said in Round 1 not to do. So I remind folks not to analyze tracks with software!
I've deleted a post that is cheating and encouraging other to do so.
Hmm, I'm on a Mac(donald) Can't open the files either, bummer!
EDIT!!!
Hold your horses! If you're on a Mac, just go to finder, open downloads, click on the file name and change the "asc" to mp3 as what xrk wrote earlier. Damn simple…😱)
EDIT!!!
Hold your horses! If you're on a Mac, just go to finder, open downloads, click on the file name and change the "asc" to mp3 as what xrk wrote earlier. Damn simple…😱)
Last edited:
But I cannot change file name extension from my iPhone - unless someone has figured out how to get around that. iOS is supposed to be similar and universal on Apple platforms but it isn't.
I think I found a good way to audition the drivers without hassle. Put all 8 drivers in any particular sound clip in a play list (windows media player or iTunes etc) then let them play randomly under shuffle setting. Listen with headphones and go about your other work. After 4 cycles or so - you will notice that your ears can pick out the same song - its signature will be clear and unmistakable. At the same time you will hear some you do not like and can pick those out easily. There may be one or two that are unremarkable - they are tricky and should remain as possible choices. Write down the probably 3 or 4 remaining drivers that you recognize instantly and like. Then slow down and concentrate and do an A/B comparison between any two and then a final A/B compare to pick a winner of that clip.
Repeat this for the other 2 sound clips. I found that clip 2 (metal track) allowed me to pick out the drivers rather quickly as the FR actually alters the *pitch* of the initial guitar chords.
Clip 3 (jazz) was perhaps the most instructive clip of all and gives a broad dynamic range of textures, percussion, and frequencies. Most drivers faired well here except for a few. Some sounded very dark in contrast and I wonder if in reality they would have done better without the same -3dB baffle step cut applied to be fair across the board.
Ultimately you have to pick the driver you like the best but I found that clip 3 was the best to use if I only had 1 track to listen to and make a choice.
Hope that was helpful. The main point was that I was able to pre-audition the drivers and get my ears used to their sound before critically listening. I found that with 15min of practice listening I could pick out individual drivers accurately 7/8 times in a blind random shuffle.
Repeat this for the other 2 sound clips. I found that clip 2 (metal track) allowed me to pick out the drivers rather quickly as the FR actually alters the *pitch* of the initial guitar chords.
Clip 3 (jazz) was perhaps the most instructive clip of all and gives a broad dynamic range of textures, percussion, and frequencies. Most drivers faired well here except for a few. Some sounded very dark in contrast and I wonder if in reality they would have done better without the same -3dB baffle step cut applied to be fair across the board.
Ultimately you have to pick the driver you like the best but I found that clip 3 was the best to use if I only had 1 track to listen to and make a choice.
Hope that was helpful. The main point was that I was able to pre-audition the drivers and get my ears used to their sound before critically listening. I found that with 15min of practice listening I could pick out individual drivers accurately 7/8 times in a blind random shuffle.
Mixed them back and front for 3 hours with the double elimination tournament, until I got a winner. It was a close call though, and I can honestly say that the top 3 drivers sounded so good I occasionally needed to remind myself that I'm here to evaluate them, not listen to music.
I'll probably buy the winner when I know which one it is 😀
I'll probably buy the winner when I know which one it is 😀
Thanks for sharing your double elimination process, and for your due-diligence. It was good that you found it enjoyable to listen to the same 3 x 45 second clips for 3hrs! 😀
I can see your choice based on what was there before - very interesting! 🙂
I can see your choice based on what was there before - very interesting! 🙂
I've been sampling them for a couple of days now (on and off) and I'm honestly having a hard time deciding between a few different drivers. I've listened on headphones and my main listening system, but still can't make up my mind. Maybe I'll try listening through another system to see if that will help...
I listened the clips through my studio monitor set (Genelec 8020B). The winning driver won all competition on every round, although some of them were so close I had to loop and loop the songs until I could distinguish subtle differences and decided which one I would prefer to listen to personally. Tried headphones as well but quickly gave up as the sound on the monitors is far less colored 🙂
Those Genelecs are nice! About the flattest response published for any monitor I have seen. Interesting that you found free air speakers less colored than headphones!
Great i know you like the winner TC9FD from round one too and made a nice build with it, do you think the one you prefer round two sound better as the TC9FD clip from round one.
Well, my headphones are the Sennheiser HD 485, which aren't exactly neutral.
I did a A/B comparison just now with the TC9FD from last test and my personal favourite from this test. The 192kbps packaging means it isn't directly comparable, but if I had to choose a winner I'd prefer the one from this test. It sounds more neutral overall, and all the details in music seem clearer.
Also I threw direct hints on which driver I preferred to my posts in this thread 😉
I did a A/B comparison just now with the TC9FD from last test and my personal favourite from this test. The 192kbps packaging means it isn't directly comparable, but if I had to choose a winner I'd prefer the one from this test. It sounds more neutral overall, and all the details in music seem clearer.
Also I threw direct hints on which driver I preferred to my posts in this thread 😉
Reference Test Tracks from round one
The three "Reference Test Tracks" used to record the eight drivers is available as a clip with same start and stop point which i find convenient when judgeing the recorded drivers sound clips. Here link to post 243 "Reference Test Tracks" round one where they can be dowloaded http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/full...in-5in-full-range-drivers-25.html#post4249660.
Mayuri,
Thanks comment TC9FD.
tuxedocivic,
Glad you caught it in time we have until 12pm GMT Sunday.
The three "Reference Test Tracks" used to record the eight drivers is available as a clip with same start and stop point which i find convenient when judgeing the recorded drivers sound clips. Here link to post 243 "Reference Test Tracks" round one where they can be dowloaded http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/full...in-5in-full-range-drivers-25.html#post4249660.
Mayuri,
Thanks comment TC9FD.
tuxedocivic,
Glad you caught it in time we have until 12pm GMT Sunday.
Last edited:
Like I said, good speakers should sound better than average headphone. I don't bother listening through my Sennheiser either. And listening nearfield, like through a headphone, everything sounds good.
Hmmm... I thought/guess it was a titanium cone Tang Band. But I have no experience with these drivers.