2. amps-preamps
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Subtlety ? do any American amps do it?

Not heard that many but it strikes me that everything from the colonies sounds a bit stark and bleached. Spent a year trying to come to terms with a Pass Labs which is vastly overated ( and I mean vastly), listened a lot
to Mark Levinson and thought Thank God I did not spend a fortune on that - clean, clear, hifi and so bereft of soul that it was like a visit to the Dentist !
I'm not that biased, it's taken Naim years to make something resembling music - PRAT ? until recently bunch of narrow minded PRATS.I know lots of Naim fans and their mindset belongs to the third reich !
UK companies like Meridian and Musical Fidelity have managed to do the bizz for at least 30 years that I've known/used and they still manage to make a noise that at least resembles real music. MF get tarred with a do it cheap brush but anyone who has heard their gear and says it's crap is probably a dealer who wants to sell you something at 3/4x the price.
The Brazilians do it a treat - Heard Audiopax 88s at the last Edinburgh show and if anyone there had ears, they should have packed up and went home - different league does not describe it.
Realise this is antagonistic but want some input.
Even the UK press seems blinkered to the crap - Pass, Krell
- whoah, nice hifi, shame there's nothing remotely musical involved, apart from the laughter as they take our hard earned money !

I have a Quicksilver phonostage - lovely and a great customer focused company, had a Lancelot Camelot, super and amazingly friendly & helpful people but go to the Big boys and it's just a money grabbing frenzy ?
I dreamed of a Pass Labs for years and ? my next amp will be coming from somewhere in Europe !

Si
simon74

Showing 2 responses by newmanoc

newmanoc
295 posts
 
My experience is not as broad as I would like, but I will say as a Yank I have easily preferred the SS U.K. electronics I've heard to the U.S. equivalents, which as you point out are often much more expensive. Levinson in particular I just don't get. Krell I need more experience with, but I haven't been impressed so far.

But in U.K. gear I wouldn't pick Musical Fidelity as my standard bearer, even on a price/ performance basis. Naim may be a somewhat better bet, but to my ears entry level Linn or AVI gear is still much better for little or no more money. As an aside, as much or more than the amps, I particularly love U.K. source components.

My experience with speakers, however, is another matter entirely. In this arena, I believe it is B & W that is over rated. And although I like the company generally, Linn speakers as a group are most unimpressive. I did own a pair of KEF's a number of years ago that weren't bad for the price, but nothing to get too excited about.
newmanoc
295 posts
 
After looking at your system photo, I agree you would likely benefit considerably from trying to do something about your equipment placement. I DON'T think this is the reason you don't like the U.S. amps you have heard, as bad equipment placement is going to more or less effect all brands adversely (including the U.K. ones that sound better to you).

As an experiment, try getting all your equipment out from in between your speakers and off to the side (on top of a support beam in the flooring, if possible). I know a lot of people use center-stage, symmetrical positioning between speakers for their electronics (allows for shorter speaker cable runs, etc), but in my room/system I was amazed by how this degraded my sound, even using a very good rack. In this position you subject your audio chain to unnecessary vibration from your speakers. This is particularly noticeable if your equipment is resting on wood flooring in an older or less sturdily constructed house (concrete flooring in basements is probably less of an issue). For similar reasons, Sean's point about the subwoofer firing at short range into your equipment is a worthy one. Try moving it.

These are simple things that may well end up giving you more sonic improvements than several thousand pounds in better gear (no matter what its national origin). They are worth a try.
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