The short answer
- Choose Diffonic to know whether a change really improves the sound: automatic LUFS level matching, a 6-step blind test with a score and a Diff button, for $29.
- Choose Metric AB to measure your mix against commercial references: up to 16 tracks, four loudness-matching modes, DAW sync and detailed analysis.
Two A/B tools, two questions
ADPTR Metric AB answers the question "how does my mix compare with the records I like?". You drag in up to 16 reference tracks, match their loudness to your mix, then compare spectrum, stereo image, dynamics and loudness, or isolate a frequency band with the filter bank. Diffonic answers another question: "is version B really better than version A, or is it just louder or just what I expect?". It removes the level difference with LUFS matching, then lets you test yourself blind: six steps, A and B swapped after each answer, and an accuracy score at the end.
| Diffonic | ADPTR Metric AB | |
|---|---|---|
| Main question | Does B really sound better than A? | How does my mix compare with references? |
| Level matching | Automatic, LUFS | Four loudness-matching modes |
| Blind test | Yes: 6 steps, A/B swapped after each answer, final score | No dedicated blind test |
| References | Compares two signals | Up to 16 reference tracks, cue markers, DAW sync |
| Analysis | Diff button | Spectrum, stereo, correlation, dynamics, loudness, filter bank |
| Learning curve | Very short | Longer, many views |
| Price | $29 (instead of $58) | ≈ $100 (also in Plugin Alliance subscriptions) |
Where Metric AB wins
- Reference work: up to 16 reference tracks loaded by drag and drop, all matched in loudness at once.
- Workflow: playback synced to the DAW, cue markers on song sections and several playback modes (Latch, Cue, Sync, Manual).
- Analysis: spectrum, stereo image, correlation, dynamics and loudness, to see where your mix differs.
- Filter bank: listen to one frequency band in isolation to compare the low end or the highs.
Image: Plugin Alliance / ADPTR Audio
Where Diffonic wins
- A real blind test: you never know whether you hear A or B, the signals are swapped after each answer, and the score tells you whether you really hear a difference.
- No loudness bias: automatic LUFS matching removes the volume difference that makes the louder version seem better.
- Simplicity: one clear question, a few seconds to set up, useful on any decision: plugin, setting, export, master.
- Price: $29 instead of $58.
Diffonic
Find out if a change really sounds better: level-matched A/B and blind test.
$29 $58 -50%
VST3 · AU · AAX · Windows & macOS
See DiffonicWhich one is for you?
| Need | Our pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Choosing between two plugins or settings | Diffonic | Level-matched blind test |
| Checking a master against commercial releases | Metric AB | 16 references and detailed analysis |
| Training your ears | Diffonic | The final score shows what you really hear |
| Mixing engineer working with references every day | Both | Metric AB for references, Diffonic for decisions |
| Tight budget | Diffonic | $29 |
2027 verdict
Metric AB is the most complete tool for comparing a mix with reference tracks. Diffonic is the simplest and most honest way to know whether a change really improves the sound: LUFS level matching, blind test, score, for $29. The two complement each other well. See also our best A/B comparison plugins of 2027, the blind test guide and the best loudness meters.
Frequently asked questions
Is Diffonic better than Metric AB?
They don't do the same job. Metric AB is a very complete reference suite: up to 16 reference tracks, four loudness-matching modes, DAW sync, filter bank and detailed analysis. Diffonic focuses on one question, whether B really sounds better than A: automatic LUFS level matching, a 6-step blind test with a final accuracy score and a Diff button, for $29.
Which one should I use to compare my mix with commercial tracks?
Metric AB, which loads up to 16 references, matches their loudness and compares them with your mix through spectrum, stereo and dynamics analysis.
Which one should I use to check if a plugin really improves the sound?
Diffonic. Its blind test hides which signal is which and swaps A and B after each answer, so only your ears decide. The final score shows whether you really hear a difference.