FM Acoustics amps
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Myopia tends to do that to yah ...!
Go and tell us how bad they really are, take pics of your shoes or your big audiophile ears next to the FMA gear , we need proof you were in the room, you know the drill ....
Ohhh make sure you carry your favorite Rocky I-IV soundtrack CD ....
i've visited the dealer in Colorado Springs (really nice guys, btw) and heard the FMA there, and listened to it every year they've brought them to RMAF, they always sound good, but they've never really stood out as special. so regarding MEP's perspective, if they would have been memorable.....he would have remembered.
it's the gear's job to grab us...or not.
it's fair that with a greater awareness of the product cache' he might now listen with more interest.
Steve Williams
Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
i've visited the dealer in Colorado Springs (really nice guys, btw) and heard the FMA there, and listened to it every year they've brought them to RMAF, they always sound good, but they've never really stood out as special. so regarding MEP's perspective, if they would have been memorable.....he would have remembered.
it's the gear's job to grab us...or not.
it's fair that with a greater awareness of the product cache' he might now listen with more interest.
Careful ML, they dont do fancy colors , just in case you get smitten this year ......
what speakers are they using ..?
Careful ML, they dont do fancy colors , just in case you get smitten this year ......
the dealer is Audio Limits; here is a link to their website;
http://www.audiolimits.com/html/products.html
i remember them using Genesis back a few years ago, then Accapella, then BMC i think, and now Venture. i'm doing this from memory.....so i could be mistaken.
and they don't do FMA every year, although most years they do.
i've been to every RMAF.....and for the first few years the Evolution-darTZeel room was right across the hall.
I think you're right...i've spoken with them about FMA411 before. They definitely do BMC and Venture as well.
Steve-I can’t seem to say this enough. I have never said that I think that FMA gear won’t/doesn’t/couldn’t sound good so I will never need to eat humble pie. All I said is the build quality and component parts don’t match up with their pricing.
A Timex watch might keep just as accurate time as a Rolex, but the Rolex has cache because of its name, its looks, and I believe the build quality. A Rolex makes a statement with both its looks and name. FMA only makes a statement with its name and its price tag.
Steve Williams
Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
i think FMA's approach to their own culture and customer base looks similar to McIntosh. you have this 'look' which your customers have identified with your product so you decide to continue it. it's your image. other products come and go but your product endures.
this approach might 'possibly' limit performance, or maybe it does not limit performance. no doubt McIntosh does it's front face because it's customers expect it and that is what they want. the 'hair-shirt' FMA minimalist '50's look is similar.
it's fair to have an opinion about how you think this 'look' should affect value and not have anything you are saying regard the performance....i think this is what Mark is saying.
do i think FMA looks like $100k gear? no. but if i heard it and it rocked my world i would not care a whit how it looked.
Actually, my understanding from FMA owners is that FM makes a statement with their sound...and these are owners who have kept their units for 10+ years. I have spoken to a few in Asia. That is quite a long time when you've presumably got lots of disposable income to buy something of that magnitude...and can buy the 'new new thing' every couple of years. As ML says, if the sound blows me away, and the manufacturer can do this with less expensive parts (and no one else seems able to)...then the price goes towards the design which can manage to create sound somehow using cheap parts. Ultimately, my goal is the sound...not the parts.
Yes, i totally agree...there is generally a strong correlation with quality design, quality parts, quality workmanship, etc...but if there is one i have observed...it is that there are so many ways to create great sound that are as much art as science. I also have observed the 'emperor's new clothes' on more than one occassion in audio...we all have...so until i hear it i can only gauge by the people i've communicated with who've had the money to buy whatever they wanted...and have remained loyal, passionate (not ego-driven) FMA fans.
Careful ML, they dont do fancy colors , just in case you get smitten this year ......
i forgot to respond to the first part of your coment.
i have no problem with audio jewelry, but i don't make decisions based on how something looks. it does turn out that the best performing gear typically has high level design too, but not always.
back 11 years ago i had Mark Levinson electronics (#32 pre and #33 monoblock amps) and a Linn CD-12 digital player. these 3 items could be the peak of all-time high end audio industrial desgn.
i replaced the #32 with a Placette RVC passive, and the #33 mono's with Tenor 75 watt OTL's. i then replaced the CD-12 with the EMM labs dac and modified transport. frumpy looking would be generous for that gear; but it made great music.
i'm still not 'thrilled' with the darTZeel 'look', i don't like the gold color. the build quality is impeccable no doubt.
the 458's are quite beautiful to me, although i'm still not in love with the gold.
anyway; so far over maybe a dozen or more experiences, i've not had any flashes of brilliance listening to the FMA. i like it alot, and who knows how i might like it in a mature fully optimized environment. i'll go to RMAF and i'm sure will visit the FMA room again, open to being smitten like every other time.
I find that hard to believe given the extreme tests first the components and then the actual products go through before entering the market. If the components are not top notch they would never surive those tests. Having said that it seems most really outstanding results have been acheived only when FMA electronics have been used exclusively throughout including the FMA cables.
Thanks,
Roysen
Bruce B
WBF Founding Member, Pro Audio Production Member
Just read they will be showing with the "Venture Ultimate Reference" speakers and for the first time in the U.S., the FM Acoustics 115 monoblocs. Also will be showing with the Weiss Man 301 server and Medea + DAC.
All in the Primrose ballroom... be there or be left out!
All in the Primrose ballroom... be there or be left out!
Lee,
The way I see it, FMA is at the top end of the tree, price-wise. No "new new thing" costs more, or even close to FMA stuff. So, if you have all the money in the world, why would you trade your CHF 400k amps for a CHF 130000 pair? Would you even considering giving it a try?
Drooling. I am currently trying to convince my wife to go with me... Won't go alone; too scared she'll sell my system.
i've visited the dealer in Colorado Springs (really nice guys, btw) and heard the FMA there, and listened to it every year they've brought them to RMAF, they always sound good, but they've never really stood out as special. so regarding MEP's perspective, if they would have been memorable.....he would have remembered.
it's the gear's job to grab us...or not.
it's fair that with a greater awareness of the product cache' he might now listen with more interest.
I agree with you entirely Mike, but want to add that unless one is familiar with all of the components in a system, it is a bit unfair to single out one particular component.
Jonathan-Truer words have never been spoken. If you aren't familiar with the other components in a system, you would have no way of singling out one piece and saying you don't like it.
Agree...unless you have a 15-year old FMA amp and you still use it. Or you have an FMA611 that is 10 years old...and you still use it.
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