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Class D Amplification Announcement

After 60 some odd years of disappointment, Class D has finally arrived. As per The Absolute Sound’s Jonathan Valin, the Borrenson-designed Aavik P-580 amp “is the first Class D amplifier I can recommend without the usual reservations. …the P-580 does not have the usual digital-like upper-mid/lower-treble glare or brick wall-like top-octave cut-off that Class D amps of the past have evinced.”

Past designers of Class D and audiophiles, rejoice; Michael Borrenson has finally realized the potential of Class D.

psag
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,318 posts
 

You can assume that he has.  The journalistic integrity of TAS is unquestionable.  Furthermore, I have never heard of Mr Valin being proven wrong.  His hearing and experience are so accurate that they are virtually objective.

I immediately assumed that this was dripping with irony, but as the thread has developed I see that I was wrong.  Wow!

yyzsantabarbara
4,939 posts
 

I hope it will cost $100K like their bookshelf speaker. Otherwise, how will I know it is any good?

soix
9,767 posts
 

and if a reviewer was to say anything negative about a piece of equipment they are reviewing, wouldnt that hurt the company that made it as well as the review company ?

@riley804 Having written professional reviews for 15 years or so, I was never instructed to not say anything negative about any review product.  The fact is that the only pieces that make it to the level of warranting a review are pieces that have very good customer feedback or pedigree, so crap products that probably deserve negative comments just never make it to being reviewed.  The way to read reviews is not to look for negative comments but to glean from the review where a product may fall short RELATIVELY to other gear.  That is why product comparisons are so critical in a truly thorough, credible, and useful review and why TAS reviews are Absolute Crap. 

psag OP
518 posts
 

Soix: I completely agree. To be fair, Valin includes vague comparisons in his reviews from time to time, so he is not the worst offender in this regard. But his habit of generalizing and making sweeping judgements is probably the most irresponsible thing he does. I present the Borrenson amplifier assessment as an example among many.

johnlnyc's avatar
johnlnyc
59 posts
 

Sorry. I am not sure I get this “comparison” issue. Firstly, anyone listening to any piece of equipment is comparing what they are hearing to everything they have listened to previously.

Experience counts.

I would love to know what benefit is derived from any comparison if the equipment reviewed is accurately described by someone with enough knowledge and experience to know what they are hearing and can provide enough information so others can have a good idea of what that equipment offers sound-wise and whether    
or not it might be worth auditioning themselves.

or am I missing something here? 

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