2. amps-preamps
  3. 126624-10101

My Long List of Amplifiers and My Personal Review of Each!

So I have been in a long journey looking to find the best amplifiers for my martin logan montis. As you know, the match between an amplifier and speakers has to be a good "marriage" and needs to be blend exquisitely. Right now, I think I might have found the best sounding amplifier for martin logan. I have gone through approximately 34-36 amplifiers in the past 12 months. Some of these are:

Bryston ST, SST, SST2 series
NAD M25
PARASOUND HALO
PARASOUND CLASSIC
KRELL TAS
KRELL KAV 500
KRELL CHORUS
ROTEL RMB 1095
CLASSE CT 5300
CLASSE CA 2200
CLASSE CA 5200
MCINTOSH MC 205
CARY AUDIO CINEMA 7
OUTLAW AUDIO 755
LEXICON RX7
PASS LABS XA 30.8
BUTLER AUDIO 5150
ATI SIGNATURE SERIES 6005

With all that said, the amplifiers I mentioned above are the ones that in my opinion are worth mentioning. To make a long story short, there is NO 5 CHANNEL POWER AMP that sounds as good as a 3ch and 2ch amplifier combination. i have done both experiments and the truth is that YOU DO lose details and more channel separation,etc when you select a 5 channel power amplifier of any manufacturer.
My recollection of what each amp sounded like is as follows:

ATI SIGNATURE SERIES 6005 (great power and amazing soundstage. Very low noise floor, BUT this amplifiers NEEDS TO BE cranked up in order to fully enjoy it. If you like listening at low volume levels or somewhat moderate, you are wasting your time here. This amp won’t sound any different than many other brands out there at this volume. The bass is great, good highs although they are a bit bright for my taste)

NAD M25 (very smooth, powerful, but somewhat thin sounding as far as bass goes)
Bryston sst2(detailed, good soundstage, good power, but can be a little forward with certain speakers which could make them ear fatiguing at loud volumes)

Krell (fast sounding, nice bass attack, nice highs, but some detail does get lost with certain speakers)

rotel (good amp for the money, but too bright in my opinion)

cary audio (good sound overall, very musical, but it didn’t have enough oomph)

parasound halo (good detail, great bass, but it still holds back some background detail that i can hear in others)

lexicon (very laid back and smooth. huge power, but if you like more detail or crisper highs, this amp will disappoint you)

McIntosh mc205 (probably the worst multichannel amp given its price point. it was too thin sounding, had detail but lacked bass.

butler audio (good amplifier. very warm and smooth sweet sounding. i think for the money, this is a better amp than the parasound a51)

pass labs (very VERY musical with excellent bass control. You can listen to this for hours and hours without getting ear fatigue. however, it DOES NOT do well in home theater applications if all you have is a 2 channel set up for movies. The midrange gets somewhat "muddy" or very weak sounding that you find yourself trying to turn it up.

classe audio (best amplifier for multi channel applications. i simply COULDNT FIND a better multi channel amplifier PERIOD. IT has amazing smoothness, amazing power and good bass control although i would say krell has much better bass control)

Update: The reviews above were done in January 2015. Below is my newest update as of October 2016:



PS AUDIO BHK 300 MONOBLOCKS: Amazing amps. Tons of detail and really amazing midrange. the bass is amazing too, but the one thing i will say is that those of you with speakers efficiency of 87db and below you will not have all the "loudness" that you may want from time to time. These amps go into protection mode when using a speaker such as the Salon, but only at very loud levels. Maybe 97db and above. If you don’t listen to extreme crazy levels, these amps will please you in every way.

Plinius Odeon 7 channel amp: This is THE BEST multichannel amp i have ever owned. Far , but FAR SUPERIOR to any other multichannel amp i have owned. In my opinion it destroyed all of the multichannel amps i mentioned above and below. The Odeon is an amp that is in a different tier group and it is in a league of its own. Amazing bass, treble and it made my center channel sound more articulate than ever before. The voices where never scrambled with the action scenes. It just separated everything very nicely.

Theta Dreadnaught D: Good detailed amp. Looks very elegant, has a pleasant sound, but i found it a tad too bright for my taste. I thought it was also somewhat "thin" sounding lacking body to the music. could be that it is because it is class d?

Krell Duo 300: Good amp. Nice and detailed with enough power to handle most speakers out there. I found that it does have a very nice "3d" sound through my electrostatics. Nothing to fault here on this amp.
Mark Levinson 532H: Great 2 channel amp. Lots of detail, amazing midrange which is what Mark Levinson is known for. It sounds very holographic and will please those of you looking for more detail and a better midrange. As far as bass, it is there, but it is not going to give you the slam of a pass labs 350.5 or JC1s for example. It is great for those that appreciate classical music, instrumental, etc, but not those of you who love tons of deep bass.

 It is articulate sounding too
Krell 7200: Plenty of detail and enough power for most people. i found that my rear speakers contained more information after installed this amp. One thing that i hated is that you must use xlr cables with this amp or else you lose most of its sound performance when using RCA’s.

Krell 402e: Great amp. Very powerful and will handle any speaker you wish. Power is incredible and with great detail. That said, i didn’t get all the bass that most reviewers mentioned. I thought it was "ok" in regards to bass. It was there, but it didn’t slam me to my listening chair.

Bryston 4B3: Good amp with a complete sound. I think this amp is more laid back than the SST2 version. I think those of you who found the SST2 version of this amp a little too forward with your speakers will definitely benefit from this amp’s warmth. Bryston has gone towards the "warm" side in my opinion with their new SST3 series. As always, they are built like tanks. I wouldn’t call this amp tube-like, but rather closer to what the classe audio delta 2 series sound like which is on the warm side of things.

Parasound JC1s: Good powerful amps. Amazing low end punch (far superior bass than the 402e). This amp is the amp that i consider complete from top to bottom in regards to sound. Nothing is lacking other than perhaps a nicer chassis. Parasound needs to rework their external appearance when they introduce new amps. This amp would sell much more if it had a revised external appearance because the sound is a great bang for the money. It made my 800 Nautilus scream and slam. Again, amazing low end punch.

Simaudio W7: Good detailed amp. This amp reminds me a lot of the Mark Levinson 532h. Great detail and very articulate. I think this amp will go well with bookshelves that are ported in order to compensate for what it lacks when it comes to the bass. That doesn’t mean it has no bass, but when it is no Parasound JC1 either.
Pass labs 350.5: Wow, where do i begin? maybe my first time around with the xa30.8 wasn’t as special as it was with this monster 350.5. It is just SPECTACULAR sounding with my electrostatics. The bass was THE BEST BASS i have ever heard from ANY amp period. The only amp that comes close would be the jC1s. It made me check my settings to make sure the bass was not boosted and kept making my jaw drop each time i heard it. It totally destroyed the krell 402e in every regard. The krell sounded too "flat" when compared to this amp. This amp had amazing mirange with great detail up top. In my opinion, this amp is the best bang for the money. i loved this amp so much that i ended up buying the amp that follows below.

Pass labs 250.8: What can i say here. This is THE BEST STEREO AMP i have ever heard. This amp destroys all the amps i have listed above today to include the pass labs 350.5. It is a refined 350.5 amp. It has more 3d sound which is something the 350.5 lacked. It has a level of detail that i really have never experienced before and the bass was amazing as well. I really thought it was the most complete power amplifier i have ever heard HANDS DOWN. To me, this is a benchmark of an amplifier. This is the amp that others should be judged by. NOTHING is lacking and right now it is the #1 amplifier that i have ever owned.

My current amps are Mcintosh MC601s: i decided to give these 601s a try and they don’t disappoint. They have great detail, HUGE soundstage, MASSIVE power and great midrange/highs. The bass is great, but it is no pass labs 250.8 or 350.5. As far as looks, these are the best looking amps i have ever owned. No contest there. i gotta be honest with you all, i never bought mcintosh monos before because i wasn’t really "wowed" by the mc452, but it could have been also because at that time i was using a processor as a preamp which i no longer do. Today, i own the Mcintosh C1100 2 chassis tube preamp which sounds unbelievable. All the amps i just described above have been amps that i auditioned with the C1100 as a preamp. The MC601s sound great without a doubt, but i will say that if you are looking for THE BEST sound for the money, these would not be it. However, Mcintosh remains UNMATCHED when it comes to looks and also resale value. Every other amp above depreciates much faster than Mcintosh.

That said, my future purchase (when i can find a steal of a deal) will be the Pass labs 350.8. I am tempted to make a preliminary statement which is that i feel this amp could be THE BEST stereo amp under 30k dollars. Again, i will be able to say more and confirm once i own it. I hope this update can help you all in your buying decisions!


128x128jays_audio_lab

Showing 50 responses by ricred1

ricred1
1,976 posts
 
What Monitor Audio RX model to you use for rears. How much better is the new PLC350 II compared to the series I?
ricred1
1,976 posts
 
jrunr,
I drive my Monitor Audio PL500 IIs with a Jeff Rowland 625 S2 amplifier and love it...my room is 20' x 26'. That being said, "I don't know, what I don't know", meaning I haven't compared Classe or Pass to my 625 S2, so I can't say I prefer it over either one of them.
As far driving the series II with amps below $10K...prior to the 625 S2 I used a Jeff Rowland Continuum S2 integrated amp, which list for $10K.
ricred1
1,976 posts
 
WC,
I should have added... I don't know how you continue the journey.  Comparing  components is very time consuming and comparing cables is such a tedious process. 
ricred1
1,976 posts
 
I never actually listened to the powercords, because if I could differentiate between them through YouTube, the only thing I could conclude is how they sound in WC’s system. I had Dragon’s in my system several months ago. I had a friend listen to them with me and both of us thought they were too bright/ forward in my system. I think WC"s is constantly reinforcing what I’ve learned over the years. 1) cables/everything makes a difference, 2) there are no absolutes in Audio, only preferences. Building a system is about putting together different components to create one’s preferred sound. It’s okay if someone prefers a different powercord. Audio isn’t about right or wrong, but personal preference.
ricred1
1,976 posts
 
Okay, I refuse to play along anymore. You "review" everything and than you list it for sell.
ricred1
1,976 posts
 
 I think it's good that you responded to lalitk. I made similar comments before, but your response to lalitk put everything into perspective. I've reached out to you through PMs several times and I appreciate that you took the time to respond. Keep writing and I'll keep reading. 


ricred1
1,976 posts
 
whiteCamaross,
I submit "we" must be careful stating things as absolutes. We hear things based on our system(all of the components), room, and preferences. You've recommended components that I've heard in my system and I have a completely different opinion. It doesn't mean I'm right and your wrong. I don't own the Oppo 205 or McIntosh, but I'm sure there is someone out there that may prefer the Oppo 205.
ricred1
1,976 posts
 
I read this thread, but try not to post anymore. When I read post like, "You spam: We will never buy or recommend your products. Make your mind up. Do you want to alienate potential buyers? If so, continue spamming." In my opinion this thread has turned into a big clique. Who's "we". Personally anyone that identifies who they are isn't being unethical and has a right to post whatever they want. I understand faxer has a clear financial incentive, but anyone that post on Audiogon that eventually sells something has a financial incentive. I submit most people have enough sense to take everything they read, rather on Audiogon or a magazine with a large grain of salt.  So, I support faxer's right to post and I would gladly recommend his speakers. 
ricred1
1,976 posts
 
ricevs,
Well said!
ricred1
1,976 posts
 
"For instance and s perfect example, Sasha DAW. I didn’t know about the speaker but now I can talk at length about its pros and cons." You can talk at length on your opinion about the pros and cons of each speaker. Let 10 people hear the same speakers, in the same room, with the same equipment, and there will be different opinions about the pros and cons of each. I don't have to own something to praise it. My friend has Absolare components and I absolutely love it. I'm very familiar with the system, so the fact that I don't own it, doesn't invalidate my opinion. Anymore than because I own a component validates my opinion. It's subjective, not absolute.
ricred1
1,976 posts
 
" (I am not sure ) so if I wanted to get feedback on that amp then I’m coming to you and not Viber or anyone else who hasn’t even seen it in person. In short , I believe in "qualifed " feedback." I don’t know where you got that from, because I didn’t say anything about someone providing an opinion on something they’ve never seen. Nor did I say anything about listening at shows. Qualified feedback, is just an opinion. It doesn’t make a difference how much equipment I’ve owned or listened to. My opinion will never be an absolute; therefore anytime someone ask me about a component I own, I simply tell them to listen with their own ears. Sure I’ll tell them how it sounds to me in my system/room, but I always say they can easily come to a different conclusion. I will never be so arrogant to think my opinion about a particular component is the "holly grail".
ricred1
1,976 posts
 
chazzzy007, 
Thanks for the kind words. 
I will send you a PM that you're free to share with whomever you choose in a private message. When people ask me a question,  I feel an obligation to tell them what I really think. I just know somethings shouldn't be posted in a public forum. 
ricred1
1,976 posts
 
I've had Monitor Audio PL 500s for almost two years. Everyone hears differently, but we must evaluate speakers in the context of the "system". To my ears, in my room, with my equipment, the PL 500S are chameleon like. They are a reflection of what components and cables I have used and how well/poor the music is recorded. Most people that have heard them often label them laid back and I have never had the slightest fatigue after hours of listening.  
ricred1
1,976 posts
 
I just purchased Clarus Crimson speaker cables. I submit they take the PL500s to another level compared to the Wireworld Silver Eclipse 7 speaker cables that I had. I know there are no absolutes in Audio, but if possible you should get a loaner pair and try them. Of course everything is subjective and you may come to a different conclusion.
ricred1
1,976 posts
 
I went from the PS Audio DirectStream to Bricasti M1 to Jeff Rowland Aeris and finally to the Chord Dave. Every component change is about system synergy. Although I could easily hear the differences between DACs, there isn’t a night and day difference. Inserting the Chord Dave was significant in my system: detail, better instrument separation(especially front to back placement), air, but more than anything dynamics and the natural decay of music improved. Is the Chord Dave the end all, be all DACs? No, but worth a listen. There is always something better/different or something someone else prefers.
ricred1
1,976 posts
 
My friend replaced his Esoteric K01-X after hearing the Dave in his system. Although the Esoteric is almost twice the cost of the Chord Dave. Different system, different ears, different preferences. No one is right or wrong.
I should add he replaced the Chord Dave with Burmester. 
ricred1
1,976 posts
 
G.,
Exactly! You said it better than me. The Chord Dave is supposed to be optimal via USB and so is my Antipodes DS GT music server. Maybe that's why I prefer them in my system. I'm tired of "better", I  like prefer.
A friend I met through Audiogon came over a couple of days ago. Both of us have Jeff Rowland 625 S2 amps, but the rest of our systems are different, because our preferences are different.  
We respect each other's perspective. If all of us could learn to respect each other, our "hobby" / "addiction will be better off. 

ricred1
1,976 posts
 
whitecamaross,
You have me thinking...I can sell all of my components and get the Bel Canto Black system:). Does the system include a source?
ricred1
1,976 posts
 
So I can keep my Antipodes DS GT music server and connect it via USB in lieu of connecting a computer?
ricred1
1,976 posts
 
I tried to explain to someone on Audiogon why after owning three different speakers from the same company, I thought there were better options and they just couldn't understand. It's easy, after hearing several speakers in my own system, I looked at what I thought was so great from another perspective. If you are unhappy with your sound, the only way to find out why is to listen to other equipment. The speakers I had were great, but through listening I discovered I preferred a different sound. Through lots of listening I now understand I have a preference for a neutral to very slightly on the dark side of neutral sound. So, listening not only exposes the weakness in one's system, but "should" help bring forth individual preferences.
ricred1
1,976 posts
 
Out of curiosity I'm looking into getting a home auditions of the Black System. 
ricred1
1,976 posts
 
This hobby is so funny! I love my PL500s for so many more reasons than the bass! I submit the PL500s do many things very well.
ricred1
1,976 posts
 
The PL500s have a couple things going against them:
1) they are relatively large
2) relatively inexpensive
3) they are made by Monitor Audio(in China)
4) Monitor Audio dealers are "normally" horrible in comparison to Magico, Wilson Audio, Rockport, and some of the other big names
5) Marketing is horrible

I actually think 4&5 are their biggest problems
ricred1
1,976 posts
 
Many, many Monitor Audio dealers are installers and know absolutely nothing about PL500s, 300s, or even the 200s. Wilson and Magico dealers have more product knowledge than any Monitor Audio dealer I've ever talked to. Most high-end speaker manufacturers require the dealer to set-up the speakers and are trained to do so. Can we say that about Monitor Audio? I don't know about you, but that's a big fat no based on my experience. Look I love my PL500s, but based on my experience you don't get the same quality treatment as some of the other high-end manufacturers. 
ricred1
1,976 posts
 
I’ve owned Wilson Audio Sophia II, Sophia III, and Sasha I’s. I submit they’re the most dynamic speakersI’ve owned. That being said, long term I find them too forward sounding. Over time I realized I prefer a more neutral to a slightly warm sound. Yes, I’ve heard the new Wilson’s and although they have a new tweeter they are still too forward for my taste.
ricred1
1,976 posts
 
Bob,
I haven't heard the Wilson Sabrina's.  My room is 20' x 26' and I think the Sabrina's are meant for a smaller room.

ricred1
1,976 posts
 
Read the Wilson Audio thread on Audioaficionado.

ricred1
1,976 posts
 
techno_dude,
Everyone has different preferences and thoughts about value. So many of us are willing to pay 2x the price of a component for incremental improvements. 
ricred1
1,976 posts
 
As my friend always says, "McIntosh looks great, but the sound is mediocre." I've heard their amps and preamps compared to others several times and I've always preferred the alternative. There are no absolutes in audio, only 
ricred1
1,976 posts
 
I've listened to McIntosh several times within the last year. To my ears McIntosh has a colored sound. In comparison to Bricasti,  Jeff Rowland,  Absolare,  PS Audio, and Bryston the McIntosh was always my least favorite.
ricred1
1,976 posts
 
4425,
The problem is sometimes "we" don't respect the fact that there are different preferences and what's forward and/or bright to some, is just right to others. I've owned Wilson speakers and submit they are the most dynamic speakers that I've ever owned. Unfortunately, even the current Wilson's are fatiguing to me. I don't know why, but I prefer a speaker that is closer to "what I think is neutral" or on the slightly dark side of neutral.  
ricred1
1,976 posts
 
I have Tidal and what's being reported has never happened to me.
ricred1
1,976 posts
 
As a owner of a Jeff Rowland 625 S2, I would caution you  that they are hard to flip.
ricred1
1,976 posts
 
I don't know how you have the Dave connected, but the preferred method is via USB. If you are using a USB cable, what cable are you using? I've tried several different USB cables and it makes a difference. The Wireworld Platinum Starlight 7 works best in my system, yours my differ. Digital is at a point that relatively small differences cost a lot of money and for some the additional money isn't worth it. Unfortunately, for me if it's in my budget it's worth it. 
ricred1
1,976 posts
 
No component is for everyone. Based on your findings I would sell the Chord Dave.
ricred1
1,976 posts
 
I have the Dave and love it, but we have different systems. I had a home audition prior to purchase and it sounds fantastic in my system. I had the PS Audio DS, Bricasti M1, and Jeff Rowland Aeris prior to the Dave. I have no desire to try anything else. No absolutes, only preferences!
As far as reviews go, I've read several very positive reviews about the Lumin S1. As a matter of fact 6MOONS gave it the Blue Moon Award.
ricred1
1,976 posts
 
I don't know if all reviews are suspect or not. My view is reviews are only opinions based on the reviewer's experience, room, and preferences. It's no difference than you or I posting what we prefer based on our own experience and preferences. I'm I suspect if I talk about a component I love and you hear it and hate it? I would hope not. After all we're just providing our opinions.
ricred1
1,976 posts
 
Whitecamaross,

I told you I would be surprised if you liked the Jeff Rowland, but it seems like you do. Our opinions differ on the Chord Dave. I've tried several USB cables and there was a difference that was easily heard. As a matter of fact, because I recently replaced all of my Wireworld cables with Audioquest, I actually sold my Wireworld Platinum USB and purchased Audioquest's  Diamond USB cable. The Diamond just didn't work in my system. Luckily I was able to return the Diamond and I purchased another Wireworld Platinum. Maybe the combination of the Chord Dave and my Antipodes music server is more sensitive to different USB cables. I've tried the Dave direct and hated it. It's just a reminder for everyone not to doubt what they hear with their own ears. All of our systems are different and how a component interfaces with another can be the difference between musical bliss and unhappiness.
ricred1
1,976 posts
 
Whitecamaross,

With all due respect, I'm not questioning if the Chord Dave is good or not. You say, reviewers are full of it, because you have a different opinion, but I caution readers of this thread or any thread not to take opinions as fact. You for all intents and purposes have become a reviewer and it seems that "some" are looking for you to validate their purchase. I'm an advocate of using one's own ears to validate if a purchase is worth it. 
ricred1
1,976 posts
 
I heard the Gryphon Diablo 300 a few weeks ago connected to YG Acoustics Carmel 2s. I know it's a system with cables and source, but that was the best I've ever heard the Carmel 2s sound. I don't know how much the Diablo 300 contributed to the sound, but that system was great to me! I've gone back and forth between auditioning the T+A PA 3100 HV, Gryphon Diablo 300, or nothing. 
ricred1
1,976 posts
 
Al,Yes, I heard the YG/Gryphon combo at Lone Star. I could be wrong, but I think the dealer was Advanced Home Theater Systems.
ricred1
1,976 posts
 
To causally read this thread it's easy to come to the conclusion that whitecamaross is crazy, but I've talked to whitecamaross several times and submit he's just trying to build the ultimate system for him. I think all of us have had similar journeys. We just haven't documented our journey or for the most part traveled as far as he has in such a relatively short time. My intent isn't to tell him what he should prefer, but to share my experience with him. Speakers are the most difficult component to get right because the room and other components have such an impact on their sound. As I read his comments, I can't help but to think of a pair of Rockport Aviors I listened to several years ago. Compared to a very popular speaker that I had at the time, the Aviors were too balanced. Absolutely nothing stood out with the Aviors and I thought they were boring, not exciting enough. It's funny how experience can change the way we hear things. I sold the speakers I had and now when I hear the Aviors(I don't own them) I just think WOW, they are so musical. In my humble opinion I suggest you really listen to each speaker and think about which speaker sounds the most balanced to your ears. When certain frequencies standout, it can easily fool our ears/brains to make us think it sounds better. Just a little food for thought.
ricred1
1,976 posts
 
On several occasions I’ve stated that Magico’s are the best technical speakers that I have ever listened to, but it doesn’t translate into me preferring them. I submit you highlighted the fact that speakers are about tradeoffs. I really wish "we" would stop looking at things as better or worse, but different. At a certain level we are simply choosing speakers based on how well they integrate into our rooms, with our current components, and based on our preferences.
ricred1
1,976 posts
 
Charles,

I won't argue your point regarding accuracy. My opinion is based on comparing them to other speakers I have listened to. I would never compare any speaker to unamplified instruments.

"It won't equal the natural sound of the live piano(asking too much of any speaker) but should come reasonably close . It certainly shouldn't add or impose a edge, bright or thin coloration to instruments.it seems that speakers with upper frequency emphasis are mistakenly given credit for hyper detail, transparency and accuracy." I totally agree!

"Ricred, why could you not live long term with the Magico?" I probably could with the right components. I've chosen a speaker that is on the slightly dark side on neutral that does very well in my slightly large 20' X 26' dedicated room. I've listened to many speakers recently. There are speakers that do some things better than mine, but I've decided to stay with what I have. Speakers are about trade-offs and I've found a speaker that really allows me to enjoy music.
ricred1
1,976 posts
 
In my humble opinion I wouldn't change anything until you get a better room. At the level you're playing at, based on your pictures, your limiting factor is your room. Just a thought!
ricred1
1,976 posts
 
Of course everything is system dependent, but I didn't have good results when I tried the BHK 300 mono-amps in my system. After hearing them I decided to keep my Rowland 625 S2 amp.
ricred1
1,976 posts
 
WC,

After hearing the BHK 300s in my system,  I agree with your comments, because I found the same thing when I compared them to the Jeff Rowland 625 S2....highs not as detailed, level of realism is not there, things dont POP out of the speaker. The BHK 300s and Rowland 625 S2 are the same price. Although my system/room is different,  the results with the BHK 300s were the same.
ricred1
1,976 posts
 
viber6,
" How would you characterize the mids/highs of the Rowland--warm, or neutral, or cold/dry?"
In the context of my system I submit the 625 S2 is neutral. It really takes on the character of the recording. Several Audiogon members have heard my system and have made the following comments...good resolution and quick, some songs have bite, warm, great soundstage.
ricred1
1,976 posts
 
Marketing plays a significant role in high-end, not just with McIntosh, but almost all companies. I submit to a certain extent we're all affected by it.:)
ricred1
1,976 posts
 
viber6,
"he also describes objectively what the sound characteristic is--laidback, forward, too much highs, bright, lots of bass, sweet or neutral midrange, imaging and space, etc." Sorry based on the definition of objectively( in a way that is not influenced by personal feelings or opinions), I don’t agree. The key words are, "not influenced by personal opinions" and all of us are just providing our opinions based on our experiences and preferences. Laid back, forward, bright, are all opinions. The other factor that can greatly affect our perception of sound is the room. In your room the exact same equipment may sound different.
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