The REAL WORLD priced high performing product thread.

[Andre Marc]

Gentlemen:

In for review at Chez Marc:

1) The Wyred4Sound mINT Integrated Amplifier and SPDIF/USB DAC:
100 wpc, 192 Khz on SPDIF/96 Khz on USB
$1500
(Tone Audio)

2) The Bob Carver Black Magic 20 tube power amplifier:
20 wpc
$2500
(Tone Audio)

3) Darwin Cables: Solid Silver Interconnects:
$245 per 1 meter pair
www.darwincables.com
(Servingthemusic.com)

 

[Andre Marc]

Also in for review...the Opera Mezza loudspeaker.

Made in Italy. Selling for $1500.

Early impressions are this is a high value, high fidelity, attractive product.

 

[Andre Marc]

Gentlemen:

In for review at Chez Marc:

1) The Wyred4Sound mINT Integrated Amplifier and SPDIF/USB DAC:
100 wpc, 192 Khz on SPDIF/96 Khz on USB
$1500
(Tone Audio)

2) The Bob Carver Black Magic 20 tube power amplifier:
20 wpc
$2500
(Tone Audio)

3) Darwin Cables: Solid Silver Interconnects:
$245 per 1 meter pair
www.darwincables.com
(Servingthemusic.com)

View attachment 8016View attachment 8017

After a few days with both these products, I can honestly say they are real world performers.

The Carver amp is a real eye opener.

Although I am beginning to thing that all this chatter about a high price/performance ration is all talk....threads
about fairly priced gear die a death, where threads about gear priced to the stratosphere go on forever.

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

Despite the fact that the really expensive stuff seems to get most of the attention here and on other boards, it's encouraging to see equipment priced fairly and realistically making more noise. This bodes well for the guy that doesn't make a +100G salary, yet still wants a system with components that are up to task. I look forward to reading your review of those pieces once you are done.

 

[TBone]

"Real world" ... ;-)

Andre, two years ago I took along with me a 25 year old friend to TAVES (Toronto Audio Show). A typical mp3 youngster who had no interest in Audio until he heard my "mp3 player". This was an interesting situation; although he knew nothing about being an audiophile, he certainly knew that "better" sound could be had, and he was very much willing to learn and spend.

Although I provided a primer, I proceeded to let him decide which rooms had the best sound and which direction he might want to pursue. After an hour or so, it became obvious to him that his budget was going to be an ongoing issue. It became even more obvious to me that the industry as a whole has veered way beyond "starter-systems", and worse yet, it does a poor job of inviting young people into our hobby (even though they may be motivated) unless they're willing to part with $$,$$$.

No wonder today's Apple generation has no real awareness of our hobby. It's a shame really, and what's worse is the elitist attitude & viable bull**** that more-&-more permeates the industry. This industry has ignored the very people that may help it develop & grow for far too long. A "real-world" attitude toward it's future is a requirement that I'm not certain people within the industry ... understand.

tb1

 

[Andre Marc]

Despite the fact that the really expensive stuff seems to get most of the attention here and on other boards, it's encouraging to see equipment priced fairly and realistically making more noise. This bodes well for the guy that doesn't make a +100G salary, yet still wants a system with components that are up to task. I look forward to reading your review of those pieces once you are done.

Thanks, much appreciated. I can tell you that the gap between SOME "reasonably" priced gear and the
SOTA stuff is not as large as it would appear to be.

There is some very expensive stuff I have heard that DOES take it to another level..like Ayon,
Sonus Faber etc, but they really offer not much more MUSICAL enjoyment...just more refinement.

 

[Andre Marc]

"Real world" ... ;-)

Andre, two years ago I took along with me a 25 year old friend to TAVES (Toronto Audio Show). A typical mp3 youngster who had no interest in Audio until he heard my "mp3 player". This was an interesting situation; although he knew nothing about being an audiophile, he certainly knew that "better" sound could be had, and he was very much willing to learn and spend.

Although I provided a primer, I proceeded to let him decide which rooms had the best sound and which direction he might want to pursue. After an hour or so, it became obvious to him that his budget was going to be an ongoing issue. It became even more obvious to me that the industry as a whole has veered way beyond "starter-systems", and worse yet, it does a poor job of inviting young people into our hobby (even though they may be motivated) unless they're willing to part with $$,$$$.

No wonder today's Apple generation has no real awareness of our hobby. It's a shame really, and what's worse is the elitist attitude & viable bull**** that more-&-more permeates the industry. This industry has ignored the very people that may help it develop & grow for far too long. A "real-world" attitude toward it's future is a requirement that I'm not certain people within the industry ... understand.

tb1

Very eloquently stated. The future of the hobby/industry is a very complex issue. I can't put the blame on any one party.

There is enough to go around. But to be fair, the young people of this generation clearly have accepted much lower quality
than when I was 25 (I am 44 now). The recordings being made at 24/48 when there is much higher resolution available proves that
point.

Let's also point out that 30 years ago there was no internet, YouTube, gaming, smartphones, tablets, etc.

My high school friends and I routinely used to gather at someone's house and play records..and really listen!

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

Very eloquently stated. The future of the hobby/industry is a very complex issue. I can't put the blame on any one party.

There is enough to go around. But to be fair, the young people of this generation clearly have accepted much lower quality
than when I was 25 (I am 44 now). The recordings being made at 24/48 when there is much higher resolution available proves that
point.

Let's also point out that 30 years ago there was no internet, YouTube, gaming, smartphones, tablets, etc.

My high school friends and I routinely used to gather at someone's house and play records..and really listen!

The introduction and further advancement of these technologies has certainly played a part in driving people away from what we were used to. I don't want to judge good or bad, but from an audio perspective it has been a step back.

 

[TBone]

But to be fair, the young people of this generation clearly have accepted much lower quality
than when I was 25 (I am 44 now).

True, but "acceptance" is a matter of perspective. For example, my friend above had no idea of sound quality issues past his mp3 player, and he's 25! I believe this may be more a matter of awareness than acceptance.

I should also add that my system at 25, although loud, sounded rather pathetic, but perhaps that didn't matter since it included so many nice lights, meters, switches for everything, and two very big boxes with plenty of different drivers. Maybe the real reason my system back then might have been better than today's mp3 players was based on LP as compared to today's limited source quality.

tb1

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

Hey TBone....

Just a shout out, but you mentioned TAVES...are you from the Big Smoke as well?

 

[TBone]

John, yes ... "hogtown" ... caveat: big hockey fan, but not a Leaf fan.

tb1

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

John, yes ... "hogtown" ... caveat: big hockey fan, but not a Leaf fan.

tb1

HABS fan here.....so I'm with ya! Been to both TAVES...glad to see a show in Toronto again!

Nice to "formally" meet ya!

 

[Steve williams]

Have the Maple Leafs done anything since the Punch Imlach era?

Aren't they now owned by the school teachers' union and because they have had a sold out arena for the past70+ years and as a result have no motivation to spend $$$ on the team

Sorry about the OT but at one point in my life Hockey Night in Canada was Foster Hewitt and then son Bill Hewitt in Ontario on CKFH and Danny Galavin in Montreal

 

[TBone]

Nice to "meet" you also ... and I agree ... TAVES is a nice return, although the downtown location resulted in RFI hell for many analog based demos (esp the first year).

tb1

 

[TBone]

Have the Maple Leafs done anything since the Punch Imlach era?

Not "much" since the first Imlach era (his second coming was disastrous).

Aren't they now owned by the school teachers' union and because they have had a sold out arena for the past70+ years and as a result have no motivation to spend $$$ on the team

recently purchased by Bell & Rogers.

Sorry about the OT but at one point in my life Hockey Night in Canada was Foster Hewitt and then son Bill Hewitt in Ontario on CKFH and Danny Galavin in Montreal

Danny "spin-er-ama" Gallivan ... brings back all those memories of my Leafs (was once a fan) being destroyed by the Habs.

tb1

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

Have the Maple Leafs done anything since the Punch Imlach era?

Aren't they now owned by the school teachers' union and because they have had a sold out arena for the past70+ years and as a result have no motivation to spend $$$ on the team

Sorry about the OT but at one point in my life Hockey Night in Canada was Foster Hewitt and then son Bill Hewitt in Ontario on CKFH and Danny Galavin in Montreal

They haven't done anything other than wishful thinking since '67 and I can't see it changing in the near future either.

Foster Hewitt and Danny Gallivan...those were the days.

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

Danny "spin-er-ama" Gallivan ..

tb1

"Blistering Blast" was another of my faves of Danny's!

 

[Andre Marc]

True, but "acceptance" is a matter of perspective. For example, my friend above had no idea of sound quality issues past his mp3 player, and he's 25! I believe this may be more a matter of awareness than acceptance.

I should also add that my system at 25, although loud, sounded rather pathetic, but perhaps that didn't matter since it included so many nice lights, meters, switches for everything, and two very big boxes with plenty of different drivers. Maybe the real reason my system back then might have been better than today's mp3 players was based on LP as compared to today's limited source quality.

tb1

To tell you the truth, my first "decent" system, which was comprised of some budget B&W speakers, and NAD integrated, and a Sony CD changer made music
to my ears. I knew there was better but I was perfectly happy. i WAS able to hear the difference between it and LESSER systems as well.

 

[mep]

I was almost with you until I saw the Sony CD changer.

 

[Andre Marc]

I was almost with you until I saw the Sony CD changer.

Hey, it was an ES series!! Good in the 90s!!!

I also had a Kenwood cassette deck...