New MSB Amp Marketing Claim: "Make 2nd Tier Recordings Sound as Good as the Best Recordings" - Big Hairy Audacious Goal or Reality? What's behind it?

caesar

Well-Known Member
May 30, 2010
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Too many audiophiles have accepted that for their system to be "high fidelity", their system can only sound good with 600 of the best recorded - but musically rotten - CDs. And it has to sound like crap with poor recordings. These clowns and fargen idiots frequently claim that "you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear". How many times have we heard that one?

So it's great to see MSB trying to please the music lovers instead of the "audiophiles".

Anyone know what's behind this marketing claim?

Anyone understand the MSB design?

Anyone hear the new amp?
 

caesar

Well-Known Member
May 30, 2010
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Do you have a link to this claim? What do they say?

Hi Kal,
It was in my friend's TAS. I think they claimed something about negative feedback, low noise floor, and sounds like a "tube amp" (whatever that means). Nothing really concrete. I'll text my friend and let you know if there is something else there that I didn't mention, but it was mostly marketing speak.

I know that their DAC is truly excellent and does make bad recordings sound better (like many reference DACs do.)

And the YG system with their older amps and their DAC would consistently deliver excellent sound at shows.

Maybe you guys at Stereophile can evaluate? :)

Stay Healthy
 

BlueFox

Member Sponsor
Nov 8, 2013
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Lately I have been downloading Heavy Metal albums from HDTracks. Some are really poorly recorded, but they actually sound pretty good on the stereo.
 

Nuprin

Well-Known Member
Jan 9, 2020
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Just received the S202 after trading in my S201. When I got the S201 a year ago, I heard good improvements over my Cary Cinema 5, both 200w/channel - better separation of instrument, detail, dynamics and bass. Unfortunately I moved to a few months ago and the new room is pretty awful as it stands. Working on the acoustic issues but sadly won’t be able to compare the previous model against the new one In the same room.

At least the S202 doesn’t get nearly as hot as the S201 and running 300w on stand by mode alone.
 

R S

Well-Known Member
Mar 13, 2021
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Just received the S202 after trading in my S201. When I got the S201 a year ago, I heard good improvements over my Cary Cinema 5, both 200w/channel - better separation of instrument, detail, dynamics and bass. Unfortunately I moved to a few months ago and the new room is pretty awful as it stands. Working on the acoustic issues but sadly won’t be able to compare the previous model against the new one In the same room.

At least the S202 doesn’t get nearly as hot as the S201 and running 300w on stand by mode alone.
Curious about your experience with the S202. There seems to be at least some perception that MSB amps are tailored to MSB DAC direct which seems not to be the case in your system (signature). How do you like it?
 

Nuprin

Well-Known Member
Jan 9, 2020
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Curious about your experience with the S202. There seems to be at least some perception that MSB amps are tailored to MSB DAC direct which seems not to be the case in your system (signature). How do you like it?
Finally got the room mostly acoustically treated. Still have issues with a few low frequency bumps below 100hz and a 20db drop at the 120hz range but other than that, the mids and highs are very smooth.

Only the Cary Cinema 5 is on hand to directly compare and the S202 is much more detailed, imaged better, transparent, wider soundstage and better bass control. Voices are "in the room" on good recordings. One thing I will point out is that the S202 is dead quiet. There is absolutely no hiss or any noise coming from the speakers when the amp is on. I believe MSB's topology and the Wyred Preamp (which is also very black) allows that improvement in detail and transparency. Hard to say how well it works with the Discreet Dac as I do not have a local dealer to audition.

Room issues aside, I will say that my current system sounds better than all three rooms at my local audio dealer, ranging from 50k to 300k systems.

From the same audio dealer, I borrowed a $14k ML Integrated (at less than half the price of the S202) and it certainly was not better.
 

R S

Well-Known Member
Mar 13, 2021
47
54
83
Finally got the room mostly acoustically treated. Still have issues with a few low frequency bumps below 100hz and a 20db drop at the 120hz range but other than that, the mids and highs are very smooth.

Only the Cary Cinema 5 is on hand to directly compare and the S202 is much more detailed, imaged better, transparent, wider soundstage and better bass control. Voices are "in the room" on good recordings. One thing I will point out is that the S202 is dead quiet. There is absolutely no hiss or any noise coming from the speakers when the amp is on. I believe MSB's topology and the Wyred Preamp (which is also very black) allows that improvement in detail and transparency. Hard to say how well it works with the Discreet Dac as I do not have a local dealer to audition.

Room issues aside, I will say that my current system sounds better than all three rooms at my local audio dealer, ranging from 50k to 300k systems.

From the same audio dealer, I borrowed a $14k ML Integrated (at less than half the price of the S202) and it certainly was not better.
Glad you are enjoying it and mating successfully with non MSB components. One of the key attractions does seem to be the low noise floor which I would assume is beneficial for low volume listening and dynamics?
 

Nuprin

Well-Known Member
Jan 9, 2020
185
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Glad you are enjoying it and mating successfully with non MSB components. One of the key attractions does seem to be the low noise floor which I would assume is beneficial for low volume listening and dynamics?
Yes, although I am always turning it up as I like it "realistically dynamic" and if I'm listening to jazz, I want it at a level as if I were at the venue. My source is all digital and highly value a low noise floor. Two dedicated 20amp lines and upgraded outlets - one just for the amp and one for the sources. I think this is often overlooked in many homes.

I wish I had the ability to compare it to more amps in similar price/performance categories.
 

sbnx

Well-Known Member
Mar 28, 2017
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Since you value a low noise floor something worth trying is the Shunyata Typhon (v1). They can be had on the used market for $1500-$2000. You can plug it into the outlet you have your digital gear plugged into and it will dramatically reduce the noise floor.
 

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