hhh Objective and Subjective Testing on High Fidelity Audio Reproduction
Components
Questionnaire and Subjective Listening Test
SECTION A - Questionnaire
1. Which of the following demographics would you categorise yourself as?
Audio Professional
Music Listener/Musician
Audiophile
Audio Professional - 'I have experience or formal education in audio engineering or similar discipline'
Music Listener/Musician - 'I have no professional experience or formal education in audio, but enjoy listening
to music or play an instrument'
Audiophile - 'I have a specialist interest in high quality sound reproduction, lossless formats e.t.c'
2. Which components do you think makes the biggest difference to the perceived quality of a hi-fi
reproduction system? Please rank the following components in order of importance:

Playback Device e.g. CD player
1.

Speakers
2.

Amplifier
3.

Interconnecting Cables
4.

Speaker Cables
5.
3. Have you been exposed to loud noises or music (e.g. attending a concert) in the past 24 hours?
Yes
No
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SECTION B - ABX Testing
Section B consists of a series of listening tests which use an ABX testing methodology.
You will be presented with three audio samples per test- Two reference samples (A & B) and one
unknown sample (X).
Each sample will be clearly identified and will be 10 seconds in length. You will then have to decide if
sample X was sample A or B.
A = Cheap Interconnecting
Test Number
1
2
3
4
5
6
B= Expensive Interconnecting
Was sample X A or B?
X = Expensive Interconnecting
X = Cheap Interconnecting
X = Cheap Interconnecting
X = Expensive Interconnecting
X = Expensive Interconnecting
X = Cheap Interconnecting
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SECTION C - Grading Scales
Section C consists of a series of listening tests which use a 5 point
grading scale methodology1.
For each test you will be presented with two audio samples, of a
different musical genre.
After listening to each test please 'score' or 'grade' between 1 and 5 based upon overall sound
quality and various other subjective terms.
Test 1 Mid Priced Amplfier
Please read the following definitions:
Quality - If the sound quality is high (5.0) the music is reproduced accurately with no audible noise
or distortion artefacts.
Warmth- The low mid frequencies have depth and high frequencies are smooth-sounding rather
than being aggressive or fatiguing to listen to
Clarity- The separation between instruments, can different instruments be heard clearly?
After listening to each sample please mark the scale from 1.0 - 5.0
Sample A - Jazz
Quality
1
Warmth
Sample B - Rock
Clarity
Quality
Warmth
Defined in ITU-R BS 1284.1 - 'General Methods for the Subjective Assessment of Sound Quality'
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Clarity
Test 2 Expensive Amplfier
After listening to each sample please mark the scale from 1.0 - 5.0
Sample A - Jazz
Quality
Warmth
Sample B - Rock
Clarity
Quality
Warmth
Clarity
Test 3 Cheap Amplifer
After listening to each sample please mark the scale from 1.0 - 5.0
Sample A - Jazz
Quality
Warmth
Sample B - Rock
Clarity
Quality
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Warmth
Clarity
Test 4 Mid Priced Speakers
Weight- The low end bass frequencies within the samples. A high score (5.0) means the bass
frequencies (e.g. bass guitar, kick drum) sound 'solid', and natural.
Brightness- The mid-high end treble frequencies within the samples. A high score (5.) means the high
frequencies sound 'crisp' and detailed without being 'harsh' or fatiguing to listen to.
After listening to each sample please mark the scale from 1.0 - 5.0
Sample A - Jazz
Quality
Weight
Sample B - Rock
Brightness
Quality
Weight
Brightness
Test 5 Cheap Speakers
After listening to each sample please mark the scale from 1.0 - 5.0
Sample A - Jazz
Quality
Weight
Sample B - Rock
Brightness
Quality
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Weight
Brightness
Test 6 High End Speakers
After listening to each sample please mark the scale from 1.0 - 5.0
Sample A - Jazz
Quality
Weight
Sample B - Rock
Brightness
Quality
Weight
Brightness
Test 7 Expensive CD Player
Please read the following definitions:
Quality - If the sound quality is high (5.0) the music is reproduced accurately with no audible noise
or distortion artefacts.
After listening to the sample please mark the scale from 1.0 - 5.0
Sample A - Jazz
Sample B - Rock
Sound Quality
Sound Quality
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Test 8 Cheap CD Player
After listening to the sample please mark the scale from 1.0 - 5.0
Sample A - Jazz
Sample B - Rock
Sound Quality
Sound Quality
Test 9 Mid Priced CD Player
After listening to the sample please mark the scale from 1.0 - 5.0
Sample A - Jazz
Sample B - Rock
Sound Quality
Sound Quality
Source Material - Recorded, Mixed and Mastered by James Key
Rock Track - 'Kasakets - Shugnation' (Stratford-Upon-Avon)
Jazz Track - 'The Jazz Union - La Petite Mambo' (Chester)
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