Blind listening test: bypassed Zoom B3n vs cable

[Spblat]

2617 - Clyp
3975 - Clyp
4078 - Clyp
7659 - Clyp
7730 - Clyp
7918 - Clyp

Here are six recordings; two sets of three. Three were made directly from my SR655 into a Focusrite Scarlett Solo. Three were made through my pedalboard: SR655 -> Liner ABY -> Polytune Noir -> B3n on an empty patch -> Focusrite. the recordings were made at 48K and saved as WAV. They weren't normalized, edited or processed in any way. The filenames above were chosen at random.

Which three were straight in and which went through the B3n? I'll give the answers when there's consensus that it's time to end the experiment.

Copy and paste this template to submit your answer. Thanks in advance for playing!

• B3n pentatonic riff:
• B3n scale riff:
• B3n harmonics:
• Straight pentatonic riff:
• Straight scale riff:
• Straight harmonics:

 

[Rafbass77]

• 7918 , 4078, 7659 straights

 

[Spblat]

Thanks for listening and playing! @Guest of Honor or @smeet wanna play?

 

[FuzzFacetious]

I have no idea but I liked listening to them.

 

[The Rage]

• 7918 , 4078, 7659 straights

Same.
Now I'm even more interested, because I dig the other clips more ^^

 

[Spblat]

Two identical votes so far. What do you two hear that leads you to that conclusion?

 

[lokikallas]

I think to compare I need to hear a split recording of identical riffs.

 

[The Rage]

What do you two hear that leads you to that conclusion?

Honestly, for the harmonic files I chose almost randomly, but the other ones seems more "hollow". Don't know for sure if they're the straight ones or the b3n files, but sure I can hear a difference...

 

[Jantelagen]

The harmonic ones 2617 and 7659 were the most noticeable. I'm not sure which is straight or B3n but, to my ears, the differences are in each set.

 

[andreas_flf]

2617 - Clyp
3975 - Clyp
4078 - Clyp
7659 - Clyp
7730 - Clyp
7918 - Clyp

Here are six recordings; two sets of three. Three were made directly from my SR655 into a Focusrite Scarlett Solo. Three were made through my pedalboard: SR655 -> Liner ABY -> Polytune Noir -> B3n on an empty patch -> Focusrite. the recordings were made at 48K and saved as WAV. They weren't normalized, edited or processed in any way. The filenames above were chosen at random.

Which three were straight in and which went through the B3n? I'll give the answers when there's consensus that it's time to end the experiment.

Copy and paste this template to submit your answer. Thanks in advance for playing!

• B3n pentatonic riff:
• B3n scale riff:
• B3n harmonics:
• Straight pentatonic riff:
• Straight scale riff:
• Straight harmonics:

Can't tell any difference when listening one after the other and for sure can't tell which would be through B3n and which not. Thanks for the test and for me it is already clear from previous and this test in particular: The B3n does no "damage" to the tone and there is noting like a tone suck of any significance. Playing matters, guys. Let's put this issue at rest.

 

[Rafbass77]

In the comparative tests that general volume has the b3n?

 

[Spblat]

In the comparative tests that general volume has the b3n?

Rephrase your question?

 

[Jantelagen]

In the comparative tests that general volume has the b3n?

Ah, okay. I agree.... "7918 , 4078, 7659 straights"!

 

[Rafbass77]

Rephrase your question?

Sorry .. redo the question ..
In comparative tests how much is the global volume (0-120) of the b3n?
I noticed tone suck in relation to global volume..
Thanks

 

[Spblat]

Sorry .. redo the question ..
In comparative tests how much is the global volume (0-120) of the b3n?
I noticed tone suck in relation to global volume..
Thanks

Got it. It was at 100 exactly. Here's a new test:

1386 - Clyp
7438 - Clyp
7608 - Clyp
8121 - Clyp

I played into my B3's looper so all these are precisely the same performance. Two of these are direct from the B3, and two are from the B3 through my B3n into the same recording setup as above. I manipulated gain on some of the recordings to throw you off. Which two include the B3n?

 

[Spblat]

• 7918 , 4078, 7659 straights

Same.

You guys were both correct. I'm dying to know if you can win two in a row.

 

[The Rage]

mmm... need to listen the files more

think 1386, 8121 sounds different than the other two. Maybe they're the b3n files.

This time is more difficult...

 

[Jantelagen]

lol. Another Zoom bypass test with a Zoom through a Zoom?

 

[Spblat]

mmm... need to listen the files more

think 1386, 8121 sounds different than the other two. Maybe they're the b3n files.

This time is more difficult...

You win again. This proves that under controlled circumstances a sensitive ear can indeed tell the difference between a bypassed B3n and a wire. /thread

 

[The Rage]

The good thing is that in the first test I digged the B3n files more, and the second test makes me quite certain that none will hear the difference when used with two downtuned heavily distorted guitar ^^