If anyone writes into hi-fi rags saying that advertising buys reviews, the mags refute that with anger. Yet what are we to deduce from reality?
We see the same companies not only getting reviews, but garnering fawning reviews. Some of these reviews are accompanied by test measurements that show the product under review does not perform as presented by the company. The prose is glowing despite the numbers showing the product doesn’t measure as depicted.
Hi-Fi News is from Britain. They recently (March 2023 issue) did a review that reads quite positive on B&W 703, $6k per pair. B&W claims an impedance of 8 ohms. Tests show they are 2.9 ohms at 111Hz. The EPDR is 1.1 ohms at 86Hz. This testing shows the speakers need a major league amp that will perform into one ohm. The 8 ohm rating is from the advertising department. The 703 is spec’d to be -3dB at 46 Hz. Yet tests show they’re -6dB at 55Hz. Reading the prose you would infer that the speaker is full range and easy to drive. The tests show just the opposite. Nowhere does it say these are made in China.
Hi-Fi News (May 2023) reviews another B&W, this time the 803D4, $22,500 per pair. With all the zillions of speakers in the world, how fortunate to land two reviews in the same rag in short order. 803D4 is rated at 8ohms. Tests show it is 2.7 ohms at 115hz and has a challenging EPDR of 1 ohm at 82Hz. Further, the efficiency rating is off by 3dB. You probably know that the 3dB change requires DOUBLE the power to get where ya wanna go. Frequency response measures in a confusing array of numbers and isn’t especially deep for a $22k pair of speakers. The 800 series is made in England.
Stereophile is Hi-Fi News’ American sister publication. In the new July 2023 issue B&W has another full fledged review. How fortuitous! B&W 705 runs $4200 per pair on stands. Also rated at 8 ohms, the 705 tests below 4ohms at high frequencies. Its EPDR is 3 ohms in the bass and under 2 ohms in the top two octaves. Specifically, it runs 2.63 ohms at 56 Hz, 2.33 ohms at 117Hz and 1.92 ohms at 8.6kHz. Tests reveal a strong cabinet resonant ring at 617Hz. Once again, these speakers need a high testosterone amp to drive them, which the manufacturer’s specs wouldn’t lead you to believe. Nowhere does it say these are made in China.
Now, if you want to ignore that mass production from the other side of the world isn’t equal to the TLC of N America or Europe- suit yourself. But I’ve been in the biz since the early 70s and… details matter. When I read a review I would like to know where a product is built. I would like to know that it tests as the manufacturer claims- unless it doesn’t. We should get what we’re paying for.
In Stereophile (7/2023) the LSA Warp 1 ($1500) power amp is tested. It claims power of 150×2 into 8ohms and 250×2 into 4ohms. Tests (p91) reveal it does only 110×2 into 8 and 165 into 4. It’s made in China. I think we can see a pattern.
Certainly it’s possible to make fantastic gear in China. NAD offers its C298 power amp, $2400. It is rated at 185×2 into 8ohms and 340×2 into 4ohms. Stereophile (5/2021) tests show it produces a Herculean 275×2 into 8, and 510×2 into 4. In speakers, the Wharfedale Lintons at $1500 per pair are among the best deals in our biz. Yet they pale in muscle and definition compared to the Canadian built Bryston A3s at about $3k.