On Thu, 02 Jun 2005 22:33:13 +1000, Tat Chan
wrote:

Stewart Pinkerton wrote:
On Mon, 23 May 2005 00:17:32 +1000, Tat Chan
wrote:


What is your definition of engineering in this context?

The circuit design, the PCB layout, the power supply design, and the
parts quality. The size and quality of the mains transformer and PSU
components is particularly critical.

Thanks for the clarification.

They are also the most expensive bits!

If IAG uses Chinese-made electronics with the original Audiolab designs, then
this would imply that the new 8000 series will be the same as the original 8000
series.

Yes, but is there any reason to suppose that this is what is planned?

IAG is owned by a Chinese company. Audiolab had a good following in the Far
East back in the 80s/90s. Hence, it would make good business sense to
follow the original designs.

It would also make good business to retain the same appearance, and
cut costs behind the front panels. For a while, until the customers
got wise - if they ever did.

Remember, when TAG McLaren took over Audiolab, there was this great
fanfare about 'new design', and Ken Kessler was his usual
super-aggressive NYJ self about his 'consultancy' involvement.
However, by a strange coincidence, the 'internationally acclaimed
industrial designer'

(I note your use of quotes but ...) KK was an industrial designer???

No - which is exactly the point!

And I thought he wrote articles for hi-fi mags ...

He does - entertaining, but technically ignorant. This guy's house is
wired with Kimber mains cable..............

Btw, what's NYJ?

New York Jew, home of the JAP - Jewish-American Princess. Famed for
being more Jewish than Abraham, already...............

who produced the 'new' TAG Mclaren models just
happened to design the front panel so that *all* the knobs and
switches were in *exactly* the same place as the 'old' Audiolab gear.
Sound like a new design to you, or just a new faceplate and new knobs?

Hey, if it ain't broken ...

See below - KK 'fixed it' - oh boy, did he fix it, about like a dog
gets 'fixed' at the vet............................

There certainly was a change to the components used, but interestingly
the 'audiophile component' TAG amps were mostly panned by the audio
press, and they measured *worse* than the Swift/Scotland originals.
Hey, maybe those guys actually knew what they were doing, as opposed
to the Kessler 'tweaks'...................

I recall reading an article (possibly on the old Tag MacLaren website, it
isn't in the manual for the 60iRV amp) that Derek Scotland said he was surprised
at the improvements the new audiophile components in the 60iRV amp made compared
to the original 8000s.

He'd just had his pockets very well filled by TAG - you never know
when you might want that hand to feed you again, so best not to bite -
especially when the mods have been sanctioned by a widely read hi-fi
reviewer!
--

Stewart Pinkerton | Music is Art - Audio is Engineering