Nuforce

The cost of parts argument is just weak.

Example: the doctor gives a prescription. The pills cost pennies to make but cost you a buck. Profit? Research? Marketing?

Example: a consultant spends an hour and charges you a thousand dollars. You pay for his/her years of experience, not an hour's worth of time.

What is a very good idea worth? More to some, less to others.

Get off the amp comparison for a minute - just listen to various higher end CD players - they sound good but different. Is the price differential justified? Yes for some, no for others. Which is 'right?' It's up to you.

I liked the NuForce 8Bs. Am breaking in the reference 9s now. Can tell you they sound good. Good to me is not necessarily good to you. My reference amp is tubed. I may not miss it. Haven't decided yet.

Bob Wood
http://www.GreatHomeTheater.com
http://www.woodsgoods2.blogspot.com
http://www.woodgoods.blogspot.com

Are you serious? Cut the guy some slack. Gee.

I'm pretty sure that one of the things that really muddies the issue is that people get used to whatever sound they've had, and when they try a demo unit at home IT ISN'T what they are used to hearing. I am going through that right now. Different may or may not be better, but it is different and you have to allow for that.

Example: compared to my reference tube amp, the NuForce Reference 9s have a much more dynamic sound. Is it better? My experience has been affected by the bloom of tubes. I have to refresh my thinking in terms of dynamics, soundstaging, clarity, bloom/compression, bass and treble extension. The change isn't a familiar sound (yet) since I am so used to the tube effect. BOTH are, to my ear, excellent. But different.

Bob Wood

http://www.GreatHomeTheater.com
http://www.woodsgoods2.blogspot.com

My review of the NuForce Reference 9 is now on my site toward the bottom of this page:

http://www.GreatHomeTheater.com/studio.html

Ahem. I did audition the H2O Sig and the NuForce 8b and 9.02. I think Henry Ho makes a fine product and is a real gentleman - I know two people who loved that amp and bought it right away.

To me, in my system, the NuForces had 'it.' And I bought the 9.02s, selling my ARC VT100MKII.

Now you'll ask why? I can only say the NuForce for whatever the reason, brought me closer to the sense of live music.

Bob Wood
http://www.GreatHomeTheater.com/stereo.html

As to what made the different in my system, I can't say for sure. I did audition the H20 sigs TWICE, due to the generousity of Henry Ho. They sounded good. But the NuForce was more dynamic yet clean and unrestricted. When I put my tube amp back in after 3 weeks of the Ref 9.02s, the game was over. Had to sell.

Others have written about what I find so wonderful - the sense of ease. Although you can't tell at the time, by comparison, it was almost as if the other amp (ARC VT100MKII) compressed the vocals while the bands were playing (not loud enough to actually BE compression - peaks at 85db C weighted on 93db/w/m speakers (WP7s)). On the NuForce there seems to be simply more dynamic range on everything. I heard no bothersome artifacts - the tiny pop on turnon is tiny - hiss with no input I don't hear at all... the rfi isn't an issue in my system.

I experimented with various power schemes and 5? cords and various ICs and speaker wire. Tried both amps single ended and balanced.

Henry kindly sent the H2O back after I sold off my Transparent Ref cables - the H20 didn't like those network boxes! I tried Speltz back then, and later settled on Audience Au24, which is very very nice.

Neither the H20 or the NuForce was better on a PS Audio powerplant versus into the wall (dedicated circuit) no matter which Multiwave pattern I used - or even SIN. PS Audio HC Ultimate outlet didn't make a positive change on the amps either.

Once upon a time I auditioned several Preamps... the Ref 1 by ARC against the LS5MKIII. The difference I remember was what I'd say I heard between the H2O and the NuForce... with the Ref, when I turned it up, the music got louder. With the LS5MKIII, when I turned it up, I became more immersed in the music. It was more dynamic - more jump factor, I'd say. Same with the 9.02s.

Bob Wood