sixmoons review of the ear enigma+ is up

J North · « **on:** 14 May 2004, 05:34 am »

With all the talk about digital amps on the circles lately this review may be relevant ..

http://www.sixmoons.com/audioreviews/acousticreality/enigma.html

reading between the lines he just can't seem to get away from tubes can he?

Jay S · « **Reply #1 on:** 14 May 2004, 06:43 am »

Congrats to Peter!

One thing I do love about my eAR Two amp is the relaxed musicality that the reviewer mentions. A friend who loves SET amps and high efficiency horns came over to listen to my system and commented that the eAR was one of the rare non-tubed amps that he enjoyed listening to.

eduardw · « **Reply #2 on:** 14 May 2004, 10:34 pm »

I hope Peter still sels them because they are not on the website anymore.

Rocket · « **Reply #3 on:** 15 May 2004, 12:39 am »

Hi,

Had a look at the review last night. It seems like the reviewer didn't really raved about the amp imo. It seems like it is similiar in sound quality to the bel canto amp ie. the acoustic reality had a better top end and the bel canto had better bass. It might just be the reviewer's writing style.

At $500us cheaper + shipping from europe you would really have to consider whether it is worth going the direct purchasing method. Consider if you shorted the outputs, how much would it cost to have the amp fixed.

Please don't think i'm bagging the product but is it worth giving up a dealer network with support for an amp which is only $500us cheaper?

regards

rod

Ric Schultz · « **Reply #4 on:** 15 May 2004, 08:02 am »

I cannot imagine why someone would want this amp (unless they just love the look)........consider:

1. Speakon connectors....or you need a connector box?
2. Cramped connector space so you are limited to what power cord you can use.
3. Amp modules that can easily short? And then you have to send it back to Denmark to have fixed?
4. Not cheap....about $2200 delivered.
5. Not real powerful: 125 watts into 8 ohms.

I think Peter missed his chance a couple of years ago when he first introduced his sweet amp and was selling the more powerful one at a little over $2000 direct. Now his more powerful amps willl be something like $6200 and more? And still you have the cramped quarters and modules that can go pop in the night.

Oxia · « **Reply #5 on:** 15 May 2004, 08:56 am »

Congratulations, Peter. Well done.

Rocket,
To be fair, the difference in price is well above $500. The review compared the Enigma to the Evo4. The Evo4 retails for US$3790. The Evo2 retails for $3290. The review said that the Enigma's price was 1749 Euros, or about US$2078, which is over $1200 cheaper than the 2-channel Evo.

I thought the review was positive overall and basically fair, although Srajan added his usual melodramatic touch and laid it on a bit thick in few parts. It's probably because he felt silly for accidentally severing an internal wire thus damaging his first review sample and delayed his own review.

On a somewhat related note, I recall reading a Stereophile review where John Atkinson shorted the outputs of a Lamm amplifier (don't remember the model) in order to verify Vladimir Lamm's claim that his amp could take it -- it did. JA also said that he typically performs this test last, because that's when most amps break. Frankly I'm glad JA does this test, but it's too bad he doesn't mention it in every review. I would speculate that it's probably because few amps pass it.

Ric,
I understand you're coming out with an amp of your own soon. I wish you the best of luck and success in your endeavor. However, it is rather low for a manufacturer to be criticising a competitor's product in a public forum like that. Just my 2 cents...

Rocket · « **Reply #6 on:** 15 May 2004, 11:26 am »

Hi Oxia,

Thankx for not Burning me at the stake

. I get a bit tentative sometimes making slightly negative comments on audio forums.

Yes you are right i forgot the evo2 is now about $3000us as bel canto raised the priced by about $500us. Interestingly the bel canto evo 2 can be bought in oz in the low $4k au region.

It was a little unfair to compare it to the evo 4 which is a lot more expensive. I still do stand by my comments that it would be pretty expensive if you shorted the outputs and fried a board. It would cost me about $4000au to import this amp into oz.

It would cost a lot to pay for shipping from and to scandinavia.

best wishes

rocket

Marbles · « **Reply #7 on:** 15 May 2004, 03:03 pm »

Quote from: Oxia

Ric,
I understand you're coming out with an amp of your own soon. I wish you the best of luck and success in your endeavor. However, it is rather low for a manufacturer to be criticising a competitor's product in a public forum like that. Just my 2 cents... ...

Actually Ric was an Acoustic Reality dealer for a while, or at least tried to be before he was burned by Peter's decision to not have dealers.

Ric then lost a LOT of money on this amp, or a similar model. He could have mentioned Peters business ethics, or at least how he was treated, but he didn't. He stuck to the facts of the amp.

I think ANY owner of the amp has a right to discuss the pros and cons of the amp.

Now if he had not owned the amp, then I would agree with you about competiters knocking other products....

Marbles · « **Reply #8 on:** 15 May 2004, 03:35 pm »

Quote from: Oxia

I thought the review was positive overall and basically fair, although Srajan added his usual melodramatic touch and laid it on a bit thick in few parts. It's probably because he felt silly for accidentally severing an internal wire thus damaging his first review sample and delayed his own review.
...

Quote from: Srajan

I inadvertently and without noticing got one of the skinny lead wires (running along one edge past the transformer to the outputs) caught between cover and base plate. This shore off just enough insulation on said flying lead to make contact with the rail. Upon turning the amp back on and with no protection circuitry, poof! I had fried one channel to charcoal in less than a second.

Srajan is not the only one who damaged his eAR amp, or had them go poof. There have been a few people who have had them go up in literal flames because of a lack of protection circuit.

eduardw · « **Reply #9 on:** 15 May 2004, 03:35 pm »

Ric I also think the connector cave is a real design flaw, how ever for more the 2 years I own the ear two power amp. I'm very happy with the amp, but still terrified that 1 day I will shorted it out.

But it is still the best amp I’ve ever owned

Jay S · « **Reply #10 on:** 15 May 2004, 04:26 pm »

Yup, I live in fear that I will someday make an error.

In the meantime the sonics are great.

Marbles · « **Reply #11 on:** 15 May 2004, 04:40 pm »

I think that some of my fondest memories of posts at HD and here were about Peter.

Here is one where Roop was selling his amp on Agon.

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=2009&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

Copy of the auctual ad text is on page four..in one of my posts.

I broke out in laughter when I read Nathan's post in the middle of page 6.

Great stuff!

Marbles · « **Reply #12 on:** 15 May 2004, 04:47 pm »

Here is another Post when JohnR was selling his Avinci speakers.

http://www.harmonicdiscord.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5593&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=avinci&start=0

Marbles · « **Reply #13 on:** 15 May 2004, 05:50 pm »

Here is a good one, and it has reference to a few others threads...

http://www.harmonicdiscord.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=6880&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

MaxCast · « **Reply #14 on:** 15 May 2004, 06:24 pm »

Damn, look at the memory chip in that brain...good job Marbles.

Ric Schultz · « **Reply #15 on:** 15 May 2004, 11:59 pm »

Believe me, I could say a lot.... Yes, I did own a brand new eAR 2 MK II and as a dealer paid more for it than anyone ever had. I lost $2000 on it. I won't discuss anthing about Peter as I don't want to get personal (unless he attacks).

Yes, I am biased because I am going to be selling my own amp but what I said is true (just restating the observations in the review). I did not say it was not a good sounding amp. Just with its limitations I wonder who would buy it.

This thread is not appropriate to discuss the differences between Peters amp and mine. I will be posting a thread on Marketplace next week about the amp and the free beta test program. There all things about the amp can be discussed.

By the way, I like truth. This thread was not started by Peter, nor was it on Marketplace. I personally think anyone could render an opinion about it including a competitor. If I made up stuff or exaggerated something for my benefit then obviously I would look foolish. I merely stated the facts. If someone (anyone!) has a possible honest criticism of my new amp I would gladly like them to post on the thread I will start. The more direct truthfull feedback I get the better I can make the product. This is what the internet can be best used for....finding out the truth and giving and receiving feedback so we can all prosper.

Rocket · « **Reply #16 on:** 16 May 2004, 02:48 am »

Hi Ric,

Please keep us informed of your amp project.

I'd be interested in looking at your project. I've just participated in the modwright beta preamp project as well.

Regarding the av reality amp i still think you have to look at reliability aspects of the amp as shipping would be very expensive. In my opinion it really kills the deal.

I'm sure though that it is a fine sounding amp.

regards

rod

Oxia · « **Reply #17 on:** 16 May 2004, 06:56 pm »

Ric,

My only issue is that you went beyond simply stating "facts" about a competitor's product. You made a personal value judgement (i.e. "I don't know why anybody would buy that because..."), and this goes against the rules of engagement for manufacturers. You don't need to take my word for it, just ask other manufacturers. At "best" it looks like mudslinging, and at worst it appears to be thinly-veiled shilling for your own product. No matter what pretext is used as justification for negative comments, it still reflects badly on manufacturers that do it.

Having said that , I don't begrudge you or anybody else for trying to earn a living, or for making decisions that you feel are necessary to sustain your business. As a case in point, I recall that in the past some of your more "obsessive" customers took you to task for deciding to end development of your EVS Millenium DAC. In a nutshell, they were angry and felt "betrayed" that you broke a "promise" to offer a future upgrade path for your DAC, thus severing support for the investment they made. While I can sympathize with these guys, I hasten to add that I don't agree with them. When you make an investment in anything, you also accept a risk. You cannot selfishly expect a business to act in a way that is contrary to fiscal responsibility just to support your own selfish needs to the detriment of the business' own survival. What good could EVS be to these guys if you went out of business? Perhaps there's a parallel between this case and what happened with Peter, but then I'm only speculating. I think it's truly unfortunate what happened to you, and I can sympathize with why you feel wronged. However, I still think it's distasteful to use a public forum to denigrate a competitor or air personal dirty laundry. Yeah, I know it's easy for an outsider like me to say "take the high road", but it is the best policy. And I know my piddly $0.02 opinion isn't going to stem the loss you took, but for what it's worth, I hope your new amp rocks and you sell plenty of them.

All the best to you, Ric.

Ric Schultz · « **Reply #18 on:** 17 May 2004, 01:09 am »

Oxia,
Personally, I think a "value judgement" is perfectly fine for anyone (including a manufacturer/competitor) to state on a general post. I would never go on a manufacturers forum or on a Marketplace post and state what I did. I believe manufacturers should be given their own space to speak freely and not be bothered by competitors....but I think the general forums should be open to any discussion by anyone about anything as long as it is civil and does not turn into a pissing match.....So, if Peter wants to post anything (including value judgements) about my amp on an open forum then great. As long as he is civil and not just beating on his chest then I would welcome him.

I understand this is a fine line but we can all see and feel in our hearts what is truth and what is merely ego driven.....Looking into my own heart I see that the post I did definetly has a little ding to it. After being slammed by someone it is hard to completely let it go. This I am working on. However, the information and "value judgement" I made are very valid. If I had not been treated poorly by Peter and if I was not making an amp then probably? there would be no post. However, can we eliminate all human feelings? And should we? Looking back I should have posted long ago about my experiences with Peter. It is easier to let things go if they are not held in. The truth needs to be told...People need to share about their good and bad experiences with others so that we can all learn and grow. This is not "airing dirty laundry". To tell the truth about ones experiences can lead to freedom for all parties. If you think that being mistreated by a manufacturer/dealer/whomever should not be discussed on the internet then I am completely in disagreement. If several people come forth with their story about mistreatment then either the manufacturer/dealer/whomever has to change or will lose in the end and people will go where they are treated better. This is how it should be...This is why we have newspapers, TV, and the internet....our treatment of Irag prisoners should not be discussed? Hopefully we will be a better country and world for this disclosure. All should be discussed on an audio forum as pertaining to buying, sellng, owning, and enjoying stereo equipment including who to avoid dealing with....this is helpful information. Can save us grief. I think we need to be kind and forgiving but also bold in our truth...this is transformational.....love everyone and yet tell how you were mistreated. Someone who mistreats us obviously does not love themselves....so it is best to say "I love you, I forgive you....but you act like shit...please stop....I deserve better and so do you." In this way, we lift each other up. In that light:

Peter....I forgive you!
May the blessing of God rest upon you, may the God's peace abide with you and may the presence of God Illuminate your heart....now and forever more.

Oxia,
Thanks for the honest feedback....it let me look into my heart.

JLM · « **Reply #19 on:** 17 May 2004, 10:44 am »

Ric, I don't see anything wrong with what you said (although my skin seems tougher than many others here).

Peter's amp is probably better suited for the European market where there's no exchange issue to mess with and servicing would be easier.

If the looks were great, maybe the limited space provided would be worth it, and I know the rest of his stuff are triangles, but it's just a triangle (not worth holding to the looks IMO).

At this price range cabling connectors should be at the customers choice.

If circuit protection causes audible harm, fine. But make the rest "accident proof". Peter's amp isn't, therefore a poor design.

Look forward to seeing your amp. Just please remember those of us who only need 50 wpc integrated with remote.