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Taking the bad with the good

While many of us share what we think are good components and combo's of gear, is there any specific system(s) that you've heard that you thought was utterly attrocious ?

Personally, one of the worst "mega-dollar" systems that i've ever heard was the demo system that Linn used here in Chicago at Hi-Fi '99. It was actively tri-amped using the infamous Linn CD player, their "flat as a pancake" sized power amps, Linn speakers, etc... The sound was SO "flat & sterile" that it made me think that i was in an elevator listening to a piped Muzak.

This all started out with the Linn rep's giving us a big schpiel about how technically excellent this system was, what the benefits to using components from one manufacturer were, how "system synergy" could be maximized, etc... This went on for some 20 - 30 minutes. Quite honestly, i was surprised at how full the room remained during this WAY too long of a sales rap. Finally, they ended up playing some music.

As i mentioned, everything sounded as if it had been "bleached" i.e. the music had no body, soul, colour, feeling or dynamics. By the middle of their first selection, over 60% of the crowd had turned around and walked out of the room. My brother and i stuck around as i wanted to give them the benefit of doubt. Onto the next selection. More of the same. Even more people got up and left. By the end of the demo, there was about 20 - 25% of the original crowd left.

I ended up talking to one of the sales reps and told him what i thought. I did this to let them know that they might want to try listening to the system from the consumers point of view / listening point rather than near the equipment or off to the side. Obviously, in my opinion, something was drastically wrong.

First of all, he did not know what the term "sterile" meant. He then went on to tell me "well, you're probably just used to listening to coloured equipment. Now you know what real music sounds like on accurate equipment." My only response to him was that most of the crowd must not like "accuracy" either, as they all split right away. If they were there to sell their product, they were doing more harm than good. Otherwise, the room would have still been full and people would have been asking "how much" and "where can i buy" rather than mumbling under their breath and heading for the door.

Anyone else have a similar story / experience ? Sean
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sean
lugnut
1,190 posts
 
Max,

You are right about the Peter Priciple. Sean, I apologize for going off topic. Unfortunately, I have never been to such an event.
kthomas
911 posts
 
I don't know - I've never had to set up an audio show, but I've been involved in setups for technology shows, and it's pretty amazing all of the things that can go wrong in the little time you have to set up. You'd think that with enough preparation you'd be set to go and it wouldn't be too tough, but Murphy shows up big time. People work from the time they're initially let into the hall until 3-4a.m. before the show opens, and there are still issues. I've never done audio, which admittedly doesn't have network connections, etc., but it might be similar in the time demands.

I heard a pair of Revel Studios driven by all Mark Levinson gear sound pretty terrible once. It was in a room that had one of it's long walls as completely a two-story window, and a lot of hard surface floors. I didn't blame the gear.
jayarr
117 posts
 
Sean,
What's really weird is that I had the exact same experience. I was really excited about hearing a new amp technology that was raved about by J-10 in Stereophile. I sat down to listen and my jaw dropped. This sounds like my very old Sansui receiver from the early 70's. The sound was dry,amusical,and boring,boring,boring. I walked up to see if the speakers were hooked up properly. Nothing seemed amiss. The company reps seemed oblivious to any statements that suggested that this was anything but "state of the art" sound that they proclaimed in their presentation. I walked out shaking my head in disbelief. Every time I read a review about a Class D or digital amp I cringe and wonder how they could sound any good if they are in any way related to the Linn amps.
unsound
7,329 posts
 
Jayarr with all due respect I think lumping all components with any similarity in design prejudicial. This might be especially true with emerging technologies. With enough time perhaps patterns will emerge that will justify your "wonder".
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