My Long List of Amplifiers and My Personal Review of Each!
Can you name a few tracks or albums that you think sound "better" on one service or the other? That could give us some insight into your preferences because, as we all know, something that sounds different isn’t always better. |
whitecamaross AMPLIFIERS SOUND BEST WHEN CONNECTED STRAIGHT INTO THE WALL:Shouting is not necessary. Your claim may be a "true fact" in your system, but the "true fact" isn’t universal, and certainly isn’t what sounds best in my system. |
whitecamaross I am going to running a very interesting experiment in about 10 days or so. I purchased a monster krell 403e and since krell stated in the manual that tube preamps arent recommended due to the dc current tubes pass ...It isn't clear what you're trying to say here, because only a severely defective audio component passes DC. |
whitecamaross I am slowly trying to get used to lower listening levels but it will take me some work to not want to crank it up.The better and more resolving the system, the easier it is to listen to it at low levels. My issue is when I like something, I want more of it and that is in life in general ...Understood. And of course, there's nothing like cranking it up! |
whitecamaross Why? Of course, whatever drives the power amplifier must have sufficient gain for the amp to reach rated output. But the efficiency of the speaker has nothing to do with it. |
whitecamaross
Count me in among those who didn't know this "fact," which sounds more like an urban legend. Who at Merrill Audio has made that claim? That's a pretty serious accusation to share as merely hearsay, or while remaining anonymous. |
whitecamaross If Riaa and myself are saying this, don’t take it as gospel but it should make you pump your brakes when it comes to how much you believe what magazines write.Please note that riaa stated his claim was supported in posts "on numerous occasions by people who work for Stereophile....mostly Atkinson" but when challenged says: I know what Ive read. No motive to state otherwise. Not going to waste time trying .Again, here’s a link to the actual Stereophile reviewing policy: "Products are chosen for review in Stereophile on the basis of their relevance to the interests and needs of the magazine’s readers ... There is no connection between a product’s being selected for review and whether or not its manufacturer advertises in the magazine." It’s rather interesting that those attacking Stereophile’s integrity do so without any substantiation other than essentially "someone told me" or "I read it somewhere." |
riaa_award_collectors_on_facebook I dont think the OP stated the policy correctly in regards to Stereophile. You dont PAY a figure (1 time shot) to have a product reviewed in their pages. You DO have to pay for X number of advertisements in their rag in order to have a product reviewed. I have seen this posted on numerous occasions by people who work for Stereophile....mostly Atkinson. Its in Black and White Print.Do you have a link to Atkinson’s statement? Of course you don’t, because your claim is false. Here’s what Atkinson actually says: "Products are chosen for review in Stereophile on the basis of their relevance to the interests and needs of the magazine’s readers. Reviewers and editors have no role in selling advertising for the magazine, and whether or not a given manufacturer purchases advertising space in Stereophile is irrelevant to a reviewer’s conclusions. There is no connection between a product’s being selected for review and whether or not its manufacturer advertises in the magazine." For somebody not to know this means they havent been paying attention or reading the magsPerhaps it is you who should pay closer attention to actual facts. |
riaa_award_collectors_on_facebook ... If your reading comprehension skills are adequate you will see that I stated that I can understand WHY any Mag would have that policySorry, but facts matter. You emphatically stated, yourself using ALL CAPS for emphasis: Stereophile. You dont PAY a figure (1 time shot) to have a product reviewed in their pages. You DO have to pay for X number of advertisements in their rag in order to have a product reviewed.It's fine if you now want to abandon your claim which, as I've already shown you, is in complete conflict with the magazine's stated policy: "Products are chosen for review in Stereophile on the basis of their relevance to the interests and needs of the magazine’s readers ... There is no connection between a product’s being selected for review and whether or not its manufacturer advertises in the magazine." |
tjassoc Do you think John A is going to come out and say you have to advertise in our magazine to be reviewed ...I know it sounds incredible, but that’s exactly what some have claimed: riaa_award_collectors_on_facebook Stereophile. You dont PAY a figure (1 time shot) to have a product reviewed in their pages. You DO have to pay for X number of advertisements in their rag in order to have a product reviewed. I have seen this posted on numerous occasions by people who work for Stereophile....mostly Atkinson.... also ... whitecamaross ... interesting fact that most of you all don’t know, did you know that Merril Audio DID NOT send out his amps to stereophile for review because stereophile wanted $ (i can’t disclose what this was) and the manufacturer refused to be part of this corruptionOf course, there’s absolutely nothing to substantiate those claims - which are just rumor and hearsay - and quite a bit to refute them in the magazine’s stated policy: "Products are chosen for review in Stereophile on the basis of their relevance to the interests and needs of the magazine’s readers ... There is no connection between a product’s being selected for review and whether or not its manufacturer advertises in the magazine." |
riaa_award_collectors_on_facebook Wireworld is now closed...has been for about 1 monthIt is not completely closed. One of my dealers can have new WW product built and shipped to you. |
whitecamaross As far as to why i think having a preamp is almost "mandatory" with difficult loads is because i have personally experienced this. Take for instance my 20.7 Magnepans; They do not come to life until you give them volume ...But the power for your speakers comes from your amplifier, not the preamplifier. Don't get me wrong - I'm squarely in favor of using a good preamp. But that has nothing at all to do with choice of speakers, or whether a speaker is a tricky load for the amp. |
whitecamaross ... there are circumstance where the dac can be used as a preamp and ... dac into preamp is not the solution for every single situation ...I wouldn't dispute that at all. Indeed, I think most systems benefit from a good preamp, such as the ARC you've praised. |
viber6 ... The next reality is that HF's evaporate with distance, and it is an objective fact ...Sorry, but sound doesn't "evaporate" at any frequency. ... there are marked HF loses at greater distances, objectively measured by microphones as well as heard by educated listenersOf course, all frequencies diminish with distance and you can measure that loss as 6 dB with each doubling of the distance. |
It’s amazing how anytime someone questions the OP of this thread, they’re met with a firehose of dares and insult. It’s almost as absurd as using Youtube as a way to assess sound quality. |
whitecamaross I’d love to open up about how I’ve been scammed through my journey as far as purchases are concerned. I’d love to say this dealer did this to me or that to me etc but you all know I can’t ...What is stopping you? |
whitecamaross ... how many reviews have you read that made you buy a component and then you took it home and you weren’t impressed? ...None. I'd never buy a component based solely on a review. |
whitecamaross ... how do you tell customers that if their stuff breaks, they need to wait 2 - 3 months to get it fixed ?It doesn’t typically take two months to get a McIntosh component repaired. I did once have a few week delay because Mac had to manufacture a new glass panel for my MR-80 tuner, which had been damaged in transit. That seems reasonable to me, because it’s unusual for a manufacturer to be willing to manufacture a part for a product many decades out of production. McIntosh schematics and service manuals are readily available and the company has many factory authorized service centers, at least in the US. These products are readily serviceable. That’s not to say that there haven’t been some problems for some users, but blame for some of those problems seems to be at the user end, such as the guy who famously was unwilling to return an amplifier for proper diagnosis and repair. Nothing was going to make him happy. I was told that McIntosh refuses to hire more techs to fix product and their attitude is more like "it will get fixed whenever we get to it " and that’s Bs in my book.That’s just hearsay, and inconsistent with my experience. |
viber6 WC,So? What's your complaint? Isn't everyone here free to pursue their mission, within the limits of the forum's rules? |
jetter cleeds, after all these years of his great postings, even if WC should make an occasional mistake, we would rather listen to an expert. There are plenty of threads where negative attitudes are welcome.My intent was to add some clarity, not to hurt your feelings. I’m not sure why you think it’s "negative" for some to bust a myth, but not for others. |
thezaks ... a primer on how to post could definitely be helpful ...No "primer" is needed. Audiogon is very clear about its rules for using the forums. You might want to read the FAQ. Also, you might want to note this: ... all members are responsible for maintaining a professional and cordial demeanor on and off the site including our forums. We will not tolerate the use of hostile, offensive, profane or vulgar language. |
techno__dude stop saying the Mephisto is a stereo amplifier. It’s 2 mono amplifiers joined together. 2 transformers, 2 POWERCORDS.Does it have two separate inputs? Does it have two independent outputs? If so, it's a stereo amp. The rest is just topology. |
techno__dude ... Playing with words to misguide...It’s not a stereo amplifierAre you claiming that Gryphon is "misguiding" its customers by calling it a stereo amplifier? Did you check the links I provided you: Gryphon’s website and the amp’s "Mephisto Stereo" page? The manufacturer itself clearly describes the amplifier as stereo. So perhaps rather than arguing with me you should take your issue up with Gryphon. The "Mephisto Stereo" - that is exactly what Gryphon calls it - is indeed a dual-mono stereo amp. I’m surprised that this nomenclature causes you such confusion. |
techno__dude 2 powercords, 2 transfo , 2 mirrors boards. That’s 2 mono (glued together ). You are wrong on this specific matter and simply won’t admit it.Does the amplifier accept two independent inputs and provide two independent outputs? That’s a stereo amplifier, by definition. A mono amplifier can only drive one channel. I’m not sure why you insist otherwise - you seem to be preoccupied with the amplifier’s topology. You might want to check out Gryphon’s website here. You'll see that Gyrphon makes it clear which of its amps are mono an which ones are stereo. The page dedicated to the Mephisto calls the amplifier "Mephisto Stereo," and rightly so. Perhaps you think the manufacturer is also "wrong on this specific matter and simply won’t admit it." You might want to contact them directly! |
whitecamaross Please let me know if any of you own or have owned 2 amplifiers at once and why.I own four high-end amplifiers. My system is biamplified, so I need two. But it's nice to have a spare on hand. |
It isn't clear what Jay's AC power looks like, although the last time the topic arose it looked like there was a welder or a/c unit on one of his "dedicated" audio lines. It's a topic Jay tends to prefer to avoid, hence the threat that he'll take "corrective action" if anyone questions him. |
kren00061,500 posts08-19-2021 10:53am No sneering remarks. Just respect WC’s wishes and stop talking about stuff that has no place on this thread or his channel.This isn’t "his channel." TAKE A HINT!!! If it bothers you that much that your stuff isn’t worthy (WC’s decision - he’s told you that a million times and he just did again in his last post - reread it) then don’t follow the thread.This isn’t "his channel." ... NO IGNORING WC’S WISHES FROM THE USUAL DOLTS WHO CANNOT RECOGNIZE THAT THEIR STUFF SUCKS IN COMPARISON TO WHAT WC PRESENTSUsing ALL CAPS only undermines whatever point you’re trying to make. Everyone is free to post here within the forum rules. If you have complaints about participants here, take them to the moderators. |
logydoghan ... Really looking forward to seeing the worst of the amps, especially those charge for big $$$ and pretends to be hifi. I would guess McIntosh being one of them ...Really? I’ve heard some fantastic Mac amplifiers. They don’t happen to be to my taste, but I sure don’t think they are pretenders to hi-fi. Which Mac models have you heard that led you to this guess, @logydoghan? Hopefully you've heard them in person rather than just relying on YouTube. |
jays_audio_lab @ronres:That seems like a fair question. Perhaps you weren't actually "banned," but the victim of an IT snafu. Or maybe there's more to it. Either way, it seems reasonable to expect some explanation. |
Exactly correct. |
You've burned yourself out. It's probably an indicator that the music just isn't that important to you. |
I’m not sure that it’s an either/or question, but I absolutely agree that solutions such as the Stromtank may be superfluous if you already have first class electric service supplying a nice clean install with dedicated lines. It’s amazing what a difference that can make. |
Very, very true.
Where I live, that equipment is pretty much dictated by the utility. To get improvements there (or anywhere in the utility’s network, I’ve actually been through this), you probably need to find fault with the quality of the service itself. You can do that by testing the service at the meter pan.
Oh yes. There can be bigtime improvements to be had there. Also: derated lines. |
He has already posted this link. In another thread, someone has posted this link to another solution. It seems to me that with the proliferation of electric cars and continued improvement in batteries, we’re likely to see more of these kinds of products. I’m a big believer in dedicated lines and power conditioning, but I have to wonder how bad someone’s electric service must be for any of these devices to have a sonic benefit. I haven’t tried one, though. |
@jays_audio_lab says the Stromtank batteries sound different depending on which power cord is used to charge them. While that seems unlikely, it means that - if true - these batteries are not as neutral as some suggest. |
I couldn’t agree more. I think one thing Jay trades on is power of suggestion, which in his case is more the power of "pronouncement" than "suggestion." The SQ of these videos simply isn't sufficient to reach any meaningful conclusion about fidelity.
Part of Jay’s issue is that he’s takes everything personally. So, if you question him or disagree, he gets, uh, let’s just say quite defensive. Over time, Jay will learn there’s much more to being a dealer than just being an audiophile. For proof, just look at any of the guys who’ve been successful in this business.
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What's your complaint, that people comment in your thread, and some dare to disagree or question you?
I don't think anyone here hates you, Jay, so you don't have to play a victim.
You're not posting to a private Dear Diary and everyone here is on a journey. Perhaps that is what you overlooked. And if you choose to use this thread to promote a $16,000 battery, it seems fair to me that others be allowed to comment and even offer alternatives. That doesn't mean anyone hates you. |
You're the first audio dealer I've ever known of to equate a listening test with a "pissing match."
Many dealers are happy to arrange listening tests. It's part of what they offer.
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Why would I do that? I have pretty extensive power conditioning already in my system that includes multiple derated 20A lines. I’ve already arrived at my own conclusions - that’s how I got here! You seem to suggest that somehow disqualifies me from commenting. Why is that? |
Unfortunately, in an apparent effort to promote sales of his $16,000 battery system, Jay has dismissed completely the potential value of properly configured dedicated AC lines. It's no surprise that Jay may get improved performance from his batteries if his AC power is a mess, but that info is of no value to those who've already optimized their AC power. |
Whether your unnamed "friend" is real or imagined, whether he is an "industry expert" or not, the claim is absurdly silly:
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He is pulling your leg, Jay! No one with any credibility would put their name to that claim other than as a joke. |
What’s the 30A "220V"AC line for? A/C? If you have 30A receptacles on the 120VAC lines, you must have to change your power cords to 30A plugs, no? It’s pretty clear you have some AC problems here. That certainly explains your interest in battery solutions. |
Same here. And that’s the way the audio world has almost always been, right? It’s the quality of the recording that matters most. Same as it ever was. As for the claim that, "You just never know what kind of compression you are actually listening to (it does not matter what Qobuz telling you about the quality ..." either someone is pulling Jay’s leg, or he’s pulling ours. |
