FINALLY - Revel Performa Series 3

[Ajani]

Option two is the consensus approach. Do many reviewers like it from different countries at different totally independent magazines. Better if they bought them or go way over the top.

Even though that's a decent strategy, it has major flaws as well. What if you're the odd man out? Most persons could love it and you still think nothing of it.

Take the Benchmark DAC1 as an example: easily one of the most raved about HiFi products, with a decade of rave reviews worldwide from both Pro Audio and HiFi Mags (a truly rare accomplishment). Also a load of reviewers own one. So does that mean everyone likes it? Hell no! There are lots of persons who claim it is cold, analytical, over-rated, etc...

[manlystanley]

Even though that's a decent strategy, it has major flaws as well. What if you're the odd man out? Most persons could love it and you still think nothing of it.

For someone of your defined taste, that makes perfect sense. However, for me sometimes I don't know what I like. For instance, I hear protracted arguments among various people about some nuance, and then I go and listen to the equipment being debated. Well, I hear the difference, but depending on what I had for lunch that day I can go either way on which one I really like the best.

My approach to buying equipment is to:

-- Find equipment that gets the most positive reviews.
-- Find equipment that is compared against much higher selling equipment.
-- Then buy them when there are really discounted (e.g. used or on deep discounts.).

Most times this strategy works (for me), but a few instances it really didn't work. But, my costs in general have been very low (comparatively)

I'd imagine as I get more rarefied listening skills I'll become like all of you guys, but until then ignorance is bliss (or should I say cheaper?)

Best Regards,
Stan

[Tarheel_]

Thanks for the reminder....my local Revel dealer didn't have any Performas a few months ago because he was waiting for the new line.

I cannot wait to get down there for some serious demo time!

side note: I thought the Concerta floorstanders sounded excellent and were a total bargain when I discovered the price. I guessed about $700 too high.

If you can find some Concertas on close out, get 'em and enjoy!

[Ajani]

Thanks for the reminder....my local Revel dealer didn't have any Performas a few months ago because he was waiting for the new line.

I cannot wait to get down there for some serious demo time!

side note: I thought the Concerta floorstanders sounded excellent and were a total bargain when I discovered the price. I guessed about $700 too high.

If you can find some Concertas on close out, get 'em and enjoy!

The Concerta F12 are something truly special. I suspect the one thing that kept them from really doing a lot better was the ho hum aesthetics... Just large and plain looking... The old Performa F30s are massive but have funky styling... I can't wait to see what the new Performa line looks like.

[RGA]

Even though that's a decent strategy, it has major flaws as well. What if you're the odd man out? Most persons could love it and you still think nothing of it.

Take the Benchmark DAC1 as an example: easily one of the most raved about HiFi products, with a decade of rave reviews worldwide from both Pro Audio and HiFi Mags (a truly rare accomplishment). Also a load of reviewers own one. So does that mean everyone likes it? Hell no! There are lots of persons who claim it is cold, analytical, over-rated, etc...

You are correct - not everyone can like everything although I think it depends how the unit is judged. I heard nothing cold or analytical or anything remotely bad about the Benchmark DAC I heard. So it may be an issue with the rest of their system.

Anything can sound bad in a system that isn't appropriate for it. Usually mix and match systems have more problems in this regard - people blame the wrong components.