O2 vs TOTL

[estreeter]

I agree with V on one point he made in his last blog entry - too many of us try to use amps as 'hardware equalisation', when it would make a lot more sense to change headphones than change amps (or sources), assuming we have a neutral chain in place. but it seems to be something we are addicted to. 

 

[K3cT]

Speaking of measurements, has anyone other than the designer himself measured the actual thing? 

 

[stv014]

Quote:

Speaking of measurements, has anyone other than the designer himself measured the actual thing? 

Well, probably no one who is likely to be interested has comparable equipment. I do not think the measurements on the blog are fake, though. Some more tests might be interesting, for the peace of mind for those who expect some nasty hidden flaw. The random variations between units could also be tested. But with only a sound card, and basic DIY equipment, the limits of performance (~0.001% distortions, 120+ dB dynamic range, etc.) cannot be reliably verified.
 

 

[Telstar]

 
Quote:

I do not show the SMPTE IMD test, but the result is excellent, and this test does not seem to really challenge modern solid state amplifiers, with the exception of some lousy ones.
 

Why not?
THD20 is good, though.

 

[estreeter]

Quote:

Well, probably no one who is likely to be interested has comparable equipment. I do not think the measurements on the blog are fake, though. Some more tests might be interesting, for the peace of mind for those who expect some nasty hidden flaw. The random variations between units could also be tested. But with only a sound card, and basic DIY equipment, the limits of performance (~0.001% distortions, 120+ dB dynamic range, etc.) cannot be reliably verified.
 

If you go back a few posts, someone mentioned that Tyll Herstens plans to run measurements on the O2 - he jiust hasn't gotten around to it. Given the amount of gear that must find its way to Tyll's workbench, I guess it will be later than most here would be hoping. 
 

 

[Tyll Hertsens]

Argh! 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Anyone know where I can get 36 hour days?

 

[kevin gilmore]

Tyll just has to learn how to be much more efficient, and multitask.
He can easily do 48 hour days.

 

[telecaster]

Yeah I love music through my Meridian! It's a 3 speakers set (trifield, stereo with 3 speakers) a pair of DSP 3100 and a center DSP 3100HC. I use the 561 processor and 596p cd player!
It's not ellitism, It's the truth, you will never hear it!
 
Quote:

 

Thanks! I forgot to include my old meridian in the "colored amps" list
Which model do you have, btw?
 

 

 

[estreeter]

Quote:

Tyll just has to learn how to be much more efficient, and multitask.
He can easily do 48 hour days.

Excellent - I'll be checking his site hourly to see those O2 measurements ! 

 

 

[Matt head 777]

Quote:

Come on people I didn't want to be ellitist. In electronic design and headphone I am a profane like you.
 
BUT hear my experience in loudspeaker world, I had 15 years ago a bi-amplified old Meridian M2 pair of speakers and grew up with it. Enjoying it so much and become acustomed to its qualities and sound signature. One day I screw up by connecting it to my Stick Chapman with a preamp. I blew up one channel tweeter. Being an old and rare dead tweeter, I changed it for the modern counterpart (not spending more than 150€ for a pair of tweets). But then the sound was no more pleasant no matter the level matching fiddling.I was sad my beloved speakers were no more...
 
So I thought like all of you, well high end is for stupid rich smart ass. I know better! So I went down the road of passive speaker driven by power amps. Didn't care for the sound I was getting, and I tried all the hype and DIY stuff of the days, and listen to music less and less. I should note that I LOVE music so much I graduated from master degree in Musicology. I sold it all..
 
Then I thought maybe a pair of studio monitors will do it! I bought a very nice pair of bi amped Yamaha, and an Adam subwoofer! The sound was big detailed, flat, precise, dynamic you name it! Still the sound was harsh and I didn't enjoy listenning to music anymore. It was all analytical and fatiguing... I said What I spend over a grand on speakers and it's not enough!!?
 
I sold it all and lay down the bux for a modern Meridian system as it is what I loved in the first place.. Guess what? I was in heaven again!
 
Just to say electronic manufacturers, at least the honest ones like Meridian know better! They too disreguard the ********ers and those who tag high prices to fish the poor profanes..
 
Just find a honest maker and listen to the end users, they like me have some experience..
 
Saying high end is for dumbass is insulting at least and blindly following a trend.
 
If you like your 100$ bux amp, be it. I enjoy my Meridians and it's most likely you will never listen to such a system so why bother! Be OK with what you got but if you don't search for better that's it boys!

Sounds like a fairytale.

 

[estreeter]

I suspect that there was a fairy involved somewhere, and possibly some angel dust. I particularly like the part about 'I'm not being elitist, but you plebs will never be able to afford it !'. Comedy gold. 

 

[Mauricio]

Quote:

911 Turbo owners might, but most Boxster owners would know better than to line up against a WRX or similar. I'm not knocking the Boxster - I can see the niche that it fills - but you'll find that its biggest critics come from within the Porsche fraternity. I'll take a Corvette over any of the above. 
 

I'll take a 70-series Toyota Land Cruiser with the diesel V8 engine.
 
I don't much like American cars.  The only exception is the completely-new-designed-in-Australia Ford Ranger which is not sold in the Homeland.

 

[sphinxvc]

It's an interesting notion that anyone who appreciates top of the line gear is afflicted with 'post-purchase justification' bias.  

 

[proton007]

 
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It's an interesting notion that anyone who appreciates top of the line gear is afflicted with 'post-purchase justification' bias.  

That goes for anyone, not only someone who buys ToTL.

 

[sridhar3]

The only person to whom you should have to justify your purchases is yourself, and you should generally do that before you make the purchase, not after.  Nobody should need to prove their gear is better than anybody else's.  As long as you like it yourself, it shouldn't make a difference.  When it comes to gear selection, there isn't a "burden of proof", and nor should there be.  If you feel that your gear isn't worth ownership unless the purchase is validated by other people, that probably speaks to a more profound sense of insecurity, one that likely transcends the realm of personal audio.
 
Comparing the O2 to TOTL is in and of itself a loaded topic, because I don't think there's a single standard definition of what constitutes "TOTL" to begin with.  By its very nature, it's a polarizing question, so I don't see how anybody can expect such a thread to exist without it breaking out into a massive argument.  I don't even know if people are arguing about gear, so much as they're arguing about semantics.  So, the more apt question is, what does "TOTL" mean to you?  Is it defined by measurements?  By aesthetics?  By the sound signature that best suits your ears?  By cost?  If you ask five different audiophiles, then you'll probably get five different answers, which is very much in line with the spirit of the hobby.  In a hobby relating to a subjective sensorineural experience, there isn't necessarily a "right" and "wrong" answer.  So, "O2 vs. TOTL" is doomed to a futile existence.
 
In my opinion, the O2 sounds great, and is a damn good value for its price.  Just don't expect me to cancel my BHSE order anytime soon, though.