I agree:I must say as I consistently repeat myself on this forum, read below. I am a firm believer in measurements, I feel synergy plays a huge role, and also that your source is by far the most crucial piece of equipment. I purchased an amp for 20 dollars, it's sinad is less than -40 db and was measured here on ASR. I never checked to see if this amp was any good because one the price was nothing and two I simply wanted to see what the amp sounded like as I was experimenting. The oddest thing I have found is that prior to even checking the measurements which was months after using this amp and still to this day I very much do enjoy using this amp. Not saying that it is the best or even does anything extremely well, however I do not hate listening to it and you would assume right off the bat something designed so poorly and measuring so bad would be total trash.
I have equipment which is extremely well measuring to compare against. My extremely well measuring system does sound better without a doubt, however even so I do not have any urge or reason to not use this component because I personally like it and it's use is for a second system I have in my home.
But in absolutely no way do I feel like my main listening system, which is in the five figures was a waste of money, nor that I could replace that amp with this 20 dollar amp.
I feel that it would honestly only be fair for someone to truly understand what these measurements mean by having listened to the worst and the best as well. It further helps me isolate two other factors, how so many of these companies have gotten away with selling mid grade measuring products with high price tags and also how subjective reviewers praise something that ends up measuring like kaka.
I also have to thank Amir as two of the components he tested and I incorporated into my system is what made magic to my ears, and also another one measured by someone else not on this site I believe. So there's absolutely no chance I can tell anyone not to check these reviews out or support this websites mission.
My Frazier Super Monte Carlo pair
(AVERAGE OMNIDIRECTIONAL RESPONSE ! watt input
5 1/2 dB variance, 60 Hz to 16 kHz, ref. 86 1/2 dB, easily corrected with EQ. (starts doubling below 40 Hz)
CBS Labs found that the Monte Carlo could produce the standard 94 -dB test level with only 1 watt of input power, confirming the manufacturer's claim that in average rooms only 1/2 watt will be needed. Despite its small size the Super Monte Carlo reaches to below 40 Hz.
All right, so it's not power-hungry; but can it take power with equanimity? The lab hit 40 watts -for an output of 108 dB -before encountering excessive distortion, indicating excellent dynamic range as well as good power handling. And in pulse tests the speaker handled over 130 watts (average) before distorting excessively.)
They can easily be powered by my ADVENT 300 (please see this review: Advent Model 300 Vintage Receiver Review by AMIR).
I primarily use this setup bypassing the internal amp & using the ADVENT 300 as a phono stage & for FM. I run a pair of NAD 2100 amps from the pre-outs.
This is a great bedroom or den setup (& to run a TV/Video monitor sound through). I have many people tel me it sounds better than most of the stuff they use for these purposes.
Does it compare to my main system? No!
Is it APT (a reference to my pair of pre-amps in my main system [one of which was tested here: Apt Holman Preamplifier Review (vintage Audio]) for it's main purpose? Yes.