It's been documented in more than one Stereophile review that Lamm (that ultra $$$ manufacturer) does not listen to his amps, at least during the design phase.
Top 5 Worst Sounding Integrated Amps
- Thread starter ryder
- Start date
It's been documented in more than one Stereophile review that Lamm (that ultra $$$ manufacturer) does not listen to his amps, at least during the design phase.
timpy
Speaker Abuser
A dim recollection - Changed an Alps Blue Velvet for a Black Silk in a Densen BEAT B100, my own personal unit because it had clearly failed and the channels balance was way off until about 40% in.
The next owner (someone who was here at the time - I've been kicking myself for 10-15 years for moving it on) blew up one channel and it got sent back to Densen for repair. Which they did, I believe, for free. But they asked the new owner if it had been modded and he said the voume pot had been replaced. Apparently they told him that the change to the Black Silk (think it's silk - I bought it from RS and they don't seem to have them now) was the only upgrade they believed worthwhile to do to it.
Arkless Electronics
Trade: Amp design and repairs.
No one listens to them during the initial design phase! You have to get an amplifier actually working and stable and safe to connect the speakers to, which is all done on the bench and using instruments, before you can have a first listen to it.
timpy
Speaker Abuser
Except those manufacturers that pass that "stable" bit onto their customers to sort out with speaker cable etc. of course.
Arkless Electronics
Trade: Amp design and repairs.
If it was faulty... I've used dozens of these in my own work and worked on hundreds of amps which use them and I've yet to notice any channel balance issue. It's why they are so universally popular! "Fit an Alps blue and that's the problem of channel balance due to poor tracking of vol pot sorted". Sure a stepped attenuator is loads better still.
timpy
Speaker Abuser
Yes, I agree. Blue Velvet are the "go to" for high quality pots, not just for channel balance but also for low noise and length of life I understand.
My Densen was secondhand, and everything wears out eventually, I can't speak for it's preious use or owner. Was just saying that despite having built the B100 with a Blue Velvet, their only recommended improvement was just the model up in the ALPS range.
jamesd
pfm Member
seems bonkers. like a painter not looking at his painting? I realize it's engineering and not art, but surely you're still interested in the results of your work?
Arkless Electronics
Trade: Amp design and repairs.
I am. Quad reputedly designed their amps to meet a certain measured performance spec and then manufactured them that way and I'm sure several others have done the same.
At the design stage then the automotive analogy could be you can't see what it feels like to drive, how it handles etc, until all four wheels are on and the engine and gearbox are working...
Sigh. I'm well aware of that. Allow me to clarify. He doesn't listen to them either during voicing or even afterwards. Is that better???
Curtis
pfm Member
Sodders!
Blimey it’s like bumping into an ex girlfriend who you took up the wrong’n.
tenpercenter
Don't ya rile 'em.....
Worst sounding amp I have owned was the Naim Nac 202 / Nap 200 combination - all Hifi and no music. So disappointing compared to other Naim Amps I have owned.
Worst sounding amp I have heard (not owned) was probably the original Mission Cyrus 2 - far too bright
Worst sounding amp I have heard (not owned) was probably the original Mission Cyrus 2 - far too bright
earlofsodbury
Wastrel.
That was supposed to be Our Little Secret - 'what happens in Skeggy, stays in Skeggy' and all that...
Pity the camel had to be put-down, mind.
And I heard they had to burn the caravan...
Ahem! Sorry, nostalgia-digression there... *wistful~sigh*
GruntPuppy
pfm Member
Funny bumping into you here...
you sold me that lousy squeaky roksan integrated in the first place!!!!!
Tarzan
pfm Member
Tarzan
pfm Member
earlofsodbury
Wastrel.
I tried to warn you! Hope that godawful thing has had a mention in the Hall Of Shame? Roksan Kandy mk.1 - Twhat Hifi? used to spaff all over it every issue. My idiot brother used it with Quad 12 loudsqueakers... A dental drill to the auditory-canal would have been more enjoyable. Hot garbage.
A mate's dad had one of these back in the 80s. I thought it was just me who thought it sounded harsh because he didn't know how to listen, because the mags of the time adored it of course. Full back cover advert every month would ensure that, I now know. My pal had another room upstairs with Rotel 820, some small Wharfeys and a Dual that sounded better, even if neither of us would ever dare admit it.