Nuforce

That's funny, I read about a guy with Apogee speakers that had the H20 amps and the NuForce Reference 8 (early version), and he said it powered his Apogees just fine. And I believe they were the very low impedance model. He summed up that experience by saying that the H20's had more ultimate bass weight and slam, but other than that he thought the amps were very comparable. I know the Ref 9s have more bass weight and slam than the Ref 8s, so I guess that would even things up a bit more.

Hey, I'm sure they're both great sounding amps, and that one may do something a little better than the other (and vice-versa). To me it's not that big a deal. I just think it's silly to say (or to believe) that one amp is hugely better.

I have about three reviews to write at the moment, but perhaps when I'm further along I'll contact Henry Ho to see if he'll send a review sample.

Meanwhile, if there are any H20 owners within driving distance of Tucson that would like to do a shootout, let's get it on. ;-D

Redkiwi,

I don't know if you have ever owned a business or not, but believe you me, the customer is not always RIGHT!

Plato...I described my comment as an opinion but I did set forth some rationalle for it.

1.."These modules are intended... bugs get quickly found and fixed".

2..I cite a real world example from my work experience where original design of electronics has been supplanted by use of off-the-shelf subassemblies, with excellent results I might add.

I don't think that "premature conjecture" is a fair description. Perhaps you could share some rational justification for your opinion, in addition to the color of the universe.

As to what made the different in my system, I can't say for sure. I did audition the H20 sigs TWICE, due to the generousity of Henry Ho. They sounded good. But the NuForce was more dynamic yet clean and unrestricted. When I put my tube amp back in after 3 weeks of the Ref 9.02s, the game was over. Had to sell.

Others have written about what I find so wonderful - the sense of ease. Although you can't tell at the time, by comparison, it was almost as if the other amp (ARC VT100MKII) compressed the vocals while the bands were playing (not loud enough to actually BE compression - peaks at 85db C weighted on 93db/w/m speakers (WP7s)). On the NuForce there seems to be simply more dynamic range on everything. I heard no bothersome artifacts - the tiny pop on turnon is tiny - hiss with no input I don't hear at all... the rfi isn't an issue in my system.

I experimented with various power schemes and 5? cords and various ICs and speaker wire. Tried both amps single ended and balanced.

Henry kindly sent the H2O back after I sold off my Transparent Ref cables - the H20 didn't like those network boxes! I tried Speltz back then, and later settled on Audience Au24, which is very very nice.

Neither the H20 or the NuForce was better on a PS Audio powerplant versus into the wall (dedicated circuit) no matter which Multiwave pattern I used - or even SIN. PS Audio HC Ultimate outlet didn't make a positive change on the amps either.

Once upon a time I auditioned several Preamps... the Ref 1 by ARC against the LS5MKIII. The difference I remember was what I'd say I heard between the H2O and the NuForce... with the Ref, when I turned it up, the music got louder. With the LS5MKIII, when I turned it up, I became more immersed in the music. It was more dynamic - more jump factor, I'd say. Same with the 9.02s.

Bob Wood

No need for me to listen to a 10k tube amp or any other 10k amp. Give me another $2500 set up that you think is better and I would auditon it. It would have to be considerably better for me to even think about it. I feel the tube guys are defending themselves here because they know that Nuforce is the real deal$$$$. Some people who heard the 9.02 at CES said they sounded lean or thin. It was not the amps they were hearing. Put the right cabling and a highly upgraded cdp on these and the richness comes out with imaging that I did not think I would ever achieve unless I put 50k into a system. The only piece I am missing is there p8 pre amp. Plugging the 9.02's into dedicated lines also helped.