Amp swap disappointment
 

In article , Andy Evans
writes
I can tell you of a similar story - a good friend of mine had an Audiolab. As
you say - bland. We put in a Leak stereo 20 I'd modified one day, he played a
few of his favourite tracks, the music sprang to life and he bought the amp on
the spot. In anticipation of claims that he was a poor judge, what can I say
except that, errr, he's a high court judge.........

That explains a lot;((

=== Andy Evans ===
Visit our Website:- http://www.artsandmedia.com
Audio, music and health pages and interesting links.

--
Tony Sayer

Amp swap disappointment
 

If you don't like boring but very accurate amps, go get a graphic EQ

What's that got to do with it? Surely the source is the issue, not what you put
it through?

=== Andy Evans ===
Visit our Website:- http://www.artsandmedia.com
Audio, music and health pages and interesting links.

Amp swap disappointment
 

"tony sayer" wrote in message
...
In article ,
JustMe writes
Following recent discussions about distortion and an amp's ability to
reproduce without colouration, I though I'd relay a recent experience.

In an earlier thread I had pointed out that my favourite amp would be
described by many on here as noisy and of inferior design on the basis
that
the sound may be coloured or because its performance seems to be
sensitive
to it reaching an optimum temperature.

I swapped this amp (an Alchemist Kraken APD6a II) for an Audiolab 8000LX
which had been packed up for a short time. Many on here will be familiar
with this amp, if only by reputation.

The first thing I observed was how much more comfortable I was with the
look, feel, ergonomics and operation of the Audiolab. I can put things on
top of it, for starters (I don't block the air from circulating though
the
vents, don't worry), the buttons are all cool to the touch - not *hot*
like
the Alchemist, both the input and record selector switches feel the same
and
it all operates with a great deal of assurance. It also has a lovely 1/4"
headphone jack on the front panel, which is very useful.

Just one problem. It's boring to listen to. I've been running the
Alchemist
in exactly the same setup for a few months and in switching to the
Audiolab,
and having listened for about a weeks now, I'm totally uninspired. The
sound
is very clean and aesthetically it's all very balanced and even handed,
which is fine on paper, but it doesn't entertain me.

If I were a recording artist, first and foremost I'd want those listening
to
my music to be entertained, inspired & moved by it. The Audiolab doesn't
do
that for me, the Alchemist does. For all its supposed colour, for all its
foibles, operational quirks - whatever you like - it is by any sensible
measure of what a hifi should be and do, better.

It's a similar difference that I experience when listening to vinyl
compared
with CD...



Yes quite agree, it was designed by a superb engineer, Derek Scotland
with whom I had the privilege to work with at the early Audiolab factory
at Godmanchester.

I've always had tons of respect for Audiolab products - there was never any
of the bull**** that some manufacturers foist on customers and their range
was without exception* incredibly well built (ie reliable, low failure rate,
consistant) and performed well.

Whilst I WILL be selling the 8000LX, I also previously owned an 8000S -
which I "upgraded" for an AMC CVT3030a valve amp for the same reasons as I
describe at the top of this post: the AMC was just so much more fun to
listen to and the music seemed more "out-of-the-box". Yes, the Audiolab
created a far more ordered and tidy presentation, but it didn't stir me like
the AMC, at the time.

I will also continue to use my 8000CD which, to my ears, is the best CD
player I have heard at the price to date.

*Exluding the Philips CD Mech problem which wasn't their fault anyway and
hurt many manufacturers.

If you don't like boring but very accurate amps, go get a graphic EQ or
look up the new audio processor on the broadcast warehouse site,

http://www.broadcastwarehouse.com/p/...s/DSP-X-Audio-
Processor?pid=99

its quite inexpensive, but boy-0-boy it sure packs a punch;))

Graphic equaliser=dirty words!

I'm happy to stick with an amp which gives an overall sound that I like and
I don't hold with the idea (not suggesting that you do) that different tonal
balances work better with different music, as some mags suggest. For me I
either like the way an amp sounds, or I don't. The music is a separate
issue, my hifi is merely a means to an end.

Amp swap disappointment
 

JustMe wrote:

I'm happy to stick with an amp which gives an overall sound that I like and
I don't hold with the idea (not suggesting that you do) that different tonal
balances work better with different music, as some mags suggest. For me I
either like the way an amp sounds, or I don't. The music is a separate
issue, my hifi is merely a means to an end.

Are you aware just how self-contradictory that paragraph is ?!

Amp swap disappointment
 

"Jim Lesurf" wrote



FWIW I use audio equipment to listen to music, speech, films, etc, and
hence don't really want to get the impression that I can 'hear the amp' at
all. However your choice is your decision, not mine. :-)



Fine words Mr Lesurf, but I suspect I'm not the only one here who likes to
'hear his kit working' as well as listening to the music occasionally.....
;-)

Amp swap disappointment
 

"Keith G" wrote in message
...

"Jim Lesurf" wrote



FWIW I use audio equipment to listen to music, speech, films, etc, and
hence don't really want to get the impression that I can 'hear the amp'
at
all. However your choice is your decision, not mine. :-)



Fine words Mr Lesurf, but I suspect I'm not the only one here who likes to
'hear his kit working' as well as listening to the music occasionally.....
;-)

Agreed. From what the "engineery" people in this group seem to say, I'd say
I fall into that camp too.

I'll wait for Jim to build me an "every amp in one" to make the ultimate
judgement ;o)

Amp swap disappointment
 

"Ian Molton" wrote in message
...
JustMe wrote:

I'm happy to stick with an amp which gives an overall sound that I like
and
I don't hold with the idea (not suggesting that you do) that different
tonal
balances work better with different music, as some mags suggest. For me
I
either like the way an amp sounds, or I don't. The music is a separate
issue, my hifi is merely a means to an end.

Are you aware just how self-contradictory that paragraph is ?!

I'm sure I'm full of hypocrisy and double-standards, but which aspect of
what I said are you specifically getting at?

From my point of view, the amp can be a means to an end, but - I guess in
your terms - a "coloured" means to an end - a curly wire. Is that what you
mean?

I will consistently prefer the tonal balance of that amplifier over others,
no matter that the music is "classical", "pop" or, whatever. I am still able
to hear massive differences in the productions and recordings and can still
say, "that sound like a Trevor Horn production" or "god, who recorded that
pile of crap".

Amp swap disappointment
 

In article , Keith G
wrote:

"Jim Lesurf" wrote



FWIW I use audio equipment to listen to music, speech, films, etc, and
hence don't really want to get the impression that I can 'hear the
amp' at all. However your choice is your decision, not mine. :-)



Fine words Mr Lesurf, but I suspect I'm not the only one here who likes
to 'hear his kit working' as well as listening to the music
occasionally..... ;-)

As I said... that's your decision. :-)

Slainte,

Jim

--
Electronics http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Audio Misc http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/AudioMisc/index.html
Armstrong Audio http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/Audio/armstrong.html
Barbirolli Soc. http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/JBSoc/JBSoc.html

Amp swap disappointment
 

In article , JustMe
wrote:
"Keith G" wrote in message
...

Fine words Mr Lesurf, but I suspect I'm not the only one here who
likes to 'hear his kit working' as well as listening to the music
occasionally..... ;-)

Agreed. From what the "engineery" people in this group seem to say, I'd
say I fall into that camp too.

I'll wait for Jim to build me an "every amp in one" to make the ultimate
judgement ;o)

That might require a very large case just to fit the large multiway
selector on the top for all the variations the user can dial up. :-)

Slainte,

Jim

--
Electronics http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Audio Misc http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/AudioMisc/index.html
Armstrong Audio http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/Audio/armstrong.html
Barbirolli Soc. http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/JBSoc/JBSoc.html

Amp swap disappointment
 

In article , Andy Evans
writes
If you don't like boring but very accurate amps, go get a graphic EQ

What's that got to do with it? Surely the source is the issue, not what you put
it through?


Well if you don't like accurate, un-coloured, boring, lifeless sound
then why not jazz it up a bit?, use whatever device U want, old valve or
poorly designed tranny amps or whatever, if it sounds good 2U..

Bye,, I'm off the group for a few days:)))))
--
Tony Sayer