What electronic audio products you want tested most

[amadeuswus]

OTOH, I am looking for a new 5+ channel amp as my trusty Bryston 9B has blown a channel (again) and I have decided to move on from it.

Off-topic:
I also have a Bryston 9B-ST with one channel out . . . maybe 9Bs are not as trusty as most other Bryston equipment. I never got my bad channel fixed, but when I called Bryston's service department about it, the person who answered the phone definitely gave off a "not the 9B AGAIN" vibe.

 

[VMAT4]

Just for Grins and Giggles,

The S.M.S.L SA300

 

[Kal Rubinson]

Off-topic:
I also have a Bryston 9B-ST with one channel out . . . maybe 9Bs are not as trusty as most other Bryston equipment. I never got my bad channel fixed, but when I called Bryston's service department about it, the person who answered the phone definitely gave off a "not the 9B AGAIN" vibe.

Well, I have had mine for more than 15 years and it worked perfectly until 2017 when one channel blew. I removed it, shipped it back to Bryston and they repaired it. Now, another channel has blown and I am not sure I want to make the effort again although I am certain that Bryston would stand by it.

I am not unhappy with it. It's just time to entertain a change.

 

[BsdKurt]

1. I do not still have it. OTOH, I am looking for a new 5+ channel amp as my trusty Bryston 9B has blown a channel (again) and I have decided to move on from it. The A52+ is a possibility.
2. I have a "conflict of interest" in supplying it to Amir enough though I would be curious about the results.
3. Also, it is too heavy for me to move/pack/ship without assistance.

Okay, darn. Thanks for letting me know.

 

[Fers66]

Based on some of the measurements taken on other sites https://www.soundstagenetwork.com/i...ac&catid=97:amplifier-measurements&Itemid=154

I really don't think Gryphon amps are going to measure good on the workbench. As you know, Amir's equipment reviews focus mostly on the measurements. I think the Gryphon amps are really good though, I don't know of many other class AB amps using zero feedback, and the distortion is, admittedly, very low for a zero feedback design. It's perhaps these amps often get described as being so good sounding, despite not being anything special on paper.

Thanks!
Anyway, would be nice to see Amir testing any product from Gryphon Audio...
I´m not sold for luxurious AV gear like Mcintosh, Classé and the likes (dont have the money too)...
However...just by the looks of Gryphon gear...black cool case...amp with 100kg+....all the cool and diabolic names...Jesus i´m sold!
Mephisto....Diablo...Scorpio....that´s some pure evil audiophile porn...

 

[Fers66]

After reading the review of the Denon AVR-X3500H and seeing how the DAC measurements at 1 volt are pretty good, I’d love to see how some of the Parasound Halo amps perform. They all have 1 volt input sensitivity, which should make them a good match for taking some channels off the AVR. Specifically, I’d be interested in the:

Parasound Halo A23+ 2 channel amp
Parasound Halo A52+ 5 channel amp
Parasound Halo HINT 6 2 channel integrated amp with HT bypass

For class A/AB they are not insanely expensive and are supposed to sound great. The idea being buy a inexpensive ish AVR like the Dennon X3500H whenever the video tech requires an upgrade and keep the Parasound long term.

+1 vote for Parasound gear reviews!

 

[JustJones]

I would like to see something like a Lumin U1(or similarily priced dacless streamer) compared with a raspberry pi connected to the same DAC.

 

[phoenixdogfan]

Possible solutions:

Move lab to ground floor.
Hire a man servant to do the heavy lifting.
Get a dumb waiter installed.
Get a high lift capable indoor flying drone to fly it to your lab.
Get a set of hand trucks (one with large inflated tires). These can be much easier on your back going up and down stairs.

Start drinking Prednisilone Power Shakes.

 

[phoenixdogfan]

I would like to see Theoretica Applied Physics/Bacch for Mac DSP system for speakers and headphones analyzed. Apparantly it's based on removing crosstalk between stereo speakers to enhance imaging and realism for home audio systems. I'd like someone to analyze exactly what they're doing with this software, whether it makes senses from a psychoaccoustic standpoint or if it's just a gimmick or oddball effect that just makes speakers and headphones sound different, rather than better.

Finally, an assessment of whether it introduces distortions into the sound field, as well as your opinion on whether its worth its steep tariff.

 

[Gringoaudio1]

Super high priced AVRs like Arcam and JBL and AudioControl would be interesting to test. Is close to $10000 getting you top performance? And McIntosh and Levinson ... but I don’t expect much there frankly.

 

[jtwrace]

How about testing the @orchardaudio BOSC Amp? I don't think it has been tested by @amirm

https://orchardaudio.com/bosc

 

[Wes]

test some other Accuphase gear

it looks so good...

 

[VMAT4]

AMP 2250 or AMP 2400 by Amped America.
Here's a link: http://ampedamerica.com .
These are expensive Class D amps. But, maybe the company will be willing to send one in for a test.

 

[Cahudson42]

Marantz sr4500/sr4300. Available for around $50 from Thrift sources. Test using the provided direct RCA inputs for all 6 channels. Looks like it might make a decent HT/stereo amp when driven by a miniDSP or DSP-408. You could bi-amp a pair of 2-way, driving each transducer directly and providing electronic XO and individual PEQ. Plus last 2 channels for sub.

6 amps each spec. 95w at 6 ohms. .08 distortion. Marantz appears to be one of the few in this era that provided for line-level inputs of all 6 amps, not just the FR and FL.

If it performs anywhere at all near it's specs, for less than the cost of 3 Lepai or one 4 channel Auto amp, you have six channels to play with your miniDSP or DSP-408 to turn your stereo passive 2-ways (0r even 3-ways) into your own fully DSP'ed 'active' speakers..

 

[orchardaudio]

How about testing the @orchardaudio BOSC Amp? I don't think it has been tested by @amirm

https://orchardaudio.com/bosc

Did you see the measurements I posted? If you want to see something specific I can add it.

 

[KeenObserver]

My first CD player many moons ago was a ReVox B226. Since then there have been countless "upgrades" and countless reviews extolling the improvements that have come since. My main music system now uses a Benchmark Dac3 HGC. I still use the ReVox in a secondary system.

With all the golden prose written about each new system that comes out, one would think that the old ReVox would sound awful in comparison. It doesn't. I prefer the Benchmark but it is not a slap you in the face difference.

I think an interesting test would be to test an original high end CD player and compare it with current technology. How much of a difference is there, actually?

 

[Wes]

how about some used or classic gear

NAD and the Apt items for example

or things readily available on the used market - this would help those trying to put together a good system for low $$ output

 

[Tks]

I'm itching to see how good ADC's in the modern day are (outside of Motu, Scarlett, and the RME ADI 2 Pro that decimates everything). Was wondering if there are any gems out there.

 

[Cahudson42]

After the great new Audyssey review, really need to look at the DSP-408 and it's App.

And compare which does what - better. Or not at all

 

[Koeitje]

I changed my vote to also include DSP's, but in addition to that I would also like more active crossover reviews. Pro-audio active crossovers might be a nice basis for good subwoofer integration, but I have no idea how they would perform. For example the DBX 234xs has caught my attention.

As for DSPs, the Dayton Audio DSP-408 is not very expensive. And the Behringer DCX2496 is a very popular model, I'm curious how those would measure.

@amirm do you ever use anything from DBX for your installation business?