Can you do a quasi-anechoic measurement like the tutorial from napilopez's thread? If you have a decent Mic and can do room measurements with REW most people just need to purchase a $15 turntable (unless you're a serious baker) and then find just enough space for gated measurements. Reason I ask is not to make things difficult but so that you can correlate your likes and dislikes of the 12.2s with accurate measurements. Alternatively, have you owned or listened to speakers that you really enjoyed and do have spinorama or quasi-anarchic measurements, and can you say what they are? That would help folks provide input too.
On the KEF R3/R5 there is a broad elevation in the treble region coupled with narrow dispersion. You can see it in the CTA-2034 but also the estimated in-room response that is based on that. Notice how it doesn't slope down like it should.
I didnt mean the R3 and R5, I meant the Reference 1 and Reference 5. Ive heard the R3s and they are not that revealing. Very very good sounding, but doesnt have that amount of detail i heard on the Reference 1 and 5. HUGE price difference though.
All competently designed solid-state amps sound the same when operated below clipping. Blind listening will confirm that for you, if you're willing to put in the effort to do it.
Done that MANY TIMES, even with a switcher. There will always be differences, nothing is perfect in this price range and differences come mainly from the pre/dac side. I have never come across 2 exact similiar sounding amps in a blind test at this price range. In fact Ive never come across any 2 integrated of any price thay sounds the same. If you do know of any 2 amps that sound EXACTLY the same, do let me know and Ill try to go give them a listen as there are still many B&Ms in my country and easy access to many well known brands.
They are revealing to some extent in their category but nowhere near the Reference series even though they measure flatter in graphs. Ive even had the pleasure to listen to them side by side, the R3 and the Reference 1. A revelation. That got me wondering in the first place, how could a neutral speaker produce so much more micro details compared something that is boosted.
Jim, Im still waiting for you to name me 2 amps that sound exactly alike to test out. Then Ill arrange a blind abx test. Should be easy enough in my situation with many dealers ready to play. I would love to see, rather hear, 2 amps that sound exactly the same under clipping volumes. It would be a first to me.
Since there are so many good integrateds out there, there shouldnt be a problem for you to name 2 exact sounding ones eh? Im will to test all those out under the set conditions of the abx blind test but Ill need 2 amps that sound exactly the same. I dont know of 2, you do.
