Propeller Head Plaza Technical and scientific discussion of amps, cables and other topics.

---

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] Thread: [ Display  All  Email ] [ Propeller Head Plaza ]

---

[ Alert Moderator ]

---

Ugly Here's The Plain Unadulterated Truth

Posted by thetubeguy1954 (A) on June 1, 2007 at 09:10:45

In Reply to: I gotta admit.... posted by Ugly on May 31, 2007 at 16:52:14:

Hello Ugly,

Here's a photo of the actual amp I purchased. I'm constantly amazed at how insecure those I refer to as the lunatic fringe amongst the objectivists here are. This group attacks (often without thinking) anything that hints at a preference towards tubes. I admit I prefer tubes but that said, I've stated more than once here: "If/when I find an amp, be it tubed, hybrid or solid state that I believe betters the Mastersound's sound, I will sell the Mastersound and buy that amp!" As a music lover first & foremost I want the best sound I can get, period! I don't care if that component is completely solid state, hybrid or completely tubed. Component looks are only considered after deciding which component sounds the best to me. In other words if 2 components were similar in sound and price, YES I'd pick the one that looks best to me. Unlike the naysayers amongst the lunatic fringe here, I'm always checking to be sure things haven't changed. Up to now the Mastersound is the best I've heard. However I realize things are constantly changing and the individual components inside audio components are always getting better. That's exactly why I decided to buy a fairly powerful new solidstate amp, just to see how much things have improved. I wonder how many of these naysayers check to see if things have improved with tubed or hybrid components?

Still even after I've checked on how these new solid state components sound do the naysayers admit at very least I'm being honest? Do they commend me for at least checking, comparing and testing to see how these new components sound? NO! Instead I'm berated because GOD FORBID this particular solid state integrated isn't ugly enough for them.

I've listened to BGW, Crest, Crown & QSC pro audio amps before. I know they can supply huge amounts of clean undistorted power. Unfortunately IMO it's also a very dull/lifeless, flat, harsh, highly fatiguing sound as well. These pro solid state amps work just fine on woofers, but not as fullrange amps, at least not for me they don't. It's too bad these extremely powerful pro solid state amps cannot allow the music to be heard as recorded. However despite what the L.F.O.'s say none of the reasons for disliking their sound has anything to do with their faceplate/chassis not being as attractive as some of the home amps are. The reality is their arguement hold no water. Some the home solid state amps are as plain as pro solid state amps are. In fact my previous solid state amps 105W/ch B&K ST140, 150W/ch Harmon Kardon Citation 16A, and the 100W/ch OCM 200 also had a flat black panel. All of which were really no different than a typical pro-solid state amps is. I believe the reason for the difference in sound quality between home audio equipment and pro audio equipment is quite simple:

a) Pro solid state amps are manufactured first and foremost with durability in mind. These amps take a lot of physical abuse the typical home amp won't ever see or withstand if it did. A pro solid state manufacturer expects a pro amp will be tossed or dropped. Furthermore they expect an amp that's been dropped or tossed to still work. After that their next consideration is clean abundant power. Things like soundstaging and imaging are NOT even a consideration to their clients. So if placing an specific internal component next to another makes the amp more able to withstand the shock of being dropped, but at the same time makes the soundstage flat with no depth it's not an issue and it's done for the increased durability it provides.

b) Home solid state amps are manufactured first and foremost with sound quality in mind. Things like physical abuse are NOT a consideration. No home audio manufacturer expects a home amp will be tossed or dropped. Furthermore they expect an amp that's been dropped or tossed might not still work. It would in fact most likely void the warranty. Things like soundstaging and imaging are an important consideration to their clients. In this case if placing an specific internal component next to another makes the amp more able to withstand the shock of being dropped, but at the same time makes the soundstage flat with no depth it is an issue and it's NOT done, because the increased durability it provides is not an important issue. In this case it's the collapsed soundstage that's the more important issue.

I would think this would all be crystal clear to anyone with 1/2 a brain. Using a pro solid state amp in a home system is like taking a Hummer and racing it in the Indy 500 or taking a home audio amp and using it in a professional system (like on the road with a rock group) is like taking a Porsche 911 to go 4 wheeling. Neither the hummer or the Porsche will do very well when not being used as intended. Yet both excel in their intended usage.

It a shame that those who use pro solid state amps in home audio system are so insecure with their choices they need to berate every other choice available to music lovers. This group truly amazes me. They claim people like myself who prefer tubes are listening to highly colored equalizers, not amplifiers. They claim people who use solid state amps designed for home use simply prefer them because they look nicer NOT because they sound better and then they claim it's only the visibly ugly chassis of the typical pro amp that causes all others who don't use them to believe the sound is horrible with enough grain to feed a heard of horses! In the mind of these people everyone else is hopelessly lost and confused. Only they know they truth.

Finally for those who care I've been leaving the JungSon powered all the time with the volume set to zero. It seems to be getting less and less harsh and I'm liking it more and more. I'll listen to it exclusively for a couple of weeks and then drop the Mastersound back in. After that I'll give everyone another update.

Thetubeguy1954

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Parts Connexion

---

[ Top of Page ] [ Contact Us ] [ Support/Wish List ] [ Copyright © 2025, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]

---

[ General ] [ Speakers ] [ Tubes ] [ Vinyl ] [ Digital ] [ Hi-Rez ] [ Video Asylum ] [ Cables ] [ Tweaks/DIY ] [ Music ] [ Films ]

---