[Arny Krueger]

"fathom" wrote in message

Stereophile's Michael Fremer (the Analog Coroner) gets his
grubbies on the NAD Master Series M3 integrated for a
major test.

So what does he do? Well, he wastes large portions of the
article babbling about the $175 NAD 3020, circa 1979. In
fact, every NAD test this rag ever does makes reference
to the 3020, because every disco-era audiophile once
owned one and has spent the last 25 years ignoring NAD
products except to periodically spooj over the 3020 like
it was their first glance of a bare tit. Well, maybe it
was.

The Coroner eventually gets around to describing the
current product, including some unusual features which he
totally ignores during the test. He says he did this
because he wants to use the M3 like most audiophiles
would. He then completely tosses this concept by using
the $2800 NAD with speakers costing $46k and $70k. How
****ing dumb is this? NOBODY IN THE WORLD is going to
hook this amp up to speakers like that - so let's do it
for the major cover story review.

How crazy is a $2.7K integrated stereo amp? Probably, about 10 times less
crazy than a $26K CD player, or $46-$70k speakers.

It would be interesting to know how many copies of equipment like this
actually gets sold for the stated asking prices. What are the margins?

Some people seem to be fascinated with the idea of ABX tests of audio gear.
It might be interesting to do an ABX test of a $2.7K stereo (oh, "dual
mono") integrated amp and a $0.089K stereo receiver. If ABX is as
inherently flawed as some people say, is there any
International-Standards-Organization-Compliant (e.g. BS 1116) test
methodology that would produce different results in the end?

BTW, why aren't Mirabel and Middius ranting and raving about BS 1116?
Probable answer: they can't get anybody from the EBU to give them the time
of day.

Back in the real world it would be highly counter-productive for the
supplier of the $2.7K amp or Stereophile to do even the slightest thing to
support an unbiased comparison test like this. They should do everything
they can to keep it from happening, or even be thought of.

Trolls like Mirabel and Middius are handmaidens of audio's
highly-commercialized high end. If they aren't getting stipends, I'd
support their getting them.