H3000 - unimpressed so far - what am I missing?
- Thread starter drunkenrabbit
- Start date
.
Nope - no axe to grind - I was just putting down the facts of my experience. More fool me for buying on reviews. As I have said - all power to the people that like the stuff - just not my experience.
Most people that spend 10-12k on a piece of gear (or in my case 17k on two pieces) don't tend to say - "gosh, you know what - this stuff really isn't very good" - and then sell it, take the hit and move on. Most people stick with it and learn to love it - or at least put up with it. Some even trade up the line to validate their earlier buying decision. They certainly don't publicly criticize the gear, or publicize their mistake.
I didn't intend to pop up here telling all and sundry of that mistake. The thread just developed that way.
BTW I'm not even annoyed by the money side of it, though I would have expected the dealer to have taken it back. But really the $$ are on me. I'm more disappointed by the performance I experienced.
I am slightly annoyed at the Lotus's of the world subtly but nonetheless attacking my observations. But I should expect attacks I suppose...forums are like politics - first undermine the criticism, and if that doesn't work, undermine the critic.
Which segues nicely into rokitman's dig at me that the H3000 was worth more than my entire system - nope - not even close: it's about two of my cartridges; and as for the H3000 highlighting limitation - well sorry - but it isn't transparent enough to do that...
And don't forget that it wasn't just my experience, I took it around to a couple of mate's places with lovely systems and the results were the same. IMO it just isn't that good. Sorry but there it is. If you think it is - well good for you.
And that I think is my last post on the topic.
Last edited:
Never thought of a hifi manufacturer as another utility or insurance company.
What the hell could justify a 30% increase on a 10k phono stage, outside of profit?
Expenses...attending shows...paying a distributor...maybe having to get a employee to help with a growing biz....just pure guesses...I bet the 30% isn't going to a new Ferrari...not intending to argue...just I suspect it's a VERY small biz and more trying to make ends meet...
Well there's lots of reasons. One is simply that they found they had accidentally or intentionally underpriced the unit. Or that they had built so many units for the first run and when they went to build the next run found the parts prices went up. Remeember the new mantra in business is lean and mean and as little overhead as possible. So that means buying exactly what's needed. Also gone are the days when your hi fi store stocked items; instead they largely order as needed for anything above entry level.
Bruce B
WBF Founding Member, Pro Audio Production Member
Not only has the aesthetics been changed, but the parts inside have been changed as well. I know he's using a different x-former. There are also balanced outputs as well.
Does that mean he has completely redesigned the phono stage to be fully balanced or added xlr's for the audiophool who thinks they are better?
If he has redesigned as a fully balanced phono stage with new x-formers it might as well be a new phono stage and reviews like Myles mean very little in context.
Bruce B
WBF Founding Member, Pro Audio Production Member
It is my understanding that the unit is differentially balanced design. I guess we need a current review.
Bruce B
WBF Founding Member, Pro Audio Production Member
Ahh, OK, I took your post to mean you had one on the way already which puzzled me. My understanding is that it's still a few months away.
This is very interesting thread. Different rooms? Different hemispheres? One man's roller coaster is another man's Sunday drive? I only goes to underline how fiercely, and perhaps frustratingly subjective this "sport" is. We're all chasing different ghosts.
A couple years ago I ran a Leben CS600 & RS30EQ alongside my Allnic T1500 & H3000. The Lebens were clean and refined and very easy on the eyes. The Allnic combo had an edge in realism, vocals were coming out of faces, I could almost see what gauge strings Bert Jansch was plucking etc. The dimensions of my room would change with platter sides and I consistently got that eerie feeling that life, rather than reproduction, was happening in front of me. I decided that I couldn't live with out that edge. The Lebens live at a friend's place now so I get to visit both of them, which is always great. I also love coming home.
Anyway, my amps should be warm by now and I think I hear them ghosts calling.
A couple years ago I ran a Leben CS600 & RS30EQ alongside my Allnic T1500 & H3000. The Lebens were clean and refined and very easy on the eyes. The Allnic combo had an edge in realism, vocals were coming out of faces, I could almost see what gauge strings Bert Jansch was plucking etc. The dimensions of my room would change with platter sides and I consistently got that eerie feeling that life, rather than reproduction, was happening in front of me. I decided that I couldn't live with out that edge. The Lebens live at a friend's place now so I get to visit both of them, which is always great. I also love coming home.
Anyway, my amps should be warm by now and I think I hear them ghosts calling.
Similar threads
 | Steve Williams Site Founder | Site Owner | Administrator |  | Ron Resnick Site Owner | Administrator |  | Julian (The Fixer) Website Build | Marketing Managersing |