MattHooper
Master Contributor
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- Jan 27, 2019
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Disagree - those baubles are low-fidelity gear, for the reasons outlined above, and the same reasons the latest-greatest $800 integrated DAC/amp with 150dB SINAD but no modern signal processing is low fidelity kit that merits a headless panther at best.
Well, if you’re going to make up convenient definitions for “ low Fidelity” …
We both know that those items are not low Fidelity in the traditional sense, nor even as that term is used here when measuring gear.
Traditionally speaking in terms of electronics, fidelity relates to whether the electronics are passing on the signal without audibly altering it. Which is most likely with that pre-amplifier and DAC.
So I think you were stretching terms here to try and hang onto your case.
Alas, the reviewer uses the perfectly good AVR preouts in the neurotic audiophool snob manner: not directly into the amp as would make sense, but into an intermediary fancy-brand but low-fi and basic bauble that can only add noise into the signal chain for no sane reason.
He only uses the AVR for watching movies which is why it’s hooked up that way.
In his normal 2 channel listening the “ basic bauble” preamp (to use your strange term) isn’t going to be adding any noise.
I already gave the reason he doesn’t use room correction for his reviews.
And in his normal listening he doesn’t care to use room correction. Nor do I.
Oh my god, we must be “ insane.”
My point was just that the reviewer loses credibility by bending over backwards to commit incredibly dumb snob shit to text. That's all.
It’s not “ incredibly dumb shit.”
For his own purposes, he enjoys the build quality/looks and simplicity of two channel gear like a nice preamp, vs the cheap looking/feeling and often more complexity you get with an AVR. Nothing wrong with that. His set ups usually sound excellent.
And as I’ve said, he doesn’t want to review loud speakers using room correction, which is why he went to pains to alert the reader he was reviewing the loudspeaker as is and not corrected. And like I’ve said, a a review doesn’t necessarily need to employ room correction, any more than auditioning allowed speaker requires room correction, in order to be informative.
But don’t let me get in the way of your disdain for subjective reviewers. Even if they produce a reasonable review of a product, you’ll be able to find something to place them beneath contempt. Par for the course here.