In May 2006, Hi-Fi Choice's reviewers sat round an email client program
and between them came up with the 50 most important hi-fi components
ever sold in the UK. The results were published in an award-winning
supplement Hi-Fi that Rocked the World. If you missed it, here's the top
ten:

1. Linn Sondek LP12 turntable
2. NAD 3020 integrated amplifier
3. Quad Electrostatic loudspeaker
4. Rega Planar 3 turntable
5. Pioneer A400 integrated amplifier
6. B&W Nautilus 801 loudspeaker
7. BBC LS3/5a loudspeaker
8. Marantz CD-63 MkII KI Signature CD player
9. Garrard 301 turntable
10. Wharfedale Diamond loudspeaker


I am glad to see my CD player there at number 8! I can't wait to hear
it with my new PM7001KI amp......

I had the Pioneer A400 amp ...

Lordy

"Arnold" wrote in message
...
In May 2006, Hi-Fi Choice's reviewers sat round an email client program
and between them came up with the 50 most important hi-fi components ever
sold in the UK. The results were published in an award-winning supplement
Hi-Fi that Rocked the World. If you missed it, here's the top ten:

1. Linn Sondek LP12 turntable
2. NAD 3020 integrated amplifier
3. Quad Electrostatic loudspeaker
4. Rega Planar 3 turntable
5. Pioneer A400 integrated amplifier
6. B&W Nautilus 801 loudspeaker
7. BBC LS3/5a loudspeaker
8. Marantz CD-63 MkII KI Signature CD player
9. Garrard 301 turntable
10. Wharfedale Diamond loudspeaker


I am glad to see my CD player there at number 8! I can't wait to hear it
with my new PM7001KI amp......



Well if you are 'uatkp' on eBay you bought it from me a couple of months
ago:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...L:EOISSA:UK:11


(Ignore the BS in the Item Description - that was just to get it shifted.)

With the output level attenuated to match a 70 quid Argos special (which I
bought to *investigate* and which also plays MP3s) a number of people here
couldn't tell them apart on a variety of speakers when seamlessly A/B'd by
means of the (Argos) amplifier's remote control.

That is *no-one* could tell them apart, not even the one time...

The only thing I've learned about 'audio' in the last few years is that
there's more horse**** in it than the Augean stables and I don't take
much/any notice of hifi magazine's lists of 'all time greats' or the blx
that some of the contributors will gladly publish when they get an interview
with an industry *glamour boy*....

With the output level attenuated to match a 70 quid Argos special (which I
bought to *investigate* and which also plays MP3s) a number of people here
couldn't tell them apart on a variety of speakers when seamlessly A/B'd by
means of the (Argos) amplifier's remote control.

That is *no-one* could tell them apart, not even the one time...

The only thing I've learned about 'audio' in the last few years is that
there's more horse**** in it than the Augean stables and I don't take
much/any notice of hifi magazine's lists of 'all time greats' or the blx
that some of the contributors will gladly publish when they get an interview
with an industry *glamour boy*....



Yes, you are right about the horse**** and many magazines are full of
it.
I've NEVER heard a difference between any cd player or dvd player. I
have 3 different receivers that all sound
exactly the same, no difference whatsoever and I believe the same goes
for ALL other amps that are built without serious design flaws
As for magazines, the only publication I have ever taken notice of
and actualy learnt facts, is the Audio Critic by Peter Aczel. He speaks
the truth which many people hate! and I have never seen anyone test
gear the way he does.

Dezza.

"dezza" wrote


Yes, you are right about the horse**** and many magazines are full of
it.
I've NEVER heard a difference between any cd player or dvd player. I
have 3 different receivers that all sound
exactly the same, no difference whatsoever and I believe the same goes
for ALL other amps that are built without serious design flaws



Absolutely - *blameless audio*!!

A 'done deal' for a couple of decades now and perfectly OK if you are only
interested in reproducing a signal with the lowest distortion/colouration
possible and we can all do that, but it's a different story if you want your
kit to *make music* - then you got to get into the murky world of valves
(IMO) and no two amps will really sound the same!!

It get worse when you venture further into vinyl - when the cart will also
have a profound effect on the sound, as will the phono stage (to a lesser
extent)....

Then we all got the problem of speakers - the last word in any system and
where it will all fall down badly, if you get it wrong....



As for magazines, the only publication I have ever taken notice of
and actualy learnt facts, is the Audio Critic by Peter Aczel. He speaks
the truth which many people hate! and I have never seen anyone test
gear the way he does.



No idea - I find 'transatlantic' audio mags (on the Net) make about as much
sense (and are as relevant) to me as their train timetables....

"dezza" wrote in message
ups.com...


As for magazines, the only publication I have ever taken notice of
and actualy learnt facts, is the Audio Critic by Peter Aczel. He speaks
the truth which many people hate! and I have never seen anyone test
gear the way he does.

Dezza.


Can you give us an example, please.
Iain

"Keith G" wrote in message
news
"dezza" wrote


Yes, you are right about the horse**** and many
magazines are full of it.
I've NEVER heard a difference between any cd player or
dvd player. I have 3 different receivers that all sound
exactly the same, no difference whatsoever and I believe
the same goes for ALL other amps that are built without
serious design flaws



Absolutely - *blameless audio*!!

A 'done deal' for a couple of decades now and perfectly
OK if you are only interested in reproducing a signal
with the lowest distortion/colouration possible and we
can all do that, but it's a different story if you want
your kit to *make music* - then you got to get into the
murky world of valves (IMO) and no two amps will really
sound the same!!

Depends on how you define "make music". Since I listen to a lot of live
music with no interveneing electronics at all, I find the sort processed
sound that "they all sound different" tube amps offer to be a little
lacking. Maybe OK as MI amps, but they have no place in a modern system
designed for the best possible reproduction.

It get worse when you venture further into vinyl - when
the cart will also have a profound effect on the sound,
as will the phono stage (to a lesser extent)....

That's one reason why "It all sounds different" bigots love vinyl. It really
does all sound different unless you pay a lot of attention to detail, and
then a lot of it still does sound different. Vinyl suffers from comparison
with modern systems, because all accurate systems sound the same, and as a
rule vinyl-based systems don't.

Then we all got the problem of speakers - the last word
in any system and where it will all fall down badly, if
you get it wrong....

Count on Keith, he'll muck around in the weeds of urban myth and audio
legend, so that when he finally gets one thing right, you know for sure that
it was an accident... ;-)

"Iain Churches" wrote in message

"dezza" wrote in message
ups.com...


As for magazines, the only publication I have ever
taken notice of and actualy learnt facts, is the Audio
Critic by Peter Aczel. He speaks the truth which many
people hate! and I have never seen anyone test gear the
way he does. Dezza.


Can you give us an example, please.
Iain

http://www.theaudiocritic.com/downloads/article_1.pdf

"Arny Krueger" wrote in message
. ..
"Keith G" wrote in message
news
"dezza" wrote


Yes, you are right about the horse**** and many
magazines are full of it.
I've NEVER heard a difference between any cd player or
dvd player. I have 3 different receivers that all sound
exactly the same, no difference whatsoever and I believe
the same goes for ALL other amps that are built without
serious design flaws



Absolutely - *blameless audio*!!

A 'done deal' for a couple of decades now and perfectly
OK if you are only interested in reproducing a signal
with the lowest distortion/colouration possible and we
can all do that, but it's a different story if you want
your kit to *make music* - then you got to get into the
murky world of valves (IMO) and no two amps will really
sound the same!!

Depends on how you define "make music". Since I listen to a lot of live
music with no interveneing electronics at all, I find the sort processed
sound that "they all sound different" tube amps offer to be a little
lacking. Maybe OK as MI amps, but they have no place in a modern system
designed for the best possible reproduction.


No argument from me - you reproduce sound, I'll play music....




It get worse when you venture further into vinyl - when
the cart will also have a profound effect on the sound,
as will the phono stage (to a lesser extent)....

That's one reason why "It all sounds different" bigots love vinyl. It
really does all sound different unless you pay a lot of attention to
detail, and then a lot of it still does sound different. Vinyl suffers
from comparison with modern systems, because all accurate systems sound
the same, and as a rule vinyl-based systems don't.


Yep - they sound *better*....



Then we all got the problem of speakers - the last word
in any system and where it will all fall down badly, if
you get it wrong....

Count on Keith, he'll muck around in the weeds of urban myth and audio
legend, so that when he finally gets one thing right, you know for sure
that it was an accident... ;-)


Nope - 'trial and error' maybe, but there's no 'myth' or 'urban legend' that
I subscribe to. Perhaps you're thinking of the Quad Squad or the 'Audiolab
Brigade'...???

"Arny Krueger" wrote in message
...
"Iain Churches" wrote in message

"dezza" wrote in message
ups.com...


As for magazines, the only publication I have ever
taken notice of and actualy learnt facts, is the Audio
Critic by Peter Aczel. He speaks the truth which many
people hate! and I have never seen anyone test gear the
way he does. Dezza.


Can you give us an example, please.
Iain

http://www.theaudiocritic.com/downloads/article_1.pdf


Boy oh boy, that guy's really struggling ain't he! When I see phrases like
'Tree Worshipping Analogue Druids' I just know someone's running out of
steam and it's time I should get back to cutting the grass.....

(Fully aware btw, that the ****fers here will see the above remark as a sign
that I take issue with *all* the points in that article...shrug.....???)

I particularly like the use of the word 'obsolete' as in 'obsolete LP' -
reminds me of the one about the guy in the Stationery shop: 'No, fer ****'s
sake, we *don't* sell fountain pens - I'm sick and tired of telling people
there's *no demand* for them...!!"

;-)