A/B comparison music

[Bertie]

When I recently added a 220 and created a 440, I was astounded by the SQ improvement. There wasn’t any need to A/B the experience, but now I’m going to try a cheap (£7) RCA vs a £50 RCA. Next, I’ll add an AES/EBU adaptor (£10) and see if there’s any truth in this option being preferable. I’m very sceptical any of it will make an audible difference but wondered if there are any pieces of music that others use to A/B these cables and what to focus on? A/Bs are quite hard when having to reconfigure the SD and reboot etc… Don’t get me wrong; I’d love there to be audible differences and so many of you have invested their hard earned, so there must be some mileage in it. I’d like a piece of music to set a benchmark where I can say for sure “I can hear a tangible difference here” etc, etc…

[Matthias]

Hi,
I had used „Africa“ from Peter Bence as music to listen to the difference with my self-build loudspeaker cables. It’s a good recording with dynamics but without voice.
Another good song is „acoustic“ from Billy Raffoul, with a good voice.

[hardcore]

When I recently added a 220 and created a 440, I was astounded by the SQ improvement. There wasn’t any need to A/B the experience, but now I’m going to try a cheap (£7) RCA vs a £50 RCA. Next, I’ll add an AES/EBU adaptor (£10) and see if there’s any truth in this option being preferable. I’m very sceptical any of it will make an audible difference but wondered if there are any pieces of music that others use to A/B these cables and what to focus on? A/Bs are quite hard when having to reconfigure the SD and reboot etc… Don’t get me wrong; I’d love there to be audible differences and so many of you have invested their hard earned, so there must be some mileage in it. I’d like a piece of music to set a benchmark where I can say for sure “I can hear a tangible difference here” etc, etc…

try RCA to AES with an XLR ground lift adapter at the receiving end. that ground lift makes a huge difference. and avoid connecting any other cable between the amps (e.g. avoid using the trigger cable).

[audio_engr]

that ground lift makes a huge difference. 

100% and well done! 

I've been doing this since 2016 (D400 days that later became 440-Pro CI).

[markush]

There is another option - just use a RCA cable and between use a Project Accu Box S2 USB with an iFi SPDIF iPurifier2

[ray1234]

There is another option - just use a RCA cable and between use a Project Accu Box S2 USB with an iFi SPDIF iPurifier2

Don't understand, how does that work? you are talking about the link between the two Devialets?

[markush]

There is another option - just use a RCA cable and between use a Project Accu Box S2 USB with an iFi SPDIF iPurifier2

Don't understand, how does that work? you are talking about the link between the two Devialets?

Exactly. Just have a look at the iPurifier2.

[ray1234]

Exactly. Just have a look at the iPurifier2.

I see what you mean now, basically connecting the two via SPDIF (RCA) only and connect the iFi iPurifier 2 SPDIF at the end. Personally I don't have very good impression on iFi products, I used their iPurifier3 USB filter and I found that it changes or smoothen out the sound too much, quite a bit of micro-dynamics and other details are lost. It may be good if the system is too bright, but I don't like it if put on a balanced system.