Lots of reasons software can screw up sound. Thinking that if it measures okay then it must be okay is a tad naive. We don’t know what parameters Enleum use to draw that conclusion for starters.
Yes, I agree that measurements can't give us 100% assurance that the amp is fine and doesn't have other problems. Yet if they are ok then there is a high probability that it is because usually if the amp has problems it can have other issues that will be 'visible'. So if the problem with Amp-23R is real then it's rather nasty one and very selective.
As for software issues - if it was for DAC or an amp that's digital then yes, software may do weird things. But if I'm not wrong, 23R has analogue route of the signal and only the module for remote control of gain pot and switches are digital. That would mean that there might be problems with that and I believe that this is the case for my Enleum (with fast 'volume' up it blocks gain level at about 12 o'clock and can't be lowered). I may talk with a colleague who is a constructor from different forum. He'll know better.
Usually but not always. My Naim power amp showed none of those symptoms at all but I was absolutely convinced “something” was wrong. Upon return to the factory it was discovered to be fried i.e. several components had blown.
Sure, that's why I wrote 'usually'. There might be issues that aren't typical, but as we are talking about stuff that can be perceived differently by people (because human hearing process has a serious flaw which is that the brain that processes everything can be tricked even by itself) I believe it's not the case here.
I am curious though what was that "something" that you thought is wrong with your Naim.
You have completely missed my point re: weird tastes. My point was that, objectively, I can show that the amp I heard lacked mids. Others either have an amp which does have those mids, which makes the one I had faulty, or, theirs might not have mids but they think it does In which case they have a hearing issue, or, … weird tastes.
I thought now that maybe we should discribe what 'lack of mid range' means for us. Maybe we are talking about quite different things and this is why I think that your way of thinking is too harsh. For me 'lack of mid range' in regards to 23R means that it has less details, less textures with the instruments, it's maybe a bit reserved/recessed, leaner and (for lack of better description) it doesn't make me lost in the music. Maybe you are writing literally about 'lack of midrage'. Then I understand your point of view. If you are referring to something similar to me then I think that you are to harsh about it.
I guess that if I am to persist with my interest in the amp then my choices are
- try another dealer.
- find someone in the North West of England with the Enleum who believes that theirs is working; has the mid range; the large soundstage and the stunning vocals and see if they’d be kind enough to let me listen.
Seams reasonable. Without it we can only make circles
.
It seams that I'll be sending my 23R for service to Enleum (the problem with the pot and gain volume being locked when I go fast to about 12 o'clock). If there is a different problem with the amp or with software then they should notice it. If it'll sound differently when it comes back to me then I'll write about it. I doubt it though.
