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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!akgua!mcnc!decvax!decwrl!rhea!erlang!whalen
From: whalen@erlang.DEC (An Italian at heart)
Newsgroups: net.audio
Subject: Re: (Infamous) Extra Speaker Test
Message-ID: <7121@decwrl.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 14-Apr-84 09:27:00 EST
Article-I.D.: decwrl.7121
Posted: Sat Apr 14 09:27:00 1984
Date-Received: Sun, 15-Apr-84 08:42:53 EST
Organization: DEC Engineering Network
Lines: 46

Well, at first I wasn't going to perform this test, I was just going to
see what the net decided.  But, since people are really expressing their
views about it I decided to try it.  (Besides, what else is there to do in
Worcester on a wet Saturday morning?)

I removed all of the extra speakers from my listening room (even took off
my watch, since it has a transducer in it).  Then I commenced with the test.

My material was:
	Toccata  - Mannheim Steamroller/Fresh Aire III
	Every Breath You Take - The Police Synchronicity

The system is:
	Dual 504 turntable with ADC XLM MK II cartridge with an Orsonic
		DS-250 holding the record tightly to the standard Dual mat
		and a Discwasher anti-static mat.  The dust cover was open.

	NAD 3140 integrated amp.

	Ambient SR22D speakers connected with 18 gauge lamp cord.

The extra speaker was an Audio Source LS-5 mini-speaker.

The diference I heard -	ABSOLUTELY NONE!

Now, I admit that I am skeptical about the claim (and the test), so maybe
that influenced me, but I still think that if there was any difference I
would have heard it.

One more thing about making the test blind, I agree it should be, but how
about this variant - tell the subject that you will be changing something
in the system, but don't tell him what!  He does not have to identify what
the change is, but just state whether or not he notices a difference.
(This should eliminate biases about the topic.)

And for those that care, I do subscribe to Fletcher-Munson curves, even if
they do change the sound some, the make it sound a lot better at low levels.


Rich Whalen
Digital Equipment Corporation
Hudson, MA
UUCP:   ...decvax!decwrl!rhea!erlang!whalen
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MCI Mail: Richard V. Whalen
(Of course these are my views and not my employer's)