Vintage Receivers

[E-Stat]

But that's just it E-Stat, they look so damn cool, who cares?!?

I confess that I'm not a big fan of that aesthetic. I prefer the real life "instrument quality" look that you would find at a NASA or military installation as found on Audio Research gear (among others). On the other hand, they spend a lot of time with the glass. Business took me to Binghamton, NY last year and I toured their plant. The glass panels are cut with a Flo-Jet high speed water cutter. They have a display that shows all seven stages a panel goes through the complete etching process. They have a device that accurately measures the temperature of the illumination to ensure proper matching. There's a lady at the end of the production line who has the final say over everything that leaves the building. At the end of the plant tour, I was able to hear their demo system using their top end stuff. Very nice, but definitely not the best I've heard. If you ever make it there, ask for Tony Frontera. He's a super nice guy and will give you quite a tour.

rw

[poppachubby]

I confess that I'm not a big fan of that aesthetic. I prefer the real life "instrument quality" look that you would find at a NASA or military installation as found on Audio Research gear (among others). On the other hand, they spend a lot of time with the glass. Business took me to Binghamton, NY last year and I toured their plant. The glass panels are cut with a Flo-Jet high speed water cutter. They have a display that shows all seven stages a panel goes through the complete etching process. They have a device that accurately measures the temperature of the illumination to ensure proper matching. There's a lady at the end of the production line who has the final say over everything that leaves the building. At the end of the plant tour, I was able to hear their demo system using their top end stuff. Very nice, but definitely not the best I've heard. If you ever make it there, ask for Tony Frontera. He's a super nice guy and will give you quite a tour.

rw

Sounds nice, actually my local Linn dealer toured their newer facility in Scotland and had many good things to say. As a labourer and trained machinist, I found it remarkable to learn that the tolerances at Linn are among the most accurate of any industry out there. He also said the factory has floor to ceiling windows overlooking the Scotish countryside, whereas the office staff's regular sized windows, overlooked the parking lot.

Interesting indeed, at Linn, it matters not how inspired the accountant is, and they know it. I have had some training with Flo-Jet but have not used it in a practical setting, it's a remarkable system.

Anyhow, it's clear that you don't favour meters. Keep in mind I was just born when meters were a state of the art affair. For me, they are as much novelty as practical measuring tool. I just love the look, what can I say.

Hey E? Keep in mind, pre-amps and meters are not mutually exclusive, I mean they are...wait a sec....

[E-Stat]

Anyhow, it's clear that you don't favour meters.

They provide a certain utility with power amps to help determine clipping. The problem is that they like the LED ladders on my Threshold amp are not fast enough to accurately assess peak output power. Your ears can hear when the amp clips before the meters figure it out - unless of course you have the McIntosh compressor circuit. Which is another mystery to me. You compromise the signal integrity with a circuit that monitors the output and compresses the signal when someone is incapable of controlling the gain. Call me crazy, but I like wide dynamic range. But, with a preamp? Have you ever clipped a preamp? My Audio Research preamp can deliver 50 volts to an amp that only requires 1.3 V for maximum output. What possible useful information does it impart? In fact, I bypass the preamp altogether for the CDP because it can fully drive the amp to clipping by itself. Meters on a preamp are as useless as tits on a bull. Or, the big fat meter on the Mac turntable which is a rebadged Clearaudio unit. It is used to indicate speed. So, you're listening to Christina Aguilera and are thinking "why does she sound like Lurch (or Alvin the Chipmunk)? What on earth could be wrong? I'm just not into gratuitous gee-wizardry. Then again, you might be able to find an MPI-4 Maximum Performance Indicator to light up your wall!

Hey E? Keep in mind, pre-amps and meters are not mutually exclusive, I mean they are...wait a sec....

Let's no go there!

rw

[theebadone]

They provide a certain utility with power amps to help determine clipping. The problem is that they like the LED ladders on my Threshold amp are not fast enough to accurately assess peak output power. Your ears can hear when the amp clips before the meters figure it out - unless of course you have the McIntosh compressor circuit. Which is another mystery to me. You compromise the signal integrity with a circuit that monitors the output and compresses the signal when someone is incapable of controlling the gain. Call me crazy, but I like wide dynamic range. But, with a preamp? Have you ever clipped a preamp? My Audio Research preamp can deliver 50 volts to an amp that only requires 1.3 V for maximum output. What possible useful information does it impart? In fact, I bypass the preamp altogether for the CDP because it can fully drive the amp to clipping by itself. Meters on a preamp are as useless as tits on a bull. Or, the big fat meter on the Mac turntable which is a rebadged Clearaudio unit. It is used to indicate speed. So, you're listening to Christina Aguilera and are thinking "why does she sound like Lurch (or Alvin the Chipmunk)? What on earth could be wrong? I'm just not into gratuitous gee-wizardry. Then again, you might be able to find an MPI-4 Maximum Performance Indicator to light up your wall!



Let's no go there!

rw

ITS NOT WHATS ON THE OUTSIDE, ITS WHAT IS ON THE INSIDE THAT COUNTS

[E-Stat]

ITS NOT WHATS ON THE OUTSIDE, ITS WHAT IS ON THE INSIDE THAT COUNTS

Indeed. They take the $6000 Clearaudio Avant Garde Magnum and add $3000 worth of cosmetics. As for me, I would much rather have the higher performance Anniversary AMG model with the Souther designed arm for a bit more and forego the light show from Wicked

rw