Not Another NuForce thread......


Ok, first I am not shill or related to, or affiliated with NuForce in any way...I just thought that we should have a thread to discuss the V2...

I just placed the Reference 9 SE "V2" in my system after living with the NuForce 9 SE for the past year and auditioning the Reference 9 V2 for the past 2 months...

I am putting out there for comment and debate that the Reference 9 SE V2 is one of the top 5 best amplifiers out there and currently available. (I personally think that it one of the top 3, but I am leaving room for argument)

Sitting in my room last night I was reminded of one of those transforming audio experiences. My first ones was couple of hours with the Sinus Faber Amati Homage pushed with a full compliment of the top of the line ML gear all with in a perfectly treated room....My experience with the Reference 9 SE V2 was like that...

Please comment if you are able on the V2 in general, what was your experience?? Are your thought of the Reference 9 SE V2 the same??
jb8312
Chris -

I agree with you and find the situation remarkable. I wish I had an answer but I don't. I will say that many of the extreme opponents that I have spoke with never spend a lot of time will switching amps in general and reached their conclusions in a knee-jerk fashion.
On the other hand, I have not found anyone that has spent a respectable amount of time with a NuForce amp and remained completely opposed to them, unless they had a vested interest. (i.e. did not carry them, did not manufacture any “Class D” amps or recently spend tons of cash on a more traditional design)

Also, the "new technology" argument does not fly with me. By my estimate, the Bel Canto Evo hit the market in 2001 and I believe there were others before that. The current state of D amps, such as any of the V2 from NuForce, represents a culmination of development and refinements to the technology. It has have taken CDs 25 years to sound really good, whereas these D amp have taken 7 - 8 years.

Then there is the resistant to change concept. Although you cannot quantify it or measure it, a reasonable mind can see that one who owns (or worse, recently spent larger sums of cash on) a mega buck linear or tube amp, will naturally shy away from a "newish" product which is 1/4 the price, 1/10 the weight, 1/25 the size and 100% cooler in temperature yet sound just as good if not better.

Be honest, have you ever defended a purchase (speakers being the most common) even though a "better" product became available soon after AND you could have afforded it??

All these issues could contribute to the division to extremes you spoke of....or we believers could just be wrong.

John
Or is perhaps the problem a religious one? One of 'believers' vs 'unbelievers'? In which case the issue is in danger of becoming aprioristic, and as such a specious argument by definition? Whereas a different and technologically agnostic way to look at the entire matter may be to start from a set of personal sonic requirements or practical constraints, and empirically determine which particular device or devices match such sonic requirements and constraints. This last approach may avoid the frequent pitfall of broad generalizations, which tend to be flawed either way.
Chris & Jb some interesting thoughts, thanks. I've assumed that the whole thing started with Stereophile's review of the PS Audio HCA2 along with its induction into their Class A rating all with seemingly less that stellar measurements. It can be difficult to admit that a fifteen hundred dollar amp has similar strengths as a high dollar unit.

Mr. Levi' enthusiasm for the SE's might be more of a testament to the Avalon Eidolon's as well as the 9's. The Eidolons are extremely revealing of changes within the system and as such provide a simply wonderful platform to hear the NuForse 9V2SE's.

Vic
Does anyone know if Nuforce amps will be shown in any suites at RMAF in Denver next month?
I emailed the folks at Nuforce a couple of months ago and they said they would not be there. I guess it is possible for a dealer to bring the amps(?) I would love th hear a V2 version.