$4500 amp beat out the Tenor OTL in the latest TAS

I think it is pathetic and irresponsible for reviewers to proclaim an amp 'the best' or even 'absolutely better' than another amp.

Why? Unless you are comparing amps in the SAME reference system, saying one is better than the other is very difficult to say the least. And even if you do compare different amps in the same reference system, one amp may not be as well matched in that system as the other.

Reviewers have a tendancy to think they can isolate the sound of an a amp and report on it. I would argue that without a lot of experientation (and I mean A LOT), I think this is quite difficult.

For starters there is the power cord issue. Power cords can make a huge impact on how a component sounds. This is such a huge impact, I think it is pointless to review a componenet mated with only one power cord (especially if it is stock). Reviewers need to review amps with a few power cords mated to the amp.

The next problem is speakers. Not all amps are really suited to drive the same speakers of a reference system. The same goes with mating an amp to any preamp.

With so many variables, isolating the amp's sound is a monumental task. I think most reviewers FAIL MISERABLY at it. Especially when they proclaim an amp as the 'best ever'.

When was the last time you read a negative review from an audio publication? Two channel audio is struggling for its survival (and loosing).

KF

OTL amps, the Tenor in this case, just will not do much in the way of current and I imagine the Hurricane will.....Sounds like a mismatch of speakers to me and this was reported on by Sue Kraft in TAS in her further thoughts on the Tenors....The Tenors seem to be a match made in heaven for the Kharmas, but after listening to some high current amps driving the Rockports at the CES would say the Tenors are not a good match for the Rockports, which seem to require more current than the Tenors can provide.....I have not received my TAS with this article, but it sounds like a mismatch, such as Sue talked about with her big Dunlavy's, that HP is talking about.....Amps need to be matched to the speakers and I would rather have an OTL with proper speakers rather than have a piece of iron in the signal path myself......Tenor is addressing current hungry speakers with their new amplifier, a 300wpc hybrid design.....

BTW Rcrump, speaking of reviews, congrats on your Stereophile rave by Fremer (and Atkinson!) with the Parasound Halo JC 1's. I once went to audition an HCA-3500 that I ultimately didn't buy, but it was impressive. How much better do these sound to you? (And why no handles? :-)

Zaikesman- No handles- because quite simply, you can't handle it :) sorry couldn't resist.

As to the tenor vs. what ever other amp, I think Bob hit the nail on the head its very system dependent. I do think the tenors are the best amps I have ever heard- though they sound horrible in my system!

Brucegel- The world you live in must be a nice place.

If HP and his ilk were to posit that this amp, that preamp, this CDP were the best without qualification, there would be little need for them to maintain a monthly publishing schedule. I've learned to take their ratings with a robust dose of skepticism. Ditto with Stereo Review and its recommended components. Think about it: would there be any need to keep reading these rags if some mythical manufacturer had made the perfect component and such had been duly reported in these rags???