|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
115.160.152.66
In Reply to: RE: August Stereophile Amplifier Measurements - an observation, or two. posted by bjh on July 14, 2014 at 19:26:58
Living in Hong Kong - this is arguably the "watch" capital of the world where you can easily drop $3,000,000US on a watch.
As was pointed out to me though - most of these companies are not at all in the business of selling watches (indeed many don't actually tell good time)- they are in the business of selling "prestige."
Some companies will sell both prestige and quality.
I know you and I don't agree on SQ so much given that I prefer SET/HE but I do like SS systems but I take a much more utilitarian approach to the latter systems.
If I am going to spend big money on say a $100K solid state system with big monoblock power amps then I want serious performance. The point of SS based systems is to get the best conceivable measured response.
Tube SET guys - we care about sound quality even if what we like is various distortion - make no mistake we choose these systems on subjective touchy feely preferences not because of the measured performance.
But the SS buyer is looking for technical superiority and power and superb measured performance (in every and all aspects). And that's why I don't really get products like the Momentum. It doesn't sound as good as a good SET amplifier at prices that have one less zero in the end. And so subjectively it's tough to get behind them.
Then for the utilitarian measurements guys it falls flat on its face for the dollars. It's mediocre for SS technical superiority.
Heat sinks should sink heat properly. I mean this should be the first and foremost consideration for any serious power amplifier. The amp will run maximum level into 0.001 ohm 24/7 for 20 straight years.
At that price the transformers should be designed and built in house, so should most of the internal parts. You should not be phoning up a glorified parts express to buy a torroid. The copper chassis is nice and all - icing on the cake but that seems to be the major selling feature. My Pioneer Elite receiver in the mid 1990s for $2k had a copper chassis. It's not exactly expensive. Is the internal wiring at least silver? Doubtful.
I'd like to see the High Quality parts - not seeing it. Nothing there that looks better than amps well under $10k.
The first thing you do with a boutique piece of jewelry like this is directly compare it to what serious amplifier designers are putting out - something from say Nelson Pass or for that matter Ralph above.
And while some may say "it's about the sound" - maybe but the eyes are well known to deceive the ears.
I am not seeing the quality.
Follow Ups:
You know the sad thing (and funny thing to me anyway) is that this is coming from a fan of Audio Note equipment that is often considered to have loopy pricing. I don't have a problem with pricing if there are parts that in some way justify it.
But compare the Momentum preamp previously above at $32,000 and the Audio Note M6 preamp for $18k (the M3 is $10k which is exactly the same amplifier but uses lesser parts (EI transformers instead of nickel C-core etc).
The M6 is still a heckuva lot of money no question but considering that they make the transformers in house, the wiring is all silver (which they make in house) to their own caps, resisters, cables, the actual connectors, volume pots. And when they do use an outsourced part it is usually at or near the best available for whatever it is.
So while I can say the M6 is expensive I can actually see where the money is. I struggle to see it in Solid State makers. Virtually all of them buy off the shelf parts and put their label over the front. At $5k ok - at $50k not ok.
I agree with the basic gist of your two posts. I always scratch my head when I look at the insides of almost all SS components, I usually see lots of 25 cent resistors, $2-5 dollar capacitors, circuit boards and wiring that appears to have been taken out of a $250 desktop PC. It just does not add up.
Welllllll theres not too many carrage trade parts manufactures..
Post a Followup:
FAQ |
Post a Message! |
Forgot Password? |
|
||||||||||||||
|
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors: