Use your ears
The ultimate audio shootout playground. For pros, enthusiasts, musicians, and students. Free.
Why Shootouts?
A tradition as old as recording
In the audio world, a “shootout” is a side-by-side listening comparison. Engineers and musicians have been doing them for decades in studios, classrooms, and trade shows to cut through the marketing and let their ears — not the spec sheet — decide. A blind comparison removes price tags, brand loyalty, and hype, so the only thing left to judge is the sound.
Sonic Shootouts brings that tradition online and expands it beyond gear. If you can listen and compare two or more sound sources, it’s a shootout:
Microphones
Compare a vintage classic against a modern budget mic on the same vocal take.
Preamps
Hear how different signal paths color the same performance.
Plug-ins
Pit EQs, compressors, or reverbs against each other on an identical source.
Mixes & Masters
Line up revisions or competing engineers and let listeners pick a favorite.
Recording Techniques
Test mic placements, room treatments, or tracking approaches side by side.
Audio Codecs
Reveal what lossy compression really does to your music.
Features
Let the shootouts begin
Everything you need to compare almost anything related to sound right in the browser. No need to set up a DAW.
Instant Switching
Switch between audio sources with sample-accurate timing. No gaps, no clicks, no artifacts.
Multi-Track Compare
Load up to 8 audio files simultaneously. Switch between them instantly with zero-gap crossfading.
Listen Tests
Take blind A/B and A/B/X tests to prove — with real statistics — whether you can actually hear the difference.
Analyzer
Run a cancellation (null) test to subtract one source from another and hear exactly what's different.
How It Works
Explore
Browse shootouts
Find shootouts by topic — gear comparisons, instrument demos, codec tests, and more.
Listen and compare
Switch between tracks with instant A/B switching. Playback is perfectly synchronized and level-matched.
Vote and discuss
Cast your vote in polls, leave notes, and see how your ears stack up against the community.
Create
Upload your audio
Drag and drop WAV, MP3, AAC, or M4A files. Any combination of formats and sample rates.
Pick a template
Start with a preset like Classic Shootout or Poll, then tweak the modes and options to fit your needs.
Publish and share
Save as a draft or publish right away. Share the link and let listeners weigh in.