We look to audio mags for reviews on gear we can’t audition for ourselves. Sometimes the writers do a good job to help us understand what a product sounds like. Sometimes they can’t hit the broad side of a barn. Here are some examples.
Hits
GoldenEar BRX Speakers
“As if etched into its DNA, it possesses the timbrel and harmonic complexities of real acoustic instruments and the spatial qualities of real acoustic settings. Tonally BRX has a neutral to warmish signature. The midrange octaves are rich, balanced, expressive and highly textured, producing a more romantic sound that illuminates music in a mellower light with softer rose-like complexion. The treble range is effortless, agile and airily transparent in the way that ribbon tweeters tend to be.”
Hit it right on the button!
Magnepan MG 1.7i Speakers
“High in resolution, low in distortion, with enough bass and treble of superlative high quality to satisfy anyone save a head banger and a midrange that reproduces well recorded voices and acoustic instruments with jaw dropping realism.”
The reviewer accurately describes Maggie character.
GoldenEar Triton 1.R Speakers
“Coming off $750k Wilsons, JHB wasn’t sure what to expect…phenomenal soundstaging, high transparency and superb bass.”
Accurate praise for a fraction of the price of the Wilsons!
GoldenEar Triton Reference Speakers
“Its built in subwoofer goes to the lower depth with outstanding realism and detail. The combination of an advanced crossover with a new ribbon tweeter and upper bass/mid drivers delivers
equally good performance over the rest of the spectrum. A very smooth and musical speaker that is remarkably listening fatigue free, without any loss of detail or high frequencies and with an equally good soundstage given proper setup.”
Precisely stated. T-Ref is a very full range speaker in image size and muscular performance, without sounding the least bit bright or harsh.
JL Audio E-110 and E-112 Subwoofers
“…the very first sub that doesn’t screw up the sound of the main speaker. Rather it seems to extend that sound into the bottom octaves, producing some of the highest resolution bass timbres and textures he’s heard from any transducer.”
Called correctly! The JL subs chart new territory for sub performance.
NAD C298 Power Amp
“…sounds like a powerhouse with effortless dynamics, a tight and solid bottom end, and a general sense of ease during complex passages. C298 went very low in the bass, had a nice sense of mid-bass heft and weight, and outstanding dynamic punch. C298 had an unusually satisfying ability to convey music’s rhythmic flow and forward propulsion. Midrange had nice presence with a lively quality.”
The best amp value in the biz!
NAD C328 Integrated Amp
“C328 acquits itself excellently in nuance and resolution. A tremendous bargain and worthy successor to NAD’s legendary 3020.”
C328 is a smokin’ deal. Why someone today… feels the need to compare it to NAD’s 1978 built 3020… which wasn’t anywhere near as good… escapes me though.
NAD M33 Integrated Amp
“I found the sound notably transparent. The soundstage was full and wide, and there was an impression of significant weight and body. Overall it was quite thrilling!”
Yup.
Amphion Argon 7LS Speakers
“The Amphions deliver quite a remarkable degree of bass control, deep, fast and tuneful, and gratifyingly tolerant of room placement… remarkably solid and stable imaging and a wider than usual sweet spot. This is a loudspeaker that deserves a serious audition if you have an awkward of difficult listening room.”
In addition to sounding GREAT, the Amphions are indeed the most immune to lousy listening rooms.
Misses
Elac B5 Speakers
“…everything comes together in such an exquisitely balanced and musical fashion.”
Really boys? AE sold this speaker. It was a nice value for $250pr. But are you joking me? The speaker has thick bass and power for the money, yet it’s dark on top and cloudy in the midrange. It’s a fine value for $250. But for a mag that rips speakers for $100k, this is some ripe exaggeration.
Sonus Faber Lumina 1 Speakers
“…sounds shockingly big despite its small size.” “sounds big and lush.”
This 4” 2-way is stretched to the absolute limit if you turn it up at all. We’ve heard these at length. What strengths they have are purely in the Near Field. Period. Don’t get over your skies Mr Reviewer.
Vandersteen 2Ce Sig 3 Speakers
“…can suggest the spatial focus usually heard with planars.”
Vandersteens are perfectly nice, smooth sounding speakers. But to equate them, a box loaded with drivers to Pans… is absurd. Like them for what they are, fine. But they’re nothing like planars. If you want the size and sheen of Pans, you have to buy Pans. The reviewer comment is absurd.
Magnepan MG 20.7 Speakers
This… is the worst review I’ve ever read for such a great speaker.
“Magneplanars’ big, full range dipoles may not be the ideal fidelity to sources loudspeakers (transparency to sources is not the strongest suit of dipoles), nor are they the ideal ‘as you like it’ speakers.”
This… is absolute nonsense! We should revoke the reviewer’s literary license. MG 20.7 is the most transparent speaker you’ll ever hear. With dual opposing magnet structures, its ribbons start and stop on a dime. The size of the image is immense and lifelike. The definition is unsurpassed.
It’s fair for a given listener to say he likes a heavier/thumpier speaker in the bottom end. But this writer’s description is truly artsy fartsy blatherskite. It disqualifies any credibility.