Specifications - let's get them out of the way

[savvypaul]

It's a subjective forum and the brand take the same viewpoint. That's fine, but theres a whole chunk of the market who want measurable fidelity, if you're happy to accept that a marketing stance is sufficient reason not to provide what they require as part of their purchasing decision, then so be it.

If you had the good numbers to show, youd show them, because it doesnt detract from the sound quality or value on offer. If you haven't, then you have to take the ' they're not important stance'.

Any business wants the largest possible customer pool to sell into, unless they're stupid.

Hi, Simon,

Interesting post. Thank you.

You won't be surprised to hear that I come at this with a different belief and a different strategy.

Does NVA measure badly, very well, or somewhere in-between? My answer is that it does the job it's intended for. I know how it sounds and I know how it's sound quality (and component quality) compares to other products at it's price point. The one measurement I'm interested in is whether owning NVA makes you more likely to listen longer, and more often, to your music. That's why we operate a loan scheme and a 30 day returns policy, for people to find out, one way or the other.

I guess you could argue there are a number of reasons why some people won't be likely to buy NVA...some won't like 'the look of it', some will value convenience (e.g. remote control) over ultimate sound quality for the price, some will be heavily 'invested' in mains leads and speaker cables that cost more than the NVA amplifiers, and I'm going to tell them that the former are unnecessary and the latter are not suitable.

I could worry about the above, but I'm happy to sell NVA on it's ethos, it's sound quality and it's value for money. I'm happy to gamble that we have a strong story to tell and a proposition that will sell in worthwhile numbers to people who do 'get it'. Now, within that pool of people, I absolutely don't want to alienate anyone. That is why we are making sure that our component quality is high, our customer service is professional, we are easy to do business with and our tone is open and confident rather than defensive.

Stupid? You decide.

[Latteman]

[karatestu]

[CN211276]

The one measurement I'm interested in is whether owning NVA makes you more likely to listen longer, and more often, to your music.


Good point. I am listening to music more often and for longer since discovering NVA. I am convinced that many "audiophiles" are more interested in changing components than what it should be all about.

[jandl100]

I don't think I've ever been influenced by a piece of gear's spec - I've had way too much gear to believe that the spec matters.

I've had 15 and 20wpc amps that sound way more powerful and gutsy than some 100wpc (and 300wpc) efforts that couldn't fight their way out of a wet paper bag.
To find out how something will work in your system you just have to try it, I've had loads of surprises along the way.

As for selling off the best cable you've heard because of a lack of specs -- well, there's no helping some people!

[karatestu]

I don't think I've ever been influenced by a piece of gear's spec - I've had way too much gear to believe that the spec matters.

To find out how something will work in your system you just have to try it, I've had loads of surprises along the way.

As for selling off the best cable you've heard because of a lack of specs -- well, there's no helping some people!

I agree, it's bonkers.

The problem may be that some audionuts do not trust their own ears or dare not trust their own ears. That is possibly one of the reasons that some follow the herd and need the back up of others to validate their choices.

I have respect for people who go their own way and don't care what others think. It is your own journey and as the Doc would have said, the journey is as important as the destination.

[CN211276]

selling off the best cable you've heard because of a lack of specs -- well, there's no helping some people!

Probably a follower of the gospel of audio science review. Cant make head or tale of most of what is on there. Some of the kit I have measures well, some does not. Could not tell which from the evidence of my ears.

[slinger]

I use a highly complex (although some would dispute that) piece of wetware, coupled with dual external sensors, to measure the musicality of my equipment.

[Grumpytim]

Back in the olden days the only measurements I paid any attention to was wow & flutter on turntables and cassette decks. With the benefit of 20/20 hindsight I now realise that these numbers were as real as the stated emissions of a VW. The chances of a standard production run unit measuring as well as those fine tuned, pampered beasts that were sent to the magazine reviewers was minimal to say the least.

Ironically my first proper turntable measured far worse than the others it auditioned against.

[Fretless]

I use a highly complex (although some would dispute that) piece of wetware, coupled with dual external sensors, to measure the musicality of my equipment.

Let me guess.... Ears?



Logical !!