There are a lot of external influences around here, but in general, we should assume that we are all big boys/girls here and are going to vote with what we like to hear. This is not a popularity contest but a test of what we like to listen to. In addition to having this as a means for a large group of people to virtually audition drivers, I am also interested in also learning about what people do as a process when to listen critically. What type of headphones do they use or what speakers? Are they in a quiet room and concentrating, or doing other stuff? What do they listen for first and foremost? What are deal breakers in the sound? General stuff like that.
External influences (e.g. biases, stereotypes, and so on) are hard to ignore, even when one tries really hard to be 'objective.' You can be as big a boy or girl as you like, but the influences remain and they have real effects whether we like them or not. We already have one honest person who admitted to being swayed by what someone else has said.
If you want to learn about the other processes, criteria, and so on that you mention, then it is probably better to ask people to report them after the results have been revealed, not before.
By the way, it is your thread XRK and you've done all the work here, so you ask whatever you want. I'm just offering a suggestion, that's all.
Thanks.
Thanks.
I agree we can wait until after votes to discuss. I notice that the first post by Hormilo stating his preferences correspond to the two current leaders now.
If that is the case, if running for political office, one needs to be the first candidate to "imprint" one's identity and image on potential voters before anyone else does.
I've learned one thing, I like Dinah Washington (use "I'll Take Manhatten" as a reference) a lot better than NJ 😀 - the current leaders are good on NJ - but I liked another driver better with BS/MY. Headphones used add some variance. X's little helper woofer is pretty cool.
Hmm, I will stick my nose out a bit;o) I have plenty of spare time in evenings due to travelling occupation. I have gone through the first and second round with my standard ear plugs from Sony xperia Z3.
Anyone that claims that these tests are not valid and lacks of resolution, are in a fantasy world. Granted that small details disappears, but the differences between drivers are noticeable even with cheap earplugs.
Taste may be different, but when exposed of drivers with several different characteristics where one or two present a "correct" frequency behaviour, the choice is obvious…
Well, at least for me;o)
Peter
Anyone that claims that these tests are not valid and lacks of resolution, are in a fantasy world. Granted that small details disappears, but the differences between drivers are noticeable even with cheap earplugs.
Taste may be different, but when exposed of drivers with several different characteristics where one or two present a "correct" frequency behaviour, the choice is obvious…
Well, at least for me;o)
Peter
Hi,
The problem with cheap earplugs is two wrongs
don't make a right and you may be choosing
the drivers that suit your earplugs.
rgds, sreten.
The problem with cheap earplugs is two wrongs
don't make a right and you may be choosing
the drivers that suit your earplugs.
rgds, sreten.
What's missing is any reference or control . . . (unless the "mystery driver" is "straight through"). But you're quite right . . . if your headphones have a rolled off highs then in this test a speaker with accentuated highs might sound better, and the reverse as well. OTOH the midrange would (probably) not suffer that problem . . . it's hard to imagine headphones with any sort of "complementary distortion" that would flatter an otherwise bad speaker.
There's also the generic "problem" of comparing speakers to each other rather than to "source" . . . at best you can say which you "like", but you can't say which is "more accurate" since the original is not present for comparison.
There's also the generic "problem" of comparing speakers to each other rather than to "source" . . . at best you can say which you "like", but you can't say which is "more accurate" since the original is not present for comparison.
The source files, at least the 320kb representation there of, is included in the original thread. Good enough for the purpose. Everyone should be comparing test clips to the original.
Bob
Bob
Reference source tracks:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/full...in-5in-full-range-drivers-25.html#post4249660
E is my favourite. With D closely behind it. I find the aggressive nature of the AC/DC guitar intro the only thing really necessary to quickly weed out the majority of the drivers.
Then listening to the rest of the track to his voice mainly to pick between the two. E seems to separate his voice more clearly from everything else over D.
Then listening to the rest of the track to his voice mainly to pick between the two. E seems to separate his voice more clearly from everything else over D.
Now looking at the poll D and E aren't doing too badly. A and G in the lead though, both of those have what sounds like overemphasis or roughness on the opening guitar which should really be as smooth as silk.
F and H were the worst.
F and H were the worst.
Voted for preferred sound from recorded sound clips.
Attach file my poll including the sport in a serious guess as what driver belong what letter.
We all big boys but suggest if participating poll make the vote before having a look the file.
Had success when listening in mono to better could distinguish details and signature of clips, maybe this is because recorded driver is actual a mono setup. Listened both via speakers and headphones and admit routing only mono to headphones was weird experience.
The step up in better resolution sounds clips xrk971 provided this time was good experience.
Thanks X look forward sunday see what driver is preferred and win hourserace round two.
Attach file my poll including the sport in a serious guess as what driver belong what letter.
We all big boys but suggest if participating poll make the vote before having a look the file.
Had success when listening in mono to better could distinguish details and signature of clips, maybe this is because recorded driver is actual a mono setup. Listened both via speakers and headphones and admit routing only mono to headphones was weird experience.
The step up in better resolution sounds clips xrk971 provided this time was good experience.
Thanks X look forward sunday see what driver is preferred and win hourserace round two.
Yes, I agree. But in this case, differences are quite obvious. Then looking at the measured graphs in original thread, my choices makes sense. Besides, my Sony earplugs are not that bad compared to others I tried. I made the same choices as with my Grado 325E.
As I see it, these tests are made without any correction of drivers and singles out the most linear ones, no? What ever ones preferences then comes in to play, if cross over/DSP are evil or not and finally of course, personal taste is another thing. For me it's obviously an eye opener.
Lastly, I made my choices based upon linearity. I'm not making any claim I can hear phase problems, paper or metal cones. When I read these posts, it makes me go hmmm;o). I heard glass fibre cones sound like paper and vice versa….
Peter
Byrtt:
Thanks for the detailed summary in your text file. Very interesting...
5th Element:
Thanks for your comments - and very abbreviated trick for picking out drivers - just the guitar on ACDC? Maybe we all should carry this sound clip around on our phones when auditioning speakers at stores?
Thanks for the detailed summary in your text file. Very interesting...
5th Element:
Thanks for your comments - and very abbreviated trick for picking out drivers - just the guitar on ACDC? Maybe we all should carry this sound clip around on our phones when auditioning speakers at stores?
You have good ears 5th 😀 So G is leading too? Hmmm... people should really learn from the first round comparison.
But you seem to prefer sound based on cleanliness. They are not the most correct in tonality mind you.
But to choose a driver, yes we choose based on those, then we use our crossover skill to make the driver sound more correct (But here it is not about choosing drivers and make our own design, we/I have to accept it as a fullrange).
What I put on the top list is close in tonality to my speakers, but the distortion is quite high. I really am looking forward to find out what cone material it is. May be something that I haven't heard before, like bamboo? 😕
Anyhow, this experience doesn't switch my taste back to full range driver, as I have used Lowther (which was more expensive than drivers in this test) for quite a long time and decided that full-range was not for me.
But you seem to prefer sound based on cleanliness. They are not the most correct in tonality mind you.
But to choose a driver, yes we choose based on those, then we use our crossover skill to make the driver sound more correct (But here it is not about choosing drivers and make our own design, we/I have to accept it as a fullrange).
What I put on the top list is close in tonality to my speakers, but the distortion is quite high. I really am looking forward to find out what cone material it is. May be something that I haven't heard before, like bamboo? 😕
Anyhow, this experience doesn't switch my taste back to full range driver, as I have used Lowther (which was more expensive than drivers in this test) for quite a long time and decided that full-range was not for me.
Wow this was a lot harder than the first blind test. Listening on my mac book pro with cheap headphones my choice was "E" for overall smoothness. Even though "A" was clearer with more treble, I'm guessing they would be a bit to much on better systems? Getting tiring in the long run maybe...
Speaking of influence, it'll be interesting to see if there are any changes in the voting patterns after this... 
Lowther's are about the most colored drivers out there. I wouldn't let that set your distaste for the full range as a genre or drivers you like or don't like.