So you listen to music for clarity rather than emotional connection? Is that true for live performances too? You “suspect” that tubes or Class A is a religion for some? Based on what? Why would it be a “religion” as opposed to people just preferring the sound of tubes/class A?
Well Cellcbern. What Can I say? I took and read Michael Lavorna´s review my self thoroughly, twice. I cant find any evidence he didn't find the emotional connection also with the R1000. Why would he otherwise have written his findings by comparing his experience in "spotting a great white whale"?
His review is basically full with superlatives, to the level, one almost could get suspicious ;-).
"Doubling down on blast furnace music, the Lounge Lizard’s “Voice of Chunk” from the album of the same name explodes into all out full band frenzy, with John Laurie’s sax screaming at the top of his lungs, brother Evan using his piano’s keyboard to create waves of pure crescendo, and Marc Ribot ripping a lovely supreme guitar solo over the top. No matter how rich, dense, and textured the sonic mayhem, the Technics remained unwavering in its ability to deliver a full blooded sound through the Perlisten S7t speakers, rocking me and the Barn to dizzying heights. I imagined our sole neighbor Jim riding over on his ATV to see what the hell was going on as peaks reached into 90dB territory only to find me laughing out loud like a madman at the helm of a sailing ship who’s just spotted the great white whale."
"With the Technics SL-1500C turntable and its Ortofon Red Cartridge riding the grooves with the SU-R1000’s calibrated and corrected signal turned
On, I felt bathed in the smoky seductive warm groove of Bob Marley & The Wailers, who delivered smoky seductive warm grooves like no other. Ever."
"With Technics taking care of source and amplification and Bob Marley & the Wailers in charge, I was moved to warmer climes, adrift in the beauty, magic, and humanity of this gem of a record. I did not want for more. While I was in Jamaica, I plugged in the AudioQuest NightOwl earspeakers for a closer listen and was delighted by what I heard —namely the same crystal direct clarity and drive on display through loudspeakers coupled with excellent resolution and texture."
"The Technics’ big, bold, yet incisive sound was conveyed through every speaker I paired it with"
"My favorite partner for the Technics SU-R1000 were the Perlisten S7t speakers, which are pretty special music makers in their own right (more on that in the upcoming Perlisten review). I spent a few weeks lost in this combination’s way with music which was at once rich, powerful, and nimble regardless of my mood and choice of music. Add in the ability to surprise, startle, and delight with all of music’s force when called for and I was living the dream of listening through a system that acted as an expressway to the heart of music."
"The SU-R1000 was a pleasure to live with, listen through, and look at for as much time as time allowed. But don’t let its retro good looks for you — Technics has filled this integrated amplifier with intellectual capital
in the service of music in a manner I’m not so sure is available elsewhere regardless of budget. If effortless power, startling dynamics, and unwavering clarity from digital and analog sources, especially records!"
So back to our dialogue. I do not expect the R1000 to solve all worlds problems, at a modest price of ca 9000 USD, why should it?
But where I see positives in Mr Lavorna´s review, you underpin the negatives, like you are looking for reasons to discard a new innovative piece of equipment just like that. Ask your self. Is it because it is a Class D construction?
Have you ever listened to the machine your self in first persona? Or am I talking here to some one that is making bold statements based on other people reviews?
Mr.Lavorna compared the R1000 to the Line Magnetic Audio LM 845IA; a 30w per channel amp making it suitable to drive "easy" speakers. I doubt it will drive my Martin Logan´s ESL 11 with any greater success, so the alternative already there falls flat to the ground, pls. correct me if I am wrong.
I always built HIFI systems from the speakers and back. Following this philosophy the ML´s constitute "the heart" in my system and what ever else to be found in the chain, is the result of the ML´s. So it happens that the R1000 on low to high DB levels (up to -25 DB, Technics language) is a wonderful companion to a pair of Electrostats.
Kind regards