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.

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.

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

Btw, what's NYJ?

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 ...



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.