watchnerd
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2008
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Wow, I never thought I'd read this from The Absolute Sound; Paul Seydor in the opening paragraph of his review of the Benchmark AHB2 Amplifier says:
"I know this is not the sort of thing we’re supposed to say about products, but it has been evident for a very long time now that solid-state electronics, particularly linestage preamplifiers and power amplifiers, have reached a point where they are effectively a solved problem such that it is exceeding difficult to tell one from another even in the most exacting A/B comparisons. Ferretting out differences typically involves zeroing in on a very specific and limited characteristic or set of characteristics with such concentration as to leave one tired, uncertain, or both: in other words, an activity that is the very antithesis of what is involved in listening seriously, even critically—to say nothing of pleasurably—to music."
Of course such heresy can't go unrebuked, so Robert Harley is quick to add:
[I must point out that this view is not shared by the TAS editorial staff. —RH]
Naturally these sentiments should apply to headphone amps, as well, given their relatively easier to manage power outputs.
Anyone disagree?
"I know this is not the sort of thing we’re supposed to say about products, but it has been evident for a very long time now that solid-state electronics, particularly linestage preamplifiers and power amplifiers, have reached a point where they are effectively a solved problem such that it is exceeding difficult to tell one from another even in the most exacting A/B comparisons. Ferretting out differences typically involves zeroing in on a very specific and limited characteristic or set of characteristics with such concentration as to leave one tired, uncertain, or both: in other words, an activity that is the very antithesis of what is involved in listening seriously, even critically—to say nothing of pleasurably—to music."
Of course such heresy can't go unrebuked, so Robert Harley is quick to add:
[I must point out that this view is not shared by the TAS editorial staff. —RH]
Naturally these sentiments should apply to headphone amps, as well, given their relatively easier to manage power outputs.
Anyone disagree?