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Class "A" sound, as related to Stereophile.


It's all about the sound.

It's all about sound, not how much it cost; when I got into "high end", I knew right off the bat I couldn't afford it, but I had to find one thing for sure; how do the various components sound in regard to Stereophile's classes, or ratings? In order to know this; I had to acquire the ability to identify "Stereophile's" class "A" class "B" and class "C" sounds, and the only way to do that was: first, subscribe to Stereophile, and next was to go to every high end audio salon within driving distance; there were 5 well stocked "high end" salons within driving distance. (Since I didn't take my wife, that created some problems)

After a few years of subscribing to Stereophile, plus auditioning equipment that Stereophile recommended, I knew the sound of those recommendations, and I absolutely concurred with them; "If you want to hear the music, you got to pay the piper". While that's true, it's possible to get class "A" sound with class "B" bucks or less.

At this moment, I am looking at 8 capacitors that cost $25 dollars each, plus 2 mono blocks with an instant resale value of 6K. Once I take the covers off and go in with my soldering iron, these mono blocks are worth a resell of O; my mission must be a success. After a successful mission, the resell is still 0; but those mono blocks will deliver class "A" or "A"+ sound, and that's some sweet music.

I have to visualize and hear music in my head before I can modify a component to deliver class "A" sound; but that's the only way for me to get what has become a necessity.

The pressure someone is under when they modify, is great, but the rewards are glorious. On these mono blocks, they are too small for the huge capacitors, therefore I have to figure a way to make the case larger. My reward is "sound" with absolutely no relation to money. I often wander if someone with a fat bankroll can identify the sound, or only how much they paid for each piece.


Happy listening.

orpheus10
viridian's avatar
viridian
4,184 posts
 
Orpheus, I have subscribed to Stereophile since it was a journal sized magazine edited by J. Gordon Holt. So I feel that I am familiar with it. And having lived in New York and LA and being a member of an audio society in both cities I have hear my share of class A components over the years. And I think that the whole thing if foolishness if one can, or can't, afford class A or B or C or whatever. 

I think that the only way that owning synergistically matched components saves one any money at all is that, perhaps, one churns components less. But I think that the true benefit of a synergistic system is that it brings the listener a greater connection with, and appreciation of, the music. I never said that it was about money.

If you are happy with the whole class thing I should be the last to try to dissuade you. But since you brought up turntables and cartridges I will give an example. On VPI tables with the shorter, unipivot arms, IMHO Dynavector cartridges are a synergistic match. Not so Ortofons. So I would rather have a 20XL2, which might be a class B or C cartridge on this type of tonearm than an Ortofon Anna which is clearly a class A phono cartridge. Your mileage may vary.

Unfortunately the last time that I listened to a Polk speaker was when I met Matt Polk and Saul Marantz demonstrating the model 10 speakers at an audio show in the 1970s, so my opinions on the marque will have very little currency. 

dlcockrum's avatar
dlcockrum
2,105 posts
 
^^Yep.
tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
1,368 posts
 

viridian, I'd bet that you've listened to a whole lot of appliances in the last 40+ years and have arrived at your level of audio wisdom after many years of listening experience.  What if someone hasn't lived in NY and LA but in Montana or Mississippi without an audio society or audio shop within hundreds of miles?  What if they haven't been alive for even 30 years?  How do they learn the audio ropes? 

Maybe reading the audio magazines and forums and trying different gear is the only option.  You can't know that a Dynavector is a better option for a VPI with a 9" unipivot arm than an Ortophon if you've never heard any of those appliances.


orpheus10 OP
5,988 posts
 

Tomcy6, you are absolutely correct; what I did then, driving to high end audio salons and listening to many of the components that were reviewed and rated, would be impossible now. As you stated; presently, I'm no different than anyone living in the "boonies" because those high end salons are gone.

How anyone is supposed to achieve this "synergy" Viridian is talking about is a mystery to me. I "lucked" upon it one time, and I can't even remember that.

Whatever the situation, you can only play the cards you got, not the ones you wish you had.

Viridian, assuming "synergy" is the gospel truth, how is one suppose to discover it?


 
orpheus10 OP
5,988 posts
 

In regard to "cartridges" do not depend on advice from anyone. They are far too expensive to get the wrong one for you. You must first go through a process of discovery; that is auditioning different cartridges, and you choose from the family of cartridges that's most conducive to the music you like.

My advice is stay away from records as far as you can get, if you don't have any; however, if you got money to blow, meaning a fat bank account, have fun.


Enjoy the music.
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