Why preach to the deaf? The review is as boring as the product.It is marketed and sold at a high price. The review is an important teaching point for those who deny the audio electronics progress of the past fifty years. Thank you Amir.
Why preach to the deaf? The review is as boring as the product.It is marketed and sold at a high price. The review is an important teaching point for those who deny the audio electronics progress of the past fifty years. Thank you Amir.
Many people buy these products because they read nothing but positive praise for them. So they automatically think they must be better than solid state preamps. The data in this review should give them strong pause. This is why I test them.I think that's a very simplistic way to look at it. I think most folks who would purchase a product like this well understand it won't achieve the objective performance of many solid-state units.
What "evaluation?" They read a subjectivist review and they think this is gift from heaven. then they check on forums and few owners rave there as well and the sale is made. With that kind of preconditioning, they think what they bought is far better than it is.In their evaluation it might be better.....sounding.
Did you also test the phono section? I have a bare bones 834P phono-only box, which I assume has the same or similar design as the one here.
It's the only ugly thing it misses. The back panel has a soviet '60s vibe to it with that uneven back paint. RCA plugs manage to look so pre ww2. Even the fonts mix make it look totally tasteless. This guy manages to look bad on every dimension but hey, it's tubes, we should judge it by some different criteria, shouldn't we?At least it doesn't have ugly meters
It is not what "I" want. So I rated it accordingly. It also has a cheap enclosure especially for its cost.
Amirm I really appreciate what you do. I am still reeling over all the magazine reviews I have read over the decades that turn out to be fictional or really stretching the truth. You can't really give an honest review (stereo mags) on something that is actually paying your salary through advertising, so it was ever a good setup from the get go. For me the point is to reproduce something live in the most accurate way possible. Sure the recording may not be perfect, but adding "warmth" or whatever it is I think will most always get you further from the most acurate reproduction. We have unbelievably good amps/pre-amps these days at very reasonable price points with no coloration, it seems hard to understand why someone would spend a lot more money for more distortion and coloration in any direction. I think maybe there is something appealing about owning something more exotic even if it is inarguably not as good.Many people buy these products because they read nothing but positive praise for them. So they automatically think they must be better than solid state preamps. The data in this review should give them strong pause. This is why I test them.
For the membership and the fact it was sent in.If it is not what you want why review it in the first place.
A tube based pre doesn't have to measure this way and for the price, it probably shouldn't either.It is a tube pre-amp from your point of view it will not ever measure up.
I think it was the pre-amp that did not measure well, not the reviewer.If it is not what you want why review it in the first place.
It is a 12AU7 tube pre-amp, from your point of view it will not ever measure up
He has soldered grounding wire to those shafts that turn??? Wonder how long they will last.Well... a bit of a mess and pricey. Noise isn't too bad though, mostly high 2nd harmonic distortion. Thanks @amirm for testing this, some pics;
For the membership and the fact it was sent in.
A tube based pre doesn't have to measure this way and for the price, it probably shouldn't either.
JSmith
I don't want or need it either way. You are that confused about what I do here? I provide a service for the membership by testing equipment. If I just wanted to test things for myself, this site wouldn't exist. By member request, I provide a summary judgement of whether I would recommend someone buy or not buy what I am testing.If it is not what you want why review it in the first place.
No comments were made about the reviewer.I think it was the pre-amp that did not measure well, not the reviewer.