There has been some interesting discussion about testing. I’m curious how folks here test their equipment, and how some might set up elaborate testing environments.
For me, I don’t particularly care to blind myself or anything like that. I have a background involving clinical drug trials and I don’t think the work to limit variables is really worth it since I’m just trying to enjoy sound.
I typically, for amps, will volume match by ear, using the same source. I’ll listen on the same cans intently to particularly familiar parts of songs.
I’m really curious to hear and discuss methodology.
I myself do this: Put the headphones in my head. Music on… if the curvature formed by my mouth is U shaped the testing is positive. If it’s inverted the testing is negative. That’s all there is…
hmmm i think something along these lines. PERSONALLY nowadays i have bass requirements, treble requirements and vocals depends on headphones. I just make sure to listen to a song with good bass like Villian - Stella Jang (becoming a favorite bass test track), listen to stuff like heize who’se concert i’ve gone to to check how natural the timbre sounds and for treble listen to Heize - She’s fine Album and Leessang - 3rd and 4th album in particular because those are really the most picky albums i have for sibilance. As long as a headphone passes those 3 tests i will enjoy it to an extent at least.
The rest of my music will typically sound good to an extent if it passes these 3 requirements. anything else that comes is just icing on the cake lol. oh yeah, and def can’t have recessed vocals. that’s an immediate fail
Fall - m83 and daft punk. The initial vocal I can easily tell how highs are rendered (im a bit treble sensitive) and the first drop will tell me how dynamics are delivered. The drop is a bit compressed but has better separation depending on the chain.
Take5 - Dave Brubeck. I check the for what folks here call “timbre”, I just have heard this track along with a couple others on lots of varying system. The others would be hotel California from hell freezes over and Floyd’s Time, I really only listen to the first minute of each.
Doin it right - Daft punk. Bass, extension and balance.
ATliens - OutKast. I guess this is another track I’ve heard across so many systems. General test for hip hop timbre I guess
That’s a few I can think of right now, more than I thought actually. I was recently introduced to Yosi Horikawa, great testing material there.
you ever test buisiness? like how well can a variety of instruments coexist with good separation and stuff? or is that not of big importance. actually, yeah what is of importance for ur headphone to do?
I generally take the gear add it to the signal chain put on my music player, press play on whatever song I had get a feel of the headphone go to my test tracks and just press play. tracks consist of all songs Im very familiar with and each song focuses on a technicality of a headphone I enjoy. Im not overly critical actively looking for problems instead I just try to see if it can make me bob my head with the music extrapoints if my hands and arms are dancing as well. and if im moving that gear are staying. if im not moving theres an issue.
For headphones:
I put on my new aquisition while giving the manual, packaging and included accessories a good inspection.
After that I put on my test song playlist and you will not see me leaving my chair for 4 hours, 24 minutes and 22 seconds.
Electronics:
Good inspection of the device (bad experience with transport damage) and a read of the manual (which I will have done before to make sure the quality is not just the packaging and website).
After that it gets plugged in and set up, all functiones tested and then put in a more permanent spot where it will find use when needed.