Proper way to listen to a soundboard?

[danz24 10+ year member]

Hey how does everyone listen to speaker systems when they go to the store? Do you guys just let the salesperson show you around, do you put in your own CD and crank the volume //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif,or do you actually take the time and play with the EQ on different headunits... There just so many variables and you know it most likely wont sound like that when its in your car.

I want to test out some speakers but wonder how everyone does it.

Is there any characteristic that I can look for that is certain to be carried over when its in my car?

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[JeffyZ33 10+ year member]

I don't care if people bring in their own music and turn it up and etc, but the last thing I want is some dude coming in and messing with all of the EQ settings on the decks. It takes a lot of time to get every deck tuned in good for a display so everything sounds good.

You'll find if someone wants to make a sale, they're going to let you listen to your music and turn it up (to an appropriate level, not just wide open to see how many rattles the building has). A salesperson would be stupid not to.

 

[Beat_Dominator 5,000+ posts]

Hey how does everyone listen to speaker systems when they go to the store? Do you guys just let the salesperson show you around, do you put in your own CD and crank the volume //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif,or do you actually take the time and play with the EQ on different headunits... There just so many variables and you know it most likely wont sound like that when its in your car.I want to test out some speakers but wonder how everyone does it.

Is there any characteristic that I can look for that is certain to be carried over when its in my car?

When listening to speakers in a store, it's all about comparisons. If you can amplify the sets with an amplifier similar in power output to the one you plan to use, that helps as well. I try to just have the EQs on the decks flat as that should even the playing field in theory, as speakers are supposed to be designed for consistent output across the audio band.

Then it's about listening and switching between sets. If they are installed on top of eachother try to adjust the level of your ears (put speakers at same height as your head) so that they play on-axis with your head. All you need to do then is zero in on what ones have a sound that you like, they should all have their own characteristics.

 

[luvinthebass 5,000+ posts]

I just bring in my cd's and play em and the salespeople don't mind, they do at Best Buy though, **** that store anywayz...

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

The proper way to listen to speakers is as close as possible to the way you plan on using them. I'm guessing a soundroom isn't it. Neither is on axis most likely. Nor at head level. I don't understand why more shops don't make the sound room at least similar to a car interior. I have been a few really good ones that do. Speakers down low and off axis. Car seats to sit in during the demo. Small room, etc...