Critic's Corner

Posted by Ugly (A) on October 22, 2019 at 21:45:23

In Reply to: RE: Finally someone wants to try and verify some of the numbers, many of the manufacturers are quoting... posted by Dave_K on October 22, 2019 at 14:08:19

Hi Dave. I think I'm mostly agreeing with almost all you said but maybe the difference is I am seeing opportunity for improvement and not reason to throw in the towel.

But maybe you are overstating his focus on SINAD results in my opinion. I've noticed fairly considerable effort explaining/justifying his stated positions on it's audible significance.

Though, it must be rough satisfying his panel of online judges but at least he seems open to listening to criticism. I was impressed by this, especially during many of his phono preamp tests/reviews and their accompanying forum discussion and how the test process evolved as a result.

Which tests? I say give the people what they want! What is the online forum feedback saying? Maybe look at some of the areas used to market these devices? Start with the spec tables? He seems pretty open to questioning his process.

That we have been seeing the entire broadband plots rather than single points in a table, as an example is like a dream come true in my opinion. I keep pinching myself.

When I was in his forum interrogating him, for a couple posts, about how much weight can be put in using his measurements to evaluate the -120dB mains related spuria type defects, showing up in the various reviews. He seemed completely reasonable in my opinion. He said you can't. He also spent a bit a bit of effort explaining more detail of his process for me and a few of it's shortcomings and basically explaining why not to me. He seemed pretty cool about it.

I agree a professional certified lab would have all the relevant details about the level of environmental control which are in place for these tests such as cable routing, mains power quality, test chamber ambient rfi exposure levels dring testing, etc. etc., stated in bold letters right up front for all to see. There would also be no shifting of the evaluation methodology, the suite of tests performed, etc. midway into the data collection process.

All his test are not apples to apples. I don't think that means any of it is worthless. It's all relative, man! We just don't know how so. ha. I say, give the man a break since he keeps trying to be improving. There seems like a lot that is good even if it isn't up to the level of what a pro test lab might do or where he may eventually be able to get to after hes been ding it for many years.

Edit: Which review/s does he call out a company for power supply noise issues? I'm asking since I thought it was weird I kind of wondered if he was often possibly ignoring those powers supply frequency problems too much.

Edits: 10/22/19