Your thoughts on J. Atkinsons Chord DAC review...?

I didn't think JA's review was that critical - it just wasn't universally rosy the way most gear reviews are these days. He pointed out some areas that he had trouble with, but the tone throughout was fairly positive as he emphasized various strengths as well. People are always saying that they want more critical reviews, and that's what I see JA's review as being. I don't own the Chord and am not in the market for a new DAC, but there was nothing off-putting about his review if I was other than his identification of weaknesses that may or may not be important to a given consumer. -Kirk

It is interesting to note that Andrew Harrson in the July 2002 edition of HiFi News (British HiFi magazine) said this about the DAC 64: “In conclusion, I’d put the Chord DAC 64 into a reference class for its decoding style and subsequent treatment of music. It’s not its lushness and smooth ride that make it a winner, but the way it threads the route of musicality and natural timing.”

I don’t know about you, but, I get the impression the HiFi News review of the Chord 64 DAC is very favorable. The Stereophile review is definitely not. Makes you wonder who is right?

I'd agree with Kthomas. Audiophiles are funny, as sometimes they critisizes those reviews "biased by ad revenue", and sometimes (read: now) "should write more rosy review about X".
Review is just review, not your parents or teacher/mentor or GOD. Just read it as info source. It is always your ears to decide. I don't take it seriously even when the review does not say well about my system with which I happen to be very happy. Those who claim that they can't audition (due to location, etc.), good luck. Ken

I agree with Kurt and Ken. If anything, I far prefer a review like Atkinson's where the strengths and flaws of a product are all reported. I remember years ago when JA would review Thiel speakers and put them under a microscope-- they were and still are fine speakers, but Atkinson's reviews would let you know their shortcomings and were done with a far more critical eye than most others I've seen in that magazine in recent years. Ultimately, if you like the sound of the Chord, who cares what a reviewer says, it's your ears and your system, trust your senses!

Everything is in the way you say it. Using the term "bloated bass" sounds much more drastic than saying that the bass was a "little soft", or "not as tight as", etc. I haven't heard the Chord and can't say whether this is accurate or not, but he used this term several times to describe the bass of the Chord.