Atma-Sphere Class D… Amazing

Okay, if that’s your position, that’s fine. I don’t believe that people find objective criteria too much to accept. Rather it is inadequate in determining the sonic performance of a given audio product. Anyway, thanks and I appreciate you sharing your perspective on this forum.

What are objective measurements missing, other than subjectivity?

Could it be that while we can objectively measure how well the output compares to the input, we simply can’t account for taste? Is it so hard to comprehend that people’s tastes can differ and that some people just happen to prefer some distortion added in? Why must we assume that there is some mysterious unknown physical phenomena that just can’t be captured by modern science inherent in audio equipment, be it an amp, cables, or whatever, that has to exist to explain the tremendous range of opinions about audio gear when the simplest explanation is that the phenomena isn’t in the equipment but in ourselves?

Is the need to have our opinions validated, confirmed and shared by others so great that we need to invent baseless rationales in order to be "right"? Are we so insecure that we need to seek out the opinions of others rather than be satisfied with our own subjective impressions? Amazing, isn't it, how people will take to heart others subjective impressions of audio gear as if there is truth in them for themselves but wouldn't ever think of letting someone else season their steak or order their meal for them at a restaurant...

It really is ok to just like how something sounds, regardless of whether or not it is objectively superior. And it’s ok for others to not like it.

@pstores 

I am looking forward to the additional listening impressions from your audiophile/music lover friends. Should be insightful and certainly fun.

Charles

Is anyone running a DAC direct into the Atma-Sphere Class D mono block amplifiers or is a pre-amp required? From my past previous experiments, I believe a preamp is needed to help the music sound natural, clearer, and engaging. I believe that a preamp helps makes the music more engaging and sounding better.

I do not know. Does the Atma-Sphere Class D mono block amplifier design help them sound great without an preamp? Your comments are required. Thanks......

HGEIFMAN, I can give it a try with my Bel Canto DAC tomorrow. It has a linestage preamp built in. 

@ddafoe   …”I find the monos offer a maybe slightly less 'meat-on-the bones', but a wider soundstage, good depth but maybe not quite as deep, but offer a blacker background and ultimately allow me to hear in and around the instruments just as much”
 

Really interesting observation. Exactly identical description of the difference between the Audio Research REF 160m monoblocks that I have been comparing to my Audio Research REF 160s strereo amp. To the word… exactly how I would describe it.