pmr@drutx.UUCP (Rastocny) (07/06/84)
Before I begin, there has been a lot said about subjective evaluations and their validity. I have yet another comment to make about different sounding electronics and specifications. The last time you upgraded your system's electronics, did you notice a change in the way it sounded? For the same volume settings did the way the system reproduce the instruments appear to change? Was it quieter, faster, cleaner? Did you especially notice that you heard things in familiar pieces of programme material that you never heard before? I refer to these differences as the sonic signatures of the equipment (the end-to-end transfer function from phono input to speaker output). The better the equipment, the more you can hear. To pick an example most people are familiar with, what kind of instrument plays the beat in the right channel foreground on the intro of Michael Jackson's "Billy Jean?" (It's not what your first reaction may be.) Can you hear background contributions by the brothers and harmony singers at VERY low levels and random times in this same song? Can you hear the doorknob click at the outset of the "Thriller" cut on this same album? If not, why not? My equipment specs the same as everyone elses and according to some people, there's no differences in the specs and therefore no differences in the sound. But yet I cannot hear these same details at all if I swap out my equipment with something like a 110 or 220 Hafler. [Before the innuendos start, I don't like alcohol and aspirin is the strongest drug I take.] Enough of this, on with my personal subjective ratings of ELECTRONICS (amps, preamps, integrated amps, and receivers). These are also ranked against each other within each level as being more revealing/natural than the others in the same level. Note also that prices of equipment vary drastically within each level and this is a general rating where possibly one or two products of any given manufacturer belong in another level. I try to be as unbiased as possible. vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv Level 0 - Bottom of the line, low fidelity. These just make noise. (Get the pickup out, Tex. The wagon's broke again. or They wanted $5 for that replacement needle? Isn't that a bit too much? :-) Magnavox Emmerson or Juliette (tied) Level 1 - The first step into hi fi. THE hardest group to rate and the most hotly debated. Sound differences are extremely subtle between any of the manufacturers listed below and the sonic signature is inconsistent from different models in the same line. (Let's go in my car. It's air conditioned. or But this one has 0.00001 THD and it's only $29.95 to boot. :-) best--> Denon (receivers) Aiwa, Sansui, HH Scott, Technics, Onkyo, Kenwood, or Kyocera. Yamaha, JVC, Sony, Fisher, Carver, Phase Linear, or Marantz. Toshiba, Hitachi, Mitsubishi, Sherwood, Akai, or ADS. Harmon Kardon or Pioneer (although both are unreliable). B&O (all show and no go). Realistic (extremely overpriced). worst-> Sanyo or Sharp. Level 2 - The first step up from hi fi. No receivers in this or any of the other levels that follow. Some integrated amps also thrive here. (My VW gets 100 miles to the gallon! or I just bought a half-speed mastered disc. You have to hear it! It'll blow you away! :-) best--> Hafler SAE or Naim. Tandberg Nikko or Luxman. McIntosh (overpriced). Adcom worst-> NAD (preamps are OK, amps are a joke). Level 3 - The next logical step. If they can afford it, some people skip this level and go for level 4. Strictly separates from here on. (The turbo really makes a difference. or I like the way line-trace styli sound much better than ellipticals. :-) best--> Mission Amber Precision Fidelity Revox Apt PS Audio Soundcraftsmen Crown International worst-> Accuphase Level 4 - The summit in hi fi levels. These somewhat accurate systems require a considerable outlay of cash and justification. People at this level are very serious about reproduction. (Too bad DeLorian went broke. Maybe I'll still get a good return on my investment. or The mix was OK, but what I loved was the wide sound stage. :-) best--> Acoustat Denon Berning Bryston Perreaux BEL worst-> BGW Level 5 - The lower line of high-end audio gear. As Julian Hirsch says, "Gold-plated sound." The best value in esoteric gear and a big step up from level 4. (I think I'll put the Nak in the Ferrari. or You're right; those tubes are hot stuff! :-) best--> Audio Research Mark Levinson (great for complex and low Z loads) Electro-Companiet worst-> Threshold Level 6 - Current state of the art in audio design. These units are expen$ive and the law of diminishing returns applies here. This stuff is for those who demand the BEST and aren't concerned about the price. (Here's the cash for the blue 450SEL. Put the CJ in the back seat and have them delivered to my yacht. or Very nice! :-) best--> Conrad-Johnson Spectral Electron Kinetics worst-> Krell Not included in this list are custom built/modified units and special order equipment. Flames to /dev/null. Arguments anyone? Other recommendations? Yours for higher fidelity, Phil Rastocny AT&T-ISL ..!drutx!pmr
seifert@ihuxl.UUCP (D.A. Seifert) (07/07/84)
I haven't made a career out of auditioning audio gear, so I'm
not intimately familar with many of the brands Mr. Golden Ear
has ranked for us. I would point out that some of these brands
have a wide spectrum of products. Sony, for example, makes
some low-end stuff that might be appropriate for.. what was that
noise-maker he mentioned? Michelle Jacksoff? On the other hand,
they make some nice high end gear that pushes back the state of the
art. For example, they were into power-FETs *years* ago. Have you
listened to the TA5650, Mr. Golden Ear? Or any of it's siblings?
Very nice sounding amps. (or rather UN-sounding)
I suppose I should get busy and replace all the solder in my
components with official silver solder, (regular solder is
a leading cause of 'tinny' sound, you know) but solder fumes
often give one a taste for non-esoteric music, thus defeating
the whole purpose.
Hey Woodstock, listen up, can you hear the fingerprint on the window
in the recording studio? tsk! tsk!
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