At Stereo Guide we provide you with reliable estimation of sound quality by applying specific, practical test criteria in a standardised procedure. This is always based on the listening experience of the authors and their focus on real-life field testing not lab results. In this article all individual parts and scores of any review will be explained, from individual keywords to rating of every single aspect and and the calculation of the scores.
Scoring block / summary of test results
Stereo Guide Rating Percentage:
All individual scores added together, the maximum is 100%.
Stereo Guide Recommendation:
Buying tips, price tips or highlights for devices that we suggest users to buy
Pros and Cons:
Listing of the most important strengths and weaknesses that distinguish the test device from its competition, with a focus on sound quality, connectivity and potential fields of application
All of the following individual ratings are made on a scale of 0 to 5 stars and are tested in the subjective listening test under living room acoustics:
Sound: Tonal Balance / Transparency
The sound evaluation of neutrality and transparency summarizes all audiophile quality aspects such as timbre, tonal balance, subjective sound transparency and clarity. This rating is always a result of comparative listening tests and in absolute scaling for all reviewed components. For electronic components, this is the only sound evaluation.
Sound: Bass/Dynamics
The rating for Bass&Dynamics gives an averaged assessment of the bass depth, bass precision, maximum SPL and subjective dynamics of a component. In a comparative listening test, it is evaluated out on an absolute scaling. The evaluation is not influenced by brand, price or size of the components. Therefore, small or inexpensive components tend to have a disadvantage here compared to bigger and more powerful ones. This is especially true to loudspeakers.
Sound: Imaging/Staging
The test criteria for the evaluation of spatial imaging summarize aspects such as localization accuracy, spatiality, depth of ambience and how convincing the two- or three-dimensional sound illusion is. A system rated with top marks would therefore not only be able to reproduce all the spatial information contained in a recording in width, depth, height and precision. It should also do this as stably and as credibly as possible with the given input format. Imaging and staging are in general only evaluated for stereo speakers, stereo complete systems or surround speakers. However, we don’t do this with headphones or onebox systems because it doesn’t make sense.
Connectivity / Handling
This rating indicates how straightforward a component is to set up, connect, and operate on a daily basis. We incorporate connectivity options as well as practical functions for connecting as many sources and other components as possible. If the component works with a proprietary app, we include its performance into the evalution. In the case of loudspeakers, this also takes into account how well they fit acoustically into different rooms and can be adapted to them.
Price/Performance
While all of the aforementioned ratings are proceeded by absolute terms, i.e. without taking the prices into account, here we make our assessment based on the retail price and those of the competitor´s products. This includes the extent to which a component justifies its purchase with sound quality, range of functions and practicality.
Test Criteria: Structure of the report
Introduction/Description
This section describes the technical construction of a component, but also its basic applications. An explanation of what it can be used for or why it was designed the way it is and a description of the components used complete the section.
Connectivity and software
This section introduces and discusses in detail the major connectivity, software and control options, sources, and data formats processed by a component. If the app works with proprietary software or other system components, these are also briefly described and tested for their capabilities.
Practical test / Installation
The test criteria for the practical evaluation: In this section, the process of commissioning, connections, set-up, installation and connection of the component is described. We also evaluate problems in compatibility with others (network components, app stability, etc.). The results are directly influencing the rating ´Connectivity / handling´.
Listening test
The results of the listening test compared to other components are presented in as much detail as possible. We evaluate the sound quality and describe the sound character of a component. We do this for as many different styles of music as possible that has been listened to over the respective component. However, classical music hardly makes sense when paired with a small Bluetooth speaker. After all, this does not correspond to user habits. Sometimes we simply omit certain examples because of the length of the text, if there were no particular affinities in connection with them in the listening test.
Competition/alternatives
Finally, we evaluate the component in relation to other competitors of its class – if there are obvious alternatives. In particular, Stereo Guide provides you with recommendations as to which direct competitor’s product may be preferable and under which circumstances. Or even in which properties a component is unrivalled. The result also has an influence on the rating of “price/performance”.
Facts and figures
Price: Manufacturer’s suggested retail price at time of testing; market prices may vary.
Dimensions / weight: Manufacturer’s specifications or own measurements
Special features: Technically special features, special input options, functions or software compatibilities.
Links to the manufacturer: We include a link to the homepages of the manufacturer/distributor as well as to possible shops like Amazon, where a component can be purchased directly. In the latter case, we receive a partial commission that allows us to offer our sites with little/no advertising and no subscription fees.
