2. amps-preamps
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Integrated amps and stereophile ratings confusion?

I've been looking to upgrade my tube integrated amp to a receiver as i listen more radio than cd's, and also need more power. Magnum Dynalab 208 is the perfect candidate. I even found Stereophile issue where this amp was reviewed. Upon further research i also found out that the Magnum Dynalab receiver, which is based an older, cheaper Simaudio integreated gets Class A, while the MUCH improved I-5 gets class B? I would like to hear from both Sim-audio I-5 owners and MD208. Thanks!
terri3003a5ad
warrenh's avatar
warrenh
2,299 posts
 
My problem with Stereophile is not what they recommend. I have found them to be, generally, very reliable. It's what they don't recommend or review. That's the deal. There is a shit load of great things out there, that they will never review. Why? Maybe not taking advertising space or....forgeddabout it. I'm not going there. It's a crying shame, what's out there, that will never see the print or market they deserve.
snook2's avatar
snook2
624 posts
 
If you do not have the associated equipment the reviewer is using the recommendation is probably useless. I am skeptical of the reviewer not taking enough time to review the equipment also. The ratings are good when you are selling the equipment that you shouldn't have bought in the first place
triumph
10 posts
 
In respoonse to Snook, he is wrong about having asociated equipment.Especially with integrateds, they should generally have a sonic signature that one can generalize from, as Stereophile wishes us to believe. Hence the description of sonic characterisitics indigenous to each review. In addition, his point of view renders all reviews and sound descriptions from components useless if one doesn't have exactly the same associated equipment as the reviewer.
snook2's avatar
snook2
624 posts
 
Your correct Triumph. I believe all the reviews are totally useless. You can read reviews from several reviewers on the same component and almost all have different points of view. The safest way is to listen to the component in your own room with your own components and let your ears decide.
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