Amp for Dynaudio C4

Nrostov ..I have to chime in.
I find your comments arrogant and rude..Im a musician,a professional musician who has toured the world more times than I can remember,on a Los Angeles based record label and know what sounds right or wrong...2 me!!My brother-in-law has been profesionally in highend audio for 30 years and has an impeccable ear.What he wants,seeks and demands in his audio system is totally different than what im seeking..The point,obviously we all have opinions.Just because you feel something is not correct doesnt make it "horrible".Its just an opinion,nothing more.....Oh,please dont throw that im a musician so I know what it should sound like BS around..puts the real deal pros in bad light...Class dismissed.....

Missioncoonery,

Your right my comments are both arrogant and rude. Of course so is saying "Oh,please dont throw that im a musician so I know what it should sound like BS around..puts the real deal pros in bad light...Class dismissed.....".

Now let's get to some points about why I posted what I did:

1. The only reason I pointed out that I used to be a musician is that I spent a lot of time hearing the sound of real instruments. You obviously have spent even more time. It's great to hear that you have been so successful in the industry. I had to give it up due to arthritis in my hands. However I have been fortunate in my current business. It has allowed me to build a wonderful sounding system.

2. I am fortunate enough to have a relationship with the manufacturer and co-creator of the Messenger preamp. He is fortunate enough to have played in renowned orchestras. I am also fortunate that I know people in the high end audio business all around the country. I have gained tremendous knowledge and insight from these wonderful gentleman who have taken the time to teach me so much about equipment and the industry.

3. The above two lead to my third point. I purposefully made my comments rude and arrogant. For one we don't talk honestly enough about equipment on audiogon out of fear of offending someone. The fact is I wasted a lot of money when I first got into this hobby because there wasn't enough honest information out there. Secondly, there are some things in high end audio that are subjective and others that are objective. You as a musician know what a piano sounds like or a violin or a guitar So do I. How an instrument sounds live, it's very essence, is not subjective it's objective. A violin should sound like a violin not some metallic beast. The reason that I quite emphatically and passionately commented on the gear suggested by others was that they violate this rule(the objective sound of instruments). I have either had this gear in my system or heard it. It really does sound bad from that perspective. Please note I never comment on gear I have not heard. Every audiophile I have ever met wants their system to sound like the real thing. So why would I recommend something to someone that is going to take them farther from that goal?

4. This does not mean that the gear listed does not do some things that people may like such as a huge soundstage. Some people want that others don't care. So you and I agree on that point.

5.My post accomplished what I wanted it to. It got you pissed off and you responded. Now we can have a dialog about why we are in this hobby.

6. We all have to face up to the reality that there is a lot of good gear out there, but there is also a lot of crap. Let's call a spade a spade instead of pretending that every piece of equipment made sounds wonderful. That's what Stereophile and The Absolute Sound are for.

Sincerely,

Justin

Missoncoonery,

If you are in LA then come on by my place. You are more than welcome anytime. Bring any equipment over that you would like to compare or just come by for a listen to the system.

I really am not an a-hole. It's just that I had the C4's and they take work to get them to sound right but when you do it's magical.

Justin

Hmmmmm, very interesting comments Nrostov. You are certainly entitled to your opinion and I welcome them. However, you did come across sounding very arrogant.

The Parasound Halo recommendation is based on personal experience with the Dyn's all the way up through the C4's. I think they sound and mate very well. Are there better options? Sure there are and I've suggested a few. The Halo JC1 is unmatched in it's price range....nothing comes close. I was merely suggesting a great amplifier that is still relatively inexpensive, but it's not for everyone.

As for Simaudio sounding horrible? Wow, that's a first. Still not the best, but certainly not horrible.

One of my favorite systems I put together of recent was the Dynaudio Temptations mated with the Krell Evo 402. This was an amazingly great sounding system, which I truly enjoyed. Now granted, we had a dedicated room in which to work with, but the results were fantastic. Say what you want about the Krells, you either love them or hate them. I find no shortcomings of the EVO's, though.

As for musicians or for that matter recording engineers having golden ears. Give me a break. That is complete nonsense. But I enjoyed the laugh.

Ttowntony,

Yes I know I sound arrogant. It's really not my intention. It's just I run a business in which I always have to be direct and to the point. Needless to say it sometimes effects how I communicate in my personal affairs(just ask my poor wife!).

The Simaudio's that I heard at the Stereophile show made my temptations sound like $500 speakers. If I didn't own them I would think they were the worst speakers in the world. Now having said that I have not heard them with other speakers so I don't have a complete opinion on the line.

As far as Krell and Parasound go. Let's just respectfully agree to disagree. I find them cold and analytical. I don't feel that they produce a musical presentation.

As to your last point yes there is truth in what you're saying. The musicians that I know play classical music and/or jazz and tend to have pretty good ears. Now if we're talking about Slash or the guys from Metallica I agree with you. Now don't even get me started on recording engineers. They're never sober enough to know what an instrument sounds like.

Do you feel that Krell and Parasound accurately produce the sound of instruments and are musical? If so why? I don't, but if you do I respect that; however I would like to know your reasoning.