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Stupidgood: Ars Sonum

There are lots of "terms of art" used by audiophools to describe sound and equipment. I propose a new one - stupidgood - a piece of equipment that blows you away, as good as it gets (more or less), and the price or the looks of it makes you incredulous as to how good the equipment is. Of course, I did not come with the term; that would by Bobby P. (Mr. von Merlin) describing the Ars Sonum integrated amplifier. I've had separates from ARC, Joule, LAMM, and CAT, and I can tell you, the Ars Sonum is stupidgood driving Merlin VSM-MXes, which can driven very easily be this little 30 watt gem.
pubul57
trelja
3,223 posts
 
Chaz801, Bobby is correct. The ARS Sonum is in the October Stereophile. John Marks did the writeup.

And, I agree, stupidgood!
yioryos's avatar
yioryos
723 posts
 
What about smartbad?Can we incorporate that in the lexicon too?
springbok10
711 posts
 
I always respect Trelja's opinion. So, Joe, since you and I have and love Jadis Integrated amps, how would you compare the Ars Sonum to the Jadis DA 60 and our ex-JOR?
chaz801's avatar
chaz801
77 posts
 
Yeah!! I hear it is stupid good. I only wish they would have one set up with the merlins at the Rocky mountain audio festival next month, so that I can have a listen. Bobby mentioned that it will be a joule, merlin and cardas room this time around. I really look foward to this event.
pubul57 OP
3,712 posts
 
Would smartbad mean a piece of equipment the thing makes technolgical sense, "looks" well made, it is expensive, well reviewed, should sound good, but for some reason it stinks and you wonder what all the fuss is about? I won't name names, but I have also had that type of equipment.

I too am curious about the Jadis, which I was considering, but I tend to take Bobby's advice when it comes to his speakers.

There is something I really like about the idea of integrateds; when they are top flight, uncompromised (within reason). Of course, that does not mean I'm getting rid of the Joule/CAT combo any time soon.
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