How much does an Inactive Speaker Affect side by side A/B Testing?

[MAB]

I rank the effect of unused speakers sharing a room with listening speakers below the effect of room temperature, but above the effect of gravitational waves.

I measured the effect of multiple speakers in room, I measured no change. I measured the effect of temperature changes many times, posted a few results, it does make a measurable difference albeit tiny. I'm not suggesting we obsess over small changes in room temperature (we should not), just putting this idea of speakers coupling to each other into context.

 

[Todd68]

I rank the effect of unused speakers sharing a room with listening speakers below the effect of room temperature, but above the effect of gravitational waves.

I measured the effect of multiple speakers in room, I measured no change. I measured the effect of temperature changes many times, posted a few results, it does make a measurable difference albeit tiny. I'm not suggesting we obsess over small changes in room temperature (we should not), just putting this idea of speakers coupling to each other into

 

[Todd68]

I don’t know if it’s enough to throw off the point of AB testing, but how do you set up the speakers positioning for best sound of each pair? If I have a pair I spent a lot of time tweaking the positioning for best response and SQ, and then just plopped another pair along side those, I don’t think it would an accurate comparison.

 

[MAB]

I don’t know if it’s enough to throw off the point of AB testing, but how do you set up the speakers positioning for best sound of each pair? If I have a pair I spent a lot of time tweaking the positioning for best response and SQ, and then just plopped another pair along side those, I don’t think it would an accurate comparison.

The question isn't about setting up two sets of speakers simultaneously optimized. It about what happens when you put an inactive speaker next to the ones you are listening to. It presumes you have set up the speakers that you are evaluating.

If you want to use your ears, it would need to be A/B/X, certainly not an A/B test.
Easier to use a mic. Measure a speaker in your room. If you want to carefully position it great, but not necessary. Then put an inactive speaker next to it. Measure again see if there is a difference. If there is, place a box of identical volume and shape as the inactive speaker but with no drivers or holes, measure again to see if the change was due to the drivers in the inactive speaker or the reflective and refractive interactions of the nearby surfaces of the box. Throughout this experiment, make sure the room temperature stays within a degree or so, since room temperature is a bigger effect than what you are trying to measure. Then report the results back. If you do see a difference and have solid data, then maybe organize an A/B/X test.

 

[Cogito]

I'm sure it makes a measurable difference, but is it audible? Maybe in some unusual circumstances?