Quad Platina Range.

[abacus]

I wouldn't advise anyone to buy stereo amplifiers at this price (£3,500), especially audiophile brands. $1000 AV Receiver (Onkyo RZ30) Fully Covers the Audio Needs of a Typical (Small) Home Room

You need to pay a lot more than that (Think High End) to get an AV Receiver that provides high quality music reproduction like a dedicated stereo amp.

Bill

 

[MUSICRAFT]

@MUSICRAFT EXM7 T8 available for a home demo up here in the tundra ?

I appreciate you reaching out however I am sorry to inform you that presently we're only offering in store demos only.

Btw, the EX-M7 is an analogue power amplifier and unless I am missing something the T8 will not work directly into the EX-M7. Products such as a DMP-A8 or a DAC-Z10 will work with a EX-M7.

 

[landco]

You need to pay a lot more than that (Think High End) to get an AV Receiver that provides high quality music reproduction like a dedicated stereo amp.

This is a common audiophile misconception. In fact, a multi-channel receiver is the best choice for stereo, due to the fact that there is a room correction function (Dirac, Audyssey), which is key to getting a good sound.
And this is just one example.

 

[matthewpianist]

agreed. Cramming too many eggs in one basket can be detrimental.

I agree also. I’ve tried various approaches, but I like what I have settled with now best - an amp that has a very good internal DAC (for the CDT, which does its sole job extremely well) but which makes no attempt to be a streamer, and focuses on being a heck of a good amp.

I’ve forgone a streamer with artwork display to one without, which sounds better and offers a more stable ‘environment’, and when it eventually becomes obsolete, I can replace it without changing the amp. I’ve switched to using a tablet (11” Lenovo, inexpensive but good) as a controller instead of my phone, so I have great artwork display and track information there.

 

[James105]

I agree also. I’ve tried various approaches, but I like what I have settled with now best - an amp that has a very good internal DAC (for the CDT, which does its sole job extremely well) but which makes no attempt to be a streamer, and focuses on being a heck of a good amp.

I’ve forgone a streamer with artwork display to one without, which sounds better and offers a more stable ‘environment’, and when it eventually becomes obsolete, I can replace it without changing the amp. I’ve switched to using a tablet (11” Lenovo, inexpensive but good) as a controller instead of my phone, so I have great artwork display and track information there.

Yes, why do I need a touchscreen/display on the other side of the room when I have one next to me?

 

[abacus]

This is a common audiophile misconception. In fact, a multi-channel receiver is the best choice for stereo, due to the fact that there is a room correction function (Dirac, Audyssey), which is key to getting a good sound.
And this is just one example.

Room correction has nothing to do with the audio quality of the equipment, it is there purely to help alleviate some room problems (And its available on some stereo amps as well) if acoustic treatment is not possible.
You can also get reasonably priced Dirac room correction with external hardware that can easily be added to a stereo amp if required.

Bill

 

[The_Lecht_Rocks]

Rega SOLIS incoming I think..
I made the dreadful mistake of listening to it today in the absence of the Platina being available…..
Also listened to the A21SE and I-A4 from Sugden, but the Rega is on another level…..
Will get a demo at home before purchase, but it’s arguably the right decision with a front end to be determined over time.
Momentarily I’d use a Node Icon XLR out as it was surprisingly excellent!

Poor Platina…. Although hopefully it’ll arrive to demo before I commit to the SOLIS…

 

[Al ears]

Rega SOLIS incoming I think..
I made the dreadful mistake of listening to it today in the absence of the Platina being available…..
Also listened to the A21SE and I-A4 from Sugden, but the Rega is on another level…..
Will get a demo at home before purchase, but it’s arguably the right decision with a front end to be determined over time.
Momentarily I’d use a Node Icon XLR out as it was surprisingly excellent!

Poor Platina…. Although hopefully it’ll arrive to demo before I commit to the SOLIS…

Isn't the Solis a power amplifier?
In which case it's the Mercury preamp that makes it good......
And at 13k they had better be on another level...
🙂

 

[landco]

Room correction has nothing to do with the audio quality of the equipment, it is there purely to help alleviate some room problems (And its available on some stereo amps as well) if acoustic treatment is not possible.

Bill, don't put other people's words in my mouth. It was about the correction of the acoustics of the room, as the main factor affecting the sound. Dirac/Audyssey is the easiest way to achieve a good result.

The circuitry of a modern transistor amplifier has NO effect on the formation of sound - this is an audiophile myth.

 

[froze]

This is a common audiophile misconception. In fact, a multi-channel receiver is the best choice for stereo, due to the fact that there is a room correction function (Dirac, Audyssey), which is key to getting a good sound.
And this is just one example.

Sorry, but that's not a fact, it's just marketing hype to get people to buy those types of receivers.

Receivers are versatile for home theater, but stereo amps are purposely built for music reproduction. Why you scream?

Stereo amps are designed specifically for two channel music reproduction. They focus all power and circuitry on music reproduction, they typically offer cleaner, more detailed sound with better dynamics then a multi-channel receiver. They often have higher‑quality components (DACs, power supply) dedicated to stereo use vs a multi-channel receiver.

A multi-channel receiver main focus is movie sound, and music is their secondary focus.

A person who wants something to listen to only music and doesn't care about a home theater sound system, will want a separate dedicated amp(s) for music. A lot of people have both, they turn on the stereo amp when they're wanting to listen to music and turn on the receiver when wanting to watch a movie. The problem arises when someone wants both without spending a lot of money for two different systems, those would probably want a multi-channel receiver if they're doing 50/50 for both types of sound, unless they tend to lean more towards audiophile music reproduction as being more important.

In my case I wanted audiophile quality music and didn't really care about movies. I have a separate amp/preamp system for music mainly, but I play movies through it, however I don't have a center speaker or rear speakers, I have two large floor standing speakers and a subwoofer, and when playing movies I get all the sound realism I need or want, my system actually sounds better than going to local movie theaters...but none of the theaters in my city have very good surround effects. Most movies don't even have much going on in the way of surround sound effects, only the science fiction genre have a lot going on in that area, and I watch very little sci-fi movies, and when I do it comes alive enough for me.

 

[The_Lecht_Rocks]

Isn't the Solis a power amplifier?
In which case it's the Mercury preamp that makes it good......
And at 13k they had better be on another level...
🙂

They are. Very good… but the power amp alone is brilliant with the right source.
The icon acts as a source/preamp 👍🏻
The Linn DSM even better, but neither is “cheap”….
Still need to demo the Platina though to make sure…

 

[abacus]

Bill, don't put other people's words in my mouth. It was about the correction of the acoustics of the room, as the main factor affecting the sound. Dirac/Audyssey is the easiest way to achieve a good result.

The circuitry of a modern transistor amplifier has NO effect on the formation of sound - this is an audiophile myth.

An amp should be a straight wire with gain, however we have not yet reached that level.
The quality of the components (Power supply, output stages etc.) make a big difference as to how close the output is to the input.
BTW: All these differences are measurable and not a figment of somebody's imagination.
Fire up Chat GPT (Or similar) and ask what makes a good stereo amp and you will see there are big differences between entry level and high end.
This article may help you understand as well amplifier design

Bill

 

[manicm]

This is a common audiophile misconception. In fact, a multi-channel receiver is the best choice for stereo, due to the fact that there is a room correction function (Dirac, Audyssey), which is key to getting a good sound.
And this is just one example.

If one buys a multichannel receiver, it is then reasonable to assume that you'll use it to watch movies. In which case I will argue a 2k soundbar system is going to net you a better compromise than an equivalent priced A/V system including speakers. In fact with soundbar quality improving all the time you're going to find it very difficult to beat.

Understand what your priorities are, because for example a NAD amp with DIRAC is going to sound better than an equivalently priced AV receiver with DIRAC for stereo music.

I'm not saying AV receivers cannot sound good. But why choose one for stereo listening only? Does not make sense. And again, in my view the sub 1k AV receiver market is dead in the water to me, because of the relatively low cost and high audio quality of new soundbars. That market is going to die a quick death.