Well, despite what I said about cables before, I am very torn about some other high end components. I have long felt that because certain bench tests show better or worse results, doesn't necessarily reflect better or worse sound, at least subjectively. Granted, esoteric high end audio becomes a matter of taste (or ego?) but an easy example is to compare a decent tube amp with a similar transistor amp. While the tube amp may cost a good deal more, on a bench, the specs may be far better for the cheaper transistor amp. But that said, which sounds better? To me often the tube amp, all other things being equal despite the transistor amp having lower THD, faster response, and so forth. Sometimes its said that when driven, a tube amp will clip in a less sudden and annoying fashion and other perhaps harder to measure characteristics. I eventually came to the conclusion that maybe I don't like '100% accurate' reproduction. Its another reason I prefer vinyl to rebook CDs. Once I embraced the concept that if I was going to set up a system for me, I was going to get what sounded good to me, and no other criteria (almost). That lead to me using 1980s vintage Conrad Johnson power amps. Not the most accurate by any means. The design has been said to color the sound warmer and softer. Perhaps, but I use it 90% of the time coupled with the Tate, which tends to sound rather brittle, so does it cancel out? Long story short, get what you enjoy. Screw the testers and the snobs.
