u/Dedar33

I borrowed the aforementioned amp from a colleague, to hear how different it is from the Quad 405 (clone).

The amplifier has a simple design, weighs almost 18 kg and 2x200 W (8 Ohm).
There is only an ON/OFF button on the front.
There is a switch for balanced and unbalanced connection on the back.

https://www.rotel.com/en-gb/product/rb-1582-mkii

After the initial warm-up, you could immediately hear that it sounds a little more refined and less "rough" than the Quad 405 output amplifier.

The soundstage is a little deeper and a little wider.
There is a little more detail in the music, the midrange spectrum is clear and transparent, as are the highs.

The bass is of similar depth, but with audibly better definition and control.

It goes very well with the Musical Fidelity X-PRE V3 preamp (in fact, the MF has proven to be a good match with all the amps we have tried on it so far).

So the Rotel easily drives most speakers and its control is not questionable.

A very good output amplifier for the price.

I'm waiting for the team for coffee now, to hear their opinions.

https://preview.redd.it/y09gnlca190h1.jpg?width=4624&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bc0ccbc97fe36a278327a315ffc2a7831a587304

https://preview.redd.it/jptqtmca190h1.jpg?width=4624&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4b0ed547f4bd4c2970e0e8e8807d7c7b4940c388

https://preview.redd.it/wa66zlca190h1.jpg?width=4624&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=77fd00697dcebc4ee0777bf8be8f865a9e77010a

https://preview.redd.it/1yvcwmca190h1.jpg?width=4624&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=47d37af0f4575db1e652db23ca3af3956267f518

https://preview.redd.it/rviyy6wb190h1.jpg?width=4624&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=17067b1d72a6350c309d71936c36de8d7be7928a

Yesterday I was again at a colleague's place who has a system worth approximately €500,000. Of course, it sounds great and I don't know if some additional investments could raise it to an audibly higher level.
The room is also completely acoustically arranged.

Another colleague has a significantly cheaper system (only analog sound sources; turntable and tape recorder) that even sounds more appealing to me.

The four of us from our inner circle, who hang out very often, have systems from €20,000 to €30,000 that also sound very good.
Of course, there could be a lot more audible improvements, but that also costs a lot.

What do you think about it?

We know that there are DACs that also have a preamplifier function.
In general, the higher the quality level of the DAC, the higher the quality of the preamplifier function.

Of course, a quality, separate preamplifier is a less compromising option and, in most cases, a better sound option (separate power supply, better volume attenuation, higher gain, etc.).

The advantage of a DAC with an integrated preamp is one component and two less cables (power and XLR/RCA).
The disadvantage is that there is usually a digital volume adjustment, and the resolution can be lost a little during quieter listening (bit-stripping).

What do you think about it?

https://preview.redd.it/ndfl5o6e2gzg1.jpg?width=1000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0e18ffcb00c6faf36e0ef115eba85a982337f822

https://preview.redd.it/p248oflj2gzg1.jpg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b278e88ff83d8b0b16b2d446b6bf30badfe83d23

https://preview.redd.it/a5q4pye34gzg1.jpg?width=1000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e03dc212e07538aad83e4fac1d33237a56e19c7f

https://preview.redd.it/kmlb1a3a4gzg1.jpg?width=960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=195a970dbfb7096bfe6bb540674999f08328dce6

How much can measurements tell us what the sound quality of our HiFi system or some component will be like?
I'm not including measurements during the acoustic treatment of a room (they are quite important there).

Measurements are necessary in HiFi, especially when designing, controlling and servicing HiFi components (and acoustic treatment).

Can we say how something will sound based on measurements alone, or is a complete listening test in all conditions the most reliable?

All serious companies have very well-equipped listening rooms where they test all components, especially those from the higher quality segment (speakers, amplification, sound sources...).

What do you think about it?

https://preview.redd.it/vws3bh9uavyg1.jpg?width=600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1dbe5ad3ffb1450ef7b34c9ac1568f6e201ecced

https://preview.redd.it/d9v1t3iubvyg1.jpg?width=4608&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b0c9858a646d2194c92a675e894c54ae9b71940f

https://preview.redd.it/401sdohzbvyg1.jpg?width=4624&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=340f041333bb19b725ef557f6c5806fe3e800943

https://preview.redd.it/7ygq8uhzbvyg1.jpg?width=4624&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1ccf3e74391641573851f9e724be12810a06556b

There are different types of acoustic resonators that can affect the sound of a HiFi system.

One of them is this Quisco resonator.
I was not at this year's HEAR 2026 in Zagreb where it was publicly presented.

But a colleague (with a lot of experience) gave his impressions from a home presentation on another colleague's top-of-the-line system where three such resonators were tested (in different places in the room).

Here is his opinion in brief:

"The 3 Quiaco setup was clearly audible and we all easily agreed on how it manifested itself. The Quisco brought additional presence to the upper midrange, so the chorus becomes a little more distinct, moves forward and expands at the expense of depth.

The piano benefits especially in the upper octaves in favor of the strings versus the box.
The strings; violins and violas are more pronounced versus the cello and contrabass.
My conclusion was that it is worth it because it brings some freshness and presence.

The owner of the room nevertheless judged that the depth of the stage and the dominance of the piano box were more important to him and that he would not take the Quisco."

There is also a link to an interview with the distributor of that Quisco (turn on English subtitles).

https://youtu.be/QK7n-h1LI1U

That's it for now, and maybe there will be a chance to hear that Quisco for myself at a presentation.

https://preview.redd.it/fwkgmd5mmnyg1.jpg?width=1000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9c6533fb242606259ee69dd4ae2358f76639ac66

https://preview.redd.it/rws5gvn7nnyg1.jpg?width=1000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8bc944c2d91fcec43bec83679e0198442b5cb41f

It is no news that a quality preamp is a very important item for good sound.
So I borrowed the MF preamp mentioned above from a colleague, instead of the entry-level Pioneer VSP-200 processor.

From the first there was a considerable improvement in the sound.
The Pioneer was a bit harsh, with some graininess in the sound and less detail. With MF it is much smoother, more detailed, with better control in the bass.

The middle spectrum sounds more transparent, more beautiful, and the timbre of instruments and vocals is more natural.
And the stage has slightly larger dimensions.
The music flows with greater ease, and the high tones are also more present, clearer, etc.

In conclusion, if you give that Quad a better preamp, it will sound better.

https://preview.redd.it/pyzrwqhu9ixg1.jpg?width=4624&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4d051dfe987908edf6f39b2b62721742734ff576

https://preview.redd.it/cz0f25dw9ixg1.jpg?width=4624&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b31f4289c9ece27423c5b2aee393a9d5b7cc34bb

https://preview.redd.it/hw53e4dw9ixg1.jpg?width=4624&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0ef07a8a312bf6d3447d4654576488a71f944144

https://preview.redd.it/gcxk55dw9ixg1.jpg?width=4624&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=70deb11a87946d22cba8d794e34e590de4dcf4da