On 11/21/2012 1:35 AM, Dave C wrote:
"Trevor Wilson" wrote in message
...
On 11/18/2012 2:17 AM, Andrew Haley wrote:
snip
**You'd think. I sure did. Recently, I enlarged my workshop to include a
listening room, using high quality speakers and amplification. For some
time I've been using a Harman Kardon HD970 CD player as my main source. It
is an exceptionally good player, which also happens to be quite versatile.
A few weeks back a client sent a Marantz CD80 in for service and
modification. After a lens clean and lube I put it in my system for a
quick listen. WOW! A 23 year old player comprehensively beat my relatively
recently manufactured HK player. The difference was not measurable that I
could ascertain. Yet the sonic difference was certainly noticable (FR,
THD, et al were all beyond the limits of audibility). I replaced the
ancient 5534 OP amps with AD825 chips. No measurable improvement.
Sound-wise, I couldn't reliably hear any difference either. The client
claimed that there was a difference and he was happy.
Why did the Marantz sound better than the HK? Dunno.
The HK uses completely different DACs to the Marantz and a discrete
transistor output stage. I certainly did not expect the Marantz to provide
a superior sound to the HK. It's 23 years old! I expected that, at best,
there would be no audible difference. At worst, I certainly expceted the
HK to beat the Marantz.
--
Trevor Wilson www.rageaudio.com.au
For reasons of sanity I have stopped asking too many questions about the
why. For years I have been an advocate of the if you can really hear it you
can measure it camp - conditioning from 30 odd years in engineering..
**I am firmly in that camp. It is entirely possible that not enough is
being measured to quantify everything we hear.
However the blatant differences in things like CD players suggest either an
equally blatant disregard for the basics, or a deliberate "sound" design
(sic).
**Absolutely. In fact, I have found exactly that with many pieces of
audio equipment. Including CD players.
I only listen now - not interested in the spec sheets, I can hear anything I
need to and once I've chosen one, get on with enjoying the music.
Just have to occasionally beat into submission the little voice that starts
to say "but they should sound the same!!"
Dave
**Oh yeah.
--
Trevor Wilson
www.rageaudio.com.au