HIFI Critic class D group test.

project, belcanto, nuforce and channel islands.

Now that's what i want to see in a hifi magazine, someone roundly lambasting a entire class of prodcuts, credit due for having the balls to say what he really thought.

However, given their prediliction for Conrad Johnson, Audio Research, 500 series Naim and Krell, was it any real surprise?

Class D, as they point out, despite being around since 1965, is really just in its formative years as a serious amplification topology for 2 full range 2 channel use. In a similar spot to early solid state back in the day.

No doubt all you 'cloth eared' evo3 owners will dispute his findings to the back teeth, and rightly so, what's sauce for the goose etc etc.

But hats off to them for going to print with a no holds barred opinion, however questionable that persons view may be in the real scheme of things.

 

I didn't get my copy yet. I'm looking forward to it.

I have been a big fan of Martin's writing since early 90's.

And after he started to publish his own ad-free magazine, it became even better !

Having heard many of the components he had reviewed, I can say that he is one of the most knowledgable, honest and insightful rewievers in this industry.

 

The term 'damning with faint praise' springs to mind

 

having not heard half of what he reviews i haven't got a clue how his tastes correspond to my own, but i do value his honesty.

 

Hmm .. the trouble is that I've owned a few switching amps and I couldn't disagree more with his conclusions.

It certainly doesn't make me want to subscribe - their views would seem to be irrelevant to me!

 

Except when he's testing the CDPs. Reminds me of Gremlins after midnight.

 

Perhaps you just haven't any really good amps ( to compare them to ) Jerry! he really tears into them doesn't he ?

 

Well, coops, I've 'ad a few in my time. ... Jadis, Krell, EAR, MF, Lyngdorf, Veritas, NuForce, Audio Research, Exposure, Croft, Lumley.... blah blah blah .....

Must confess that I love what the switching amps do and I would have a hard time finding something better for the money, IMO.

 

Just as I thought! Haven't heard Jadis mind, heard some bel cantos at the weekend, when the amp was switched to a graaf valve the sound was vastly improved, the whole room ( five of us ) agreed.

 

check out the gallery

http://www.acoustic-reality.com/

granted it's on the makers own site but i does make the point quite well.

 

^^ Oops - yes, I missed Graaf off my list - been there, done that.

Yes, it's good. So is my Lyngdorf.

You gotta problem with different opinions, coops?

 

Jerry I am not having a pop at you, different opinions are fine, but to really advance , there has to be a consensus about what is good and actualy closer to reality. A new loudspeaker might be a novel design use new materials etc, but if it isn't actually any better then what is the point?
A lot of the companies at heathrow could have been sellling golf clubs, something different every year just to sell units.
I am amazed when I hear posters on the forums saying they enjoyed the Krell dem, or the Audio freaks 'elevator music' , just expensive rubish. IMO of course!

 

A nice thought Coops but it's never going to happen

Just as we all like different types of music (clasical, rock, (c)rap, dance, country etc) we will also all prefer different types of sound - even if you can take measurements to prove a particular syatem or component is reproducing the original music more accurately it won't necessarily mean people actually prefer it.

Surely it's like trying to decide what the best beer in the world is - get 20 different tasters and they will have different opinions.

 

Record a piano in your room, play it back over different systems buy the one that is closest to reality.
If only it were that simple!

 

Yup, fine. But "concensus" - no, I don't think we'll ever get that.

Shin really dislikes Kharma speakers - I really liked mine (and yes I could give a list of nice speakers I have owned - but you'd just take a pop at those too!). Where is there a possible concensus? Not be had, I think - we just need to accept that there is a broad range of taste and expectation.

I think we should be content for "progress" to be made across a broad front with many different technologies and approaches. That way there will be something for everyone.

 

Yup, a bit simplistic there, coops! Closer to reality in what ways? - bass slam, mid resolution, soundstage, .. etc etc. There will likely be things that one is better at, and vice versa

Which one you prefer overall is down to your own preferences. No concensus there, I'm afraid.

 

The one that sounds most like a piano Jerry!

 

As I said ... Closer to reality in what ways? - bass slam, mid resolution, soundstage, .. etc etc. There will likely be things that one is better at, and vice versa

Which one you think is more real overall is down to your own preferences. No concensus there, I'm afraid.

 

Let's take a closer look at piano sound then .... one speaker will capture the 'plink' of high notes perfectly, but lack the dynamics and bass resolution that make the lower registers sound real. Another speaker might do the opposite. Which one is more 'real'?

 

Jerry it is possible to have everything, obviously you can never completely re-create that 'real' experience but with a good recording you can come incredibly close.