My EE built us a new ABX component test box and this one works better than ever.
It can accommodate, at the same time, two preamplifiiers, two power amps, and two sets of speakers. With the remote control we can easily program in any or all of these signal chains in any combination for true ABX testing.
After careful level matching of each component under test, we can either listen with the units under test identified, or we can turn off the ID LEDs and listen blind. Then, when switching, the box's random number generator either switches, or does not switch, the components under test. After a set of eight tests, we can then turn the LEDs back on and step through the test sequence again, learning after the fact which components we had been listening to at each step of the test.
By making notes during the test process we can then learn if we were really hearing differences or just making random guesses. We can spend a whole day with this process, simply switching any time we feel like it, to remove the "test environment" from the process as much as possible.
We can hear subtle differences with this new ABX box. More important, it allows us to better understand what our clients are telling us about what they hear, for better or for worse.
We are pretty sure the new box is really transparent now. We certainly hear no issues with our very best equipment connected to it. It makes tube rolling easy to do. We just use two identical preamps with different tube brands installed.
By using our new ABX box, we think we will be able to provide you with better audio equipment yet.
Regards,
Frank Van Alstine
