Wrong direction?


The few "threads" back, a young man was inquiring about class "A" amp. And of course, most of the responses were in regard to class "A" amplifier, also understood by myself as such. Later, the same individual mentioned if able to "...find amp like that, he would further look for class "A" speakers!" Class A speakers? Well, i was wondering what could that be?...For a second i realized that he is referring to a Stereophile grading of the audio equipment! While i have and will be guilty of buying the audio products, unheard, i sure didn't base my decisions on one reviewer opinion or another! Stereophile sale doubles, and sometimes triples during the months of October, and April. "Recommended components" run those months. And the biggest offender, i think, is What HIFI, which reminds of audio "Swap Meet" periodical, with their little flags of "Best buy", or "component of choice" etc, etc...! Stereophile rates their components in class A, B, C and on.... Let see,... between class A and B, what was the determine factor to place the certain product to one or another? Room, cables...mood? So many variables, and controlled and uncontrolled events to "make or brake" one company, or sway one potential customer from buying the pre-amp, that he thought and felt was the ONE. But just changing his mind to purchase another, which was graded one STAR higher! I think, the magazines would be doing the consumer a favor, if those ratings and grading are eliminated. Let the consumer to decide! Especially audio components.
eldragon
Off the thread: Garfish, I have had the same experience with store versus home demos. Curiously enough all of the electronics have sounded better at home (due to being properly set up with isolation feet and platforms) and only a few speakers have sounded worse (mismatch with my amp most likely). I also don't happen to have another 20 or so speakers positioned around our living room, to suck up the sound of the speakers that are being played. Anyway, I live in LA with plenty of shops to audition at (but not all brands are available by any means), and still need to home demo products as well. It's good to hear that there are other businesses around (other than Audio Advisor with a good but limited selection) that offer home demo service.
FWIW, the audio mag annual equipment list has been picked up, to an extent, by sound & vision a/k/a "deaf & blind." there are some interesting pissed-off posts re: the new list at aa, since deaf & blind has reportedly refused to incude any analog equipment! BTW, elizabeth: interesting post; the word, tho, is spelled "schmuck." tho i don't think thou art 1. ;>) can't imagine how difficult it must be to live so far from quality audio stores. out here in denver, we're in audio heaven.
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I found the same volume and anemia related experience with my 750. I do feel that it's active mode is more class A than b- or C+. Using Virgos and Pass Amps, I A/B'd with my $4000 active Pass Preamp, and it has '95%' of the sound quality in passive mode and '90%' in active. An audiophile friend heard the same thing.