Dogma is not being able to consider rational alternatives. Rationally if only a few people can hear a difference no big deal, carry on.
However, if a large portion of listeners hear the same difference
then we can start the science.....blind tests etc......because there may be some basis to the hypothesis. Rare that it is ever done the other way around in the real world.....apart from on ASR in the endless discussions of what is audible etc etc etc etc.....
My hypothesis: the real world addition of Revel F208 speakers to my system (see signature) produces audible differences in sound reproduction between the mono and stereo settings when using the AHB2 amplifier.
My simple experiment:
- same source content (Stevie Ray Vaughan live in Montreux - Texas Flood https://tidal.com/browse/track/1217)
- playback via Tidal into PC into DAC 2 then AHB2's into Revel F208's
- levels matched using random pink noise - full range (delta wave does show a
small difference in level - oops just adjust in playback see edit below)
- [edit: the levels are off apologies, adjust File 1 =+0.67dB / File 2 = +4.00dB]
- REW version 5.20
- MiniDSP Umik-2 with 90 deg calibration file - positioned at 1050mm high, on the centre LP
- speaker CRS 2100mm
- same AHB2 amplifiers (switched between mono and stereo, and channel 2 interconnect and speaker cable connected to stereo position)
- same length speaker cable (damping factor not affected, cable capacitance and resistance unchanged)
- room effects removed by listening outdoors in free field conditions - see measurements below
The test - what is audible?
- file #1 was recorded with amplifiers set to mono or stereo
- file #2 was recorded with amplifiers set to mono or stereo
- files are identical and this was a bias test not a listening test (ie. I tell you they are different but you believe / hear they are not)
Links:
File 1 =
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Xyn_yQ2LbrVZE4KAmUiLrvBBsVxKDj2f/view?usp=sharing
File 2 =
https://drive.google.com/file/d/17GHit4JTZbAzXAb4QNxEj8zkAqkh1XWB/view?usp=sharing
Record your results here =
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1TBzr7uOlnReLAC-NVYUcfFqvnZUQ5Hy_Dz1QSPPzpIw/edit?usp=sharing
Measurements below taken from the LP (recording point), with everything setup as recorded;
View attachment 120888
View attachment 120889
View attachment 120887
This is an imperfect, and overly simplified test = yes! But not everything of import needs to be the subject of extensive blind testing or published scientific peer reviewed papers. Some things are so blatantly obvious that they require no such benchmark - for example speakers with correct phase versus out of phase incorrect wiring........
This is a bit of fun to see what can be heard. Don't cheat yourself, listen and vote.