To All:
This is the second time I have had to comment on comments about my amp. I am the owner of the Berning amp BW is criticizing. I demo'd it in my home for him and we compared it to his Symphonic Line monos as well as my Sixpac monos. BW thinks the Berning is bright. OK, we each are entitled to our opinion. In my opinion it is not bright. I am very sensitive to brightness. The Berning makes most amps, including the Symphonic Lines and my own Sixpacs sound veiled. It is the most open, clear, and detailed amp I have owned or auditioned. I am speaking from 20+ years in this hobby. As I have stated before, the Berning and Sixpacs both offer excellent musical reproduction. The Sixpacs offer a warmer, fuller sound. Some will not like them for that reason. The Berning offers a more pristine, resolved, leaner sound. Some will not like it for that reason. I like both sounds. That's why I still own and enjoy both amps. Does the Berning sound musical? Yes. Down right awesome (again my opinion) but you have to feed it right. If anything upstream is amiss the Berning will let you know in a hurry. Amps like the Sixpacs and Symphonic Line are more "forgiving" because they don't resolve the details as well. I have heard Bombaywalla's system. I will offer a couple observations from the comparison of the two systems. Bombaywalla's system possesses a lot of mid-bass heavyness (some would call it bloat or box coloration) that initially gives the impression of more bass but tends to make every song sound similar. Not a trait I have, or want, in my system, but some like that sound and should enjoy it. "If we all liked the same thing there would be only one flavor of ice cream." In contrast, the Merlin VSM MX provides much more bass impact without the perpetual heavyness (observed by playing the song called Gaia on the James Taylor Hourglass CD). He likes his system and that is all that should matter to him. I point out these traits in Bombaywalla's system, not to be critical, but to emphasize the difference in listening preferences and environments we each come from. I like the sound I'm getting with my system, he likes the sound he is getting with his system. That's how it should be. It's hard to criticize another's system without criticizing their listening preferences. When we communicate with others in forums like this we should be mindful of our differences and listening preferences enough to realize we cannot make statements that convey to someone else what THEY will like. There are too many variables. You can state your opinion based on your own listening bias (which we should also include in the text) to serve as a "guide" to others contemplating a change to their system. But to convey your opinion as an absolute fact is not a good thing.
As for the Berning amp, some will love it, some will prefer something else. Fair enough. Regarding manufacturers posting on these boards I say: Why not? I welcome all manufacturers (not just those who's gear I've purchased and/or admire). I want to hear from all of them. Their opinions are as good as any, but that's just my opinion. :)
This is the second time I have had to comment on comments about my amp. I am the owner of the Berning amp BW is criticizing. I demo'd it in my home for him and we compared it to his Symphonic Line monos as well as my Sixpac monos. BW thinks the Berning is bright. OK, we each are entitled to our opinion. In my opinion it is not bright. I am very sensitive to brightness. The Berning makes most amps, including the Symphonic Lines and my own Sixpacs sound veiled. It is the most open, clear, and detailed amp I have owned or auditioned. I am speaking from 20+ years in this hobby. As I have stated before, the Berning and Sixpacs both offer excellent musical reproduction. The Sixpacs offer a warmer, fuller sound. Some will not like them for that reason. The Berning offers a more pristine, resolved, leaner sound. Some will not like it for that reason. I like both sounds. That's why I still own and enjoy both amps. Does the Berning sound musical? Yes. Down right awesome (again my opinion) but you have to feed it right. If anything upstream is amiss the Berning will let you know in a hurry. Amps like the Sixpacs and Symphonic Line are more "forgiving" because they don't resolve the details as well. I have heard Bombaywalla's system. I will offer a couple observations from the comparison of the two systems. Bombaywalla's system possesses a lot of mid-bass heavyness (some would call it bloat or box coloration) that initially gives the impression of more bass but tends to make every song sound similar. Not a trait I have, or want, in my system, but some like that sound and should enjoy it. "If we all liked the same thing there would be only one flavor of ice cream." In contrast, the Merlin VSM MX provides much more bass impact without the perpetual heavyness (observed by playing the song called Gaia on the James Taylor Hourglass CD). He likes his system and that is all that should matter to him. I point out these traits in Bombaywalla's system, not to be critical, but to emphasize the difference in listening preferences and environments we each come from. I like the sound I'm getting with my system, he likes the sound he is getting with his system. That's how it should be. It's hard to criticize another's system without criticizing their listening preferences. When we communicate with others in forums like this we should be mindful of our differences and listening preferences enough to realize we cannot make statements that convey to someone else what THEY will like. There are too many variables. You can state your opinion based on your own listening bias (which we should also include in the text) to serve as a "guide" to others contemplating a change to their system. But to convey your opinion as an absolute fact is not a good thing.
As for the Berning amp, some will love it, some will prefer something else. Fair enough. Regarding manufacturers posting on these boards I say: Why not? I welcome all manufacturers (not just those who's gear I've purchased and/or admire). I want to hear from all of them. Their opinions are as good as any, but that's just my opinion. :)