Ern,
"...and please not be coy about summoning the industry gods to pass judgement on what anyone of reasonable facility with the scientific method can discern is a well-run set of differential tests..."
Why would you refer to industry "experts", as "Gods" in such a sarcastic manner? What ax are you grinding, and why?
My comments were aimed at the potential of some possible unusual load of the the speaker, and possibly room effects to skew any results, and that if you used a host of speakers, that the test results would be different with each differing reactive, rather than resistive load.
There are numerous questions, but a few come to mind. Did you use calibrated mic's? Have you previously plotted the room for additive frequency anomolies, or did you do as most real qualified scientists do, and use an anechoic chamber, or a faux chamber, designed with the flaws input into the response curve of the room,in order to factor those errors out? Again, I would ask if you use more than one set of speakers, if so were the results of the amps exactly the same?
No one is peeing here, I simply said I thought you did the tests with sincerity, but that I doubted the validity because the reaction of only one set of speakers, with one Avatar amp, and no pre test,test data on it, to compare with others of its ilk,(meaning, was the amp tested, and confirmed to be in perfect, or its intended operating condition and certified to be so?).
Speakers present reactive not resistive loads, as everyone knows, hence, tests of an amplifiers output, is done with various resistors, (still flawed) yes but equally so, since this test is still into resistors, even though of varying values.
Cable capacitance, inductance, any of that factored in, or would you say that this doesn't make any difference whatsoever in your tests?
Why are you buying such flawed gear? If you have doubts about a product and its output, why not try before you buy; why lie in the bushes (metaphorically) and ambush any manufacturer with such (imperfect, incomplete) testing. Even though I have written many press releases that were released nationally, that does not make me Ernest Hemingway.
And just so you'll know, even though the folks at VAC didn't really call you to task on this test, I know personally, that a coffee mug was offered as a prize to anyone who could explain your tests, and how they relate to real world.
The implication of your test is that the Avatar is flawed in its output, and that Solid State amps are not. I don't believe that, as a narrow finding, that this is correct. I don't know, and neither does anyone reading this, that the Avatar in question was working correctly when you "tested" it.
Also, a little presumptious to think you can educate someone you don't know, and even offensive based on this writing you give as support for that claim.
If only Kevin Hayes weren't so concerned about public image he would join this discussion and "enlighten" you, as to the variables which are not dealt with or even mentioned in your diatribe.
Again, I am only one person. Ask any (and they aren't God's that is insulting) industry expert how valid these tests are, don't ask or try to convince me.
By the way, what audio products have you designed? How well do they sell? With your obvious tallent you should teach all these manufacturers the error of their ways. You seem to be a disgruntled, anti audio person, on some not so obvious quest to discredit VAC. If that is the case, I suggest you move on, sell it and forget it. If not, please be more respectful.
