My review: QS4vsQS8 + M22vsM60 + STF-2vs16-46PCi
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,467
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So, our basement is getting completely redone so my dad's setup is scattered about upstairs. Why not hook it up all in my room and test it against what I have?
I'm in the process of moving a lot of crap out of my room (haven't really unpacked from college yet)...but when I do, I'll move it all in. Note that this is a small, 11x15 room, so nothing is really going to be pushed to its limit to be loud.
So, to lay out exactly what I'm going to test:
- M22's vs M60's as mains - A/B testing with music and movies - QS4's vs QS8's as surrounds - testing with movies and music in surround modes - HSU STF-2 vs SVS 16-46 PCi in movies and music - Maybe a sound review of the Yamaha RX-V557 vs the HK AVR 247 if people want me to
Everything will have the same interconnects, if that matters.
This will all be run from my RX-V557 with my computer as a source via SPDIF. I have music in FLAC format.
The tests I plan to do are this:
M22's with sub vs M60's with sub M22's with sub vs M60's without sub M22's without sub vs M60's without sub
QS4's vs QS8's with surround materials
HSU STF-2 vs SVS 16-46 PCi paired with M22's for music HSU STF-2 vs SVS 16-46 PCi during a movie with M22's
I'm sure this probably will be interesting to some people...the only matchup I really don't have is the VP100 vs VP150. Unfortunate.
Since this is for the benefit of others (I guess for the fun of it myself, too) I'd like to open it up to people if they want me to test anything specifically before I set this all up and take it down. Let me know if any of you are interested in the HK AVR 247 vs the RX-V557 in terms of sound and I'll see what I can do to cram it in here to do one big test. The testing will be done probably starting tonight through tomorrow.
Of course, everything will be well documented and I'll have lots of pictures!
M22s|VP100|QS4s|HSU STF2
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Re: My review: QS4vsQS8 + M22vsM60 + STF-2vs16-46PCi
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,488 Likes: 9
connoisseur
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connoisseur
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Posts: 3,488 Likes: 9 |
This sounds like a great evening ahead! Can't wait to hear a QS4/8 comparison.
See Mojo's signature
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Re: My review: QS4vsQS8 + M22vsM60 + STF-2vs16-46PCi
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 6,833
axiomite
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axiomite
Joined: Jun 2003
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Sounds like fun. The sub comparison will be interesting.
Rick
"A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity." Sigmund Freud
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Re: My review: QS4vsQS8 + M22vsM60 + STF-2vs16-46P
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,745 Likes: 17
axiomite
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axiomite
Joined: May 2002
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So, to lay out exactly what I'm going to test:
- M22's vs M60's as mains - A/B testing with music and movies
Now if you throw the 'blind' and level matched part in there, i'll be very interested to hear/read the outcome. - QS4's vs QS8's as surrounds - testing with movies and music in surround modes
I somehow doubt you are going to see much difference here at all especially if these are level matched. - HSU STF-2 vs SVS 16-46 PCi in movies and music These are always fun. I recommend you unplug all other speakers when you do the sub switching and really just listen ONLY to the sub sounds. - Maybe a sound review of the Yamaha RX-V557 vs the HK AVR 247 if people want me to Ahem...AHEM...hackkk....hackk. Damn, sorry, just choked on a small bone. Everything will have the same interconnects, if that matters. Well you may as well put the details out there anyway eh? This will all be run from my RX-V557 with my computer as a source via SPDIF. I have music in FLAC format.
Why not use the original source material? The tests I plan to do are this: QS4's vs QS8's with surround materials
Same as the sub tests. Unplug all but the surrounds at some point and give them both a listen switching back and forth. Hearing only the material the surrounds put out while watching a movie is darned interested and provides a great perspective of the sound material mixed for the surround channels only. Of course, everything will be well documented and I'll have lots of pictures! Can never go wrong with pictures. I love A/B tests.
"Those who preach the myths of audio are ignorant of truth."
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Re: My review: QS4vsQS8 + M22vsM60 + STF-2vs16-46P
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,467
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Chesseroo, thanks for the input. I'll see about getting the HK receiver up here for some listening too. I think listening to the M22's vs M60's both matched with a sub would be a great test...it'd be hard to do blind though :)...I'll think about it. Actually, for the QS8's/QS4's I was planning on actually setting them up on soup cans on my desk and doing A/B testing straight from the receiver by hooking them up as "mains". I guess I could use original source material...but it's digital..and FLAC is really an exact copy of it...so doubtful that will notice *much* of a difference. Definitely better than plain MP3's anyways. I do have a DVD-Audio disk I can try too...it's blue man group. It turns out I could probably have this set up in my room for a while since our basement isn't going to be complete any time soon. Edit: For level matching...since I have the ability to turn on my "A" Mains or "B" Mains either simultaneously or actually playing together through my Yamaha...I was going see if there was a pink noise SPL difference between the M22's and M60's at different levels. If so, do the switching to get the correct dB difference on the receiver figured out. Does that seem good?
M22s|VP100|QS4s|HSU STF2
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Re: My review: QS4vsQS8 + M22vsM60 + STF-2vs16-46P
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 10,420
shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 10,420 |
Actually, for the QS8's/QS4's I was planning on actually setting them up on soup cans on my desk and doing A/B testing straight from the receiver by hooking them up as "mains".
I guess I could use original source material...but it's digital..and FLAC is really an exact copy of it...so doubtful that will notice *much* of a difference. Definitely better than plain MP3's anyways.
Edit: For level matching...since I have the ability to turn on my "A" Mains or "B" Mains either simultaneously or actually playing together through my Yamaha...I was going see if there was a pink noise SPL difference between the M22's and M60's at different levels. If so, do the switching to get the correct dB difference on the receiver figured out. Does that seem good?
I like the idea of using the QS's as mains for a comparison, certainly makes it easier to ensure full osund output through them. Maybe try them as surrounds a swell to see which you prefer as a surround. FLAC is not an exact copy, only an copy of the disc in waveform would be an exact copy, but FLAC does appear to be a nearly identical copy. And yes there is a difference in SPL output from M22s to M60s by about 2db so you will need to make that adjustment. The extra bass from the M60s makes the difference. Mojo and I did a comparison back in late October(?) between the M80s, M60s and M22s and we discovered the SPL differences, or was it the M80s by 2db over the rest? Any way you will need to make a slight adjustment of some sort.
Jason M80 v2 VP160 v3 QS8 v2 PB13 Ultra Denon 3808 Samsung 85" Q70
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Re: My review: QS4vsQS8 + M22vsM60 + STF-2vs16-46P
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 868
aficionado
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aficionado
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 868 |
I'm looking forward to seeing your test results.
Dave
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Re: My review: QS4vsQS8 + M22vsM60 + STF-2vs16-46P
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 138
veteran
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veteran
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 138 |
FLAC is not an exact copy, The "L" in FLAC stands for "Lossless". It's 100% identical to the original when played (just not when stored).
Last edited by zhimbo; 12/29/07 09:11 PM.
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Re: My review: QS4vsQS8 + M22vsM60 + STF-2vs16-46P
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,467
connoisseur
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OP
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FLAC is not an exact copy, only an copy of the disc in waveform would be an exact copy, but FLAC does appear to be a nearly identical copy. FLAC is like a zipped wave file that can be played. If you zip (compress) a file, then unzip(uncompress) it, it's the same file as the original, same with FLAC. FLAC can just be played with the "unzipping" done on-the-fly.
M22s|VP100|QS4s|HSU STF2
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Re: My review: QS4vsQS8 + M22vsM60 + STF-2vs16-46P
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,494 Likes: 116
shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
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Dan,
This sounds like a lot of work but I know many of us will look forward to reading your impressions.
House of the Rising Sone Out in the mid or far field Dedicated mid-woofers are over-rated
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