Fatigue Subjective???


I went to my local high end store and compared to Thiel CS 1.6 played on a Naim system to the CS 1.6 on a Levinson/arcam system. The naim system blew the Levinson away in sounstage width and depth, continuity of image, musical involvment. Only bad thing about the Naim was the fatigue, which was immediate.

So I called up the dealer,today, thinking maybe there was one weak link in the Naim system, that if eliminated, would still preserve the good things but get rid of the fatiguing
quality. And maybe I'd get the Naim. The dealer (who was on the surly side and has therefore probably lost my business) tells me that since "fatigue is subjective" there's nothing that makes the Naim more fatiguing than the levinson, other than my ears.

My question: is fatigue subjective, or do some sytems/components produce it.
robertd

Showing 1 response by cdc

I guess, because Meadowlark Shearwaters were incredibly fatiguing to me. But no one else has ever mentioned Meadowlark as being fatiguing.
I don't get your comments on Naim having good soundstage depth. I always found it worse than pretty much anything else of comparable price.
Naim stuff is colored in the midrange and is overpriced compared to other brands IMO.
Try Thiel with Musical Fidelity, or tube gear. I found it to be clear but not fatiguing.