Top DAC reviews: What do they even mean?

[Ron Resnick]

Who do you trust?

Off the top of my head in alphabetical order:

Jeff Dorgay

Michael Fremer

Jacob Heilbrunn

John Hughes

Danny Kaey

Dave McNair

Grover Neville

Kalman Rubinson

Don Saltzman

 

[microstrip]

I do find Dick Olsher's 30--year old review of the Accuphase CD transport/DAC combo, which I cited, far more credible when it comes to making a comparison with high-level LP playback.

He does so on the basis of low-level linearity, which back then apparently received a breakthrough with the Accuphase combo, and is quite specific about explaining its effects. If he is too one-sided and rosy about his assessment of the Accuphase vs his LP playback, that I cannot judge. Yet he clearly provides solid reasons for his assessment.

Dick Olsher wrote many good reviews in the past - why focusing in a sentence written in a momentary enthusiasm in a very particular context - the high sound quality of the Accuphase compared to the mediocrity of most digital of the period in a period of great debates and conflicts to debate analog versus digital?

Jacob explains his point of view with several musical examples - IMO of much more interest than a 30 years old Stereophile review.

 

[microstrip]

Who do you trust?

What do you mean exactly by "trust"?

Should people consider reviewers that told us that MoFi OneStep LPs were fabulous as "trusty"?

 

[Rexp]

Off the top of my head in alphabetical order:

Jeff Dorgay

Michael Fremer

Jacob Heilbrunn

John Hughes

Danny Kaey

Dave McNair

Grover Neville

Kalman Rubinson

Don Saltzman

I don't trust any digital-only reviewers, I can't relate to what they hear. I'm surprised you can.

 

[Sampajanna]

Somebody has to poke this dinosaurs, IMHO. The old guy reading to the camera and cookie-cutter review of specs, set up, music listened to, comparisons to conclusion is going to die… The only part I like is the music listened to as I occasionally get new recommendations. If they are humorous, witty or a good author like Fremer, this format can be mildly entertaining… Recently, I saw a younger face on the TAS channel and thought “Wow! A new reviewer.” Only to click and find him reading to me…. I lasted 30 seconds.

 

[thedudeabides]

What does such a review of a top DAC even mean?

Very little unless you are wealthy and need a positive review to convince you to buy. As opposed to the correct way and audition the product in your system and make a much more informed decision. Some quoted review language is beyond hyperbolic.

Irreproachable imaging. Unwavering fidelity. Oh please.

 

[thedudeabides]

What I am skeptical about is the appropriateness of the language in reviews of uber DACs, not just this one.
__________________

Correct. As you and others should be.

 

[bonzo75]

Jacob called me last week (known him for around 25 years) and we talked for 30 minutes. it was not about the Varese but it did come up and he does like it a lot. his reviews do use big words and i need my thesaurus to read/understand them.

One of the least value adding reviewers I have read over the years, totally wasteful. Anyway good that he moved from Wilsons to horns, those who do not understand audio will read and follow, so ask for greater good

 

[thedudeabides]

What do you mean exactly by "trust"?

That's why there are things called dictionaries.

 

[microstrip]

That's why there are things called dictionaries.

I consider that WBF members language proficiency and style surpass common dictionaries, probably I am wrong.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

What do you mean exactly by "trust"?

Should people consider reviewers that told us that MoFi OneStep LPs were fabulous as "trusty"?

the concept of trust or 'trusty' does not = infallibility. after dozens or hundreds of confirmations over decades trust gets earned.

 

[bonzo75]

Trust in reviewers is just that he is reporting wise he is hearing and he is doing a good due diligence.

Additionally, you might trust him on above but may or may not trust his taste

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Trust in reviewers is just that he is reporting wise he is hearing and he is doing a good due diligence.

Additionally, you might trust him on above but may or may not trust his taste

agree.

trust can be just that that reviewer is quite consistent which might mean in certain cases you know if he likes it for particular reasons it then might not be for you. you 'trust' his known preferences. reasonable predictability.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

One of the least value adding reviewers I have read over the years, totally wasteful.

so he gets downgraded for the retail prices of his gear? which is your right to do, if you want. fair to claim it's not the most efficient use of assets....wasteful as you say. my perspective is that it's good someone who plays at the highest dollar levels allows us to read about it. and that they are a professional writer to boot. no skin off our bones.

Anyway good that he moved from Wilsons to horns, those who do not understand audio will read and follow, so ask for greater good

i understand.

 

[bonzo75]

so he gets downgraded for the retail prices of his gear? which is your right to do, if you want. fair to claim it's not the most efficient use of assets....wasteful as you say. my perspective is that it's good someone who plays at the highest dollar levels allows us to read about it. and that they are a professional writer to boot. no skin off our bones.

i understand.

The gear was poor, not just retail prices which I did not mention, his reviews were poor there was no insight. Fremer too had similar Wilson etc but gave much more insights into audio gear.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

The gear was poor

disagree. but i respect that your own template for gear is different. but objectively the gear that Jacob reviews is pretty awesome across the board.

, not just retail prices which I did not mention, his reviews were poor there was no insight. Fremer too had similar Wilson etc but gave much more insights into audio gear.

i think he is just not connecting with your particular mind set.....for a number of reasons. which happens. it's not that either of you are right or wrong. but i see more than just the review, i see the person too. hard for me to objectively separate the two.

agree that Fremer and Jacob have different styles. and Fremer is easier to digest and relate to.

 

[bonzo75]

but objectively the gear that Jacob reviews is pretty awesome across the board.

Having gear in front of you is very different from reviewing - having retail tags in front of you and pretending to be a reviewer is even worse

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Having gear in front of you is very different from reviewing - having retail tags in front of you and pretending to be a reviewer is even worse

why be so overboard on the negativity? that is unfair. just my opinion. let's move on. it's a nice day.

 

[microstrip]

the concept of trust or 'trusty' does not = infallibility. after dozens or hundreds of confirmations over decades trust gets earned.

Exactly - valid statistics and proof of work are also strong points.

 

[Paul1960]

I think there should be more compassion for how challenging it must be for a reviewer to find meaningful ways to try and describe the changes they hear listening to high end gear. Generally, we don't have an agreed upon language to describe the differences we hear and high end systems and music in general are inherently ineffable in my opinion. Lower end gear might be summarized with generalities like muddy, dark, airy, transparent or a description of the frequency or tonal imbalances. But how to describe qualities like the different timbre and tonal color of a drum skin or plucked guitar string? And it is exactly those subtle qualities that can provide high end systems with so much of their magic. Systems that measure exactly the same can sound quite different despite what the ASR/objectivist crowd would like you to believe. This would all be a lot simpler if it was like photography where we could put two images side by side and have a universal agreement about how they compare. But even then, individual subjective preference rules. Two people might actually agree on exactly what is different about two images (or pieces of gear) while having completely different conclusions about which is better!

Anyhow, I have had the opportunity to listen to the dCS Varese in a private room in a fairly extended fashion and I think it sounds fantastic, but I don't think I could really tell you why, however I found the experience fairly dispiriting since I doubt I will ever have a spare $250K lying around to purchase it.