Negative Review of Nuforce Amplifier Ref 8

skrivis · « **Reply #100 on:** 8 Mar 2006, 09:32 pm »

Quote from: art

There are less expensive models.

Should the prices be shown in a different manner to make it easier to find? This is what happens when engineers also do the marketing.

Pat

A single price list with everything on it would likely be useful. Some people may even look at the prices first and then work back to which product they're interested in.

Myself, I just think it's handy to be able to glance at a list and not have to click all over the web site to find out "how much."

You should have a pretty good idea of the types of things you need to present on your web site. Browse around to some other sites and see how they do it. (The AVA web site is pretty well laid out and easy to navigate, just as an example. The menu section at the top of the page makes it pretty easy to figure out where you want to go.)

I found your listing of "Velluto" and so on in your main menu to be a bit confusing. Do I want to Velluto? hehe

It's fine to have direct links to the various products, but not in the main menu when there's also a link to "Products." It confuses people and makes them think that a "Velluto" is not one of your products.

You could also try a Javascript menu that would give you added functionality and allow, for instance, a list of the three products to pop up when you mouseover or select "Products."

art · « **Reply #101 on:** 8 Mar 2006, 09:52 pm »

Thanks for the input. I'll send it on to the crew that is helping us out.

Pat

Aether Audio · « **Reply #102 on:** 8 Mar 2006, 10:47 pm »

Pat,

Quote

I stick up for everyone, even some of dubious character, when the members of the peanut gallery lecture us on how we should build this, that, or the other thing. And how we all are gouging the consumer and getting fat in the process. Sticking $25 modules in $50 metal boxes and charging $$$$$ for it. Lectures on what wire, caps, and solder to use. That sort of stuff.

I invite them to try to what we do, so we can then take pot shots at them.

They don't, of course.

Pat

I bow humbly before you!

-Bob

F-100 · « **Reply #103 on:** 8 Mar 2006, 11:39 pm »

Quote from: skrivis

A single price list with everything on it would likely be useful. Some people may even look at the prices first and then work back to which product they're interested in.

Myself, I just think it's handy to be able to glance at a list and not have to click all over the web site to find out "how much."

I agree with Skrivis's suggestion and just want to chime in my .02
Let's say I go into a store or website to shop for an amp. The first thing I would look for is the price. If the price is within my budget then I would look further into the spec, info, review, warranty, etc ....
In your case, I had to navigate into the spec page to find the price.

and one more suggestion, can you list the actual price instead of MSRP. For some reason when I see MSRP, it makes me feel like I'm shopping for a new car.
I can't think of anyone who would buy stuff at MSRP.

art · « **Reply #104 on:** 9 Mar 2006, 02:00 am »

I'll have to look at that part. One of us may have done a cut and paste. From what, I have no idea.

In any case, there is one price, and only one place to get them. So, the nomenclature is superfluous.

Thanks for the input.

Pat

F-100 · « **Reply #105 on:** 9 Mar 2006, 04:25 am »

No, thank you for listening to my .02 suggestion.

rustydoglim · « **Reply #106 on:** 9 Mar 2006, 09:50 am »

The so called bad Ref 8 has just been reviewed by a recording engineer and professional musician:
http://www.stereotimes.com/alvester_bio.htm

Link to the review is here:
http://www.stereotimes.com/amp030706.shtm

I am sure someone is going to come up with some conspiracy theory that we orchestrate this review to counter the bad review.

I don't even know about the review until I saw the link in another posting today!

Occam · « **Reply #107 on:** 12 Apr 2006, 04:17 pm »

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=26273&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=73

Quote from: nuforce-jason

I posted in a hurry and just corrected it (see the previous post).
Sorry. Tranh Nguyen is our CTO and inventor of the technology.
You can see a photo of himself on Nuforce website.
He is not trying to hide his identity. I just had a discussion with him and he understood that it was a mistake not to be clear about his identity.
He is an old timer engineer (he worked in the defense industry since the late 70s) and he lives his life around the lab. R&D is his life. I think some of you guys are just too harsh on him. He won't be posting here anymore after the series of attack. He hates to deal with this kind of stuff.

Jason, you're a very funny guy.

http://www.audioasylum.com/scripts/t.pl?f=amp&m=92784
and as I post this, Koolkid (Tranh) still has a (A) indicating a hobbyist as opposed to a (M) indicating a manufacturer. [I think it great that Tranh posts under Koolkid, and don't think it specifically as misdirection, but rather a reflection of his obvious youthful 'joi de vivre'] And yes, on AA I do post as as 'pmkap', but I'm not a manufacturer, and 'Occam' is such a pretentious name.

But I am curious.... Obviously, when you informed Tranh how inapropriate it was to not disclose his interest, was that only so if he got caught?
He won't be posting here anymore after the series of attack. He hates to deal with this kind of stuff.
So now that he has been 'attack' (found out) on AudioAsylum can we assume he won't be posting there either?

kenk · « **Reply #108 on:** 12 Apr 2006, 04:35 pm »

Quote from: nuforce-jason

I don't even know about the review until I saw the link in another posting today!

First of all, I am sorry for being and A-hole as I just have to express my doubt. I found it hard to believe that you don't know about this as Nuforce is one of the advertisers in StereoTimes.

miklorsmith · « **Reply #109 on:** 12 Apr 2006, 05:48 pm »

After the big blow-up here, Tranh was posting at AA with a different, anonymous moniker without disclosing affiliation? I just reviewed a few AA threads and this seems to be the case.

TNT · « **Reply #110 on:** 12 Apr 2006, 10:46 pm »

I never want to get involved with pointless controversies, therefore I normally post facts.

The fact is I registered to AA BEFORE designing the NuForce amps therefore not as a manufacturer. I shall change that status whenever I feel the need to post anything again, which is very rare. I guess I should never mention NuForce again if that is the right thing to do.

Regarding the posts about TNT = Tranh, I didn't even read them and won't read them any time soon. My very first post on AC was due to the need to follow up on a transaction with Greg Ball, back in Feb 06. Another fact is I don't always know all the rule. I certainly did not even try to mislead anyone, just the facts.

The fact is I have much more fun doing my things than BSing on AC. People who post wrong info do bug me but that's life, I won't need to reply or entertain anyone. And if I do, I'll make sure I'll use my real name. I have nothing to fear but fear itself - FDR

Occam · « **Reply #111 on:** 12 Apr 2006, 11:08 pm »

Tranh,

Regardless, you are in violation of AudioAsylum posting rules. Evidently, no matter what Jason claims, you only obey whatever rules, only when caught.

If it walks like a duck,
If it talks like a duck,
It must be a duck.

QUACK! QUACK! QUACK! QUACK!

Your brazen, disengenuous, rationalizing manner is truly amazing. You've go some set of cojones there.....

Happy quacking,
Paul

Occam · « **Reply #112 on:** 13 Apr 2006, 02:31 am »

Quote

...My very first post on AC was due to the need to follow up on a transaction with Greg Ball, back in Feb 06. Another fact is I don't always know all the rule. I certainly did not even try to mislead anyone, just the facts. ...

Tranh - Your concept of 'facts' appears to be rather tenuous, at best. Whatever you're smoking... can I get some, rather than have you blow that smoke up our collective posteriors?
Your post to Greg Ball was your 11th post, not your 1st. 8 of those prior posts were direct surrepticious efforts to pimp your products. [one of the 2 others was parenting advice. Given you demonstable level of integrity, you're one of the LAST persons on earth I'd look to for parenting advice.]

Lordy Bucko, don't you even realize that AC has a 'Search' feature (top right of any page's menu) that allows anyone to enter your name, 'TNT' and see your posts chronologically. Before you try to brazen it out you really should make sure it isn't trivial to catch you in your alternate reality.

Please, don't go away mad, just GO AWAY!

QUACK! QUACK! QUACK! QUACK!

SSassen · « **Reply #113 on:** 2 May 2006, 02:35 pm »

As promised I've just posted my evaluation of the latest NuForce 9.02 amplifier, comparing it to the now obsolete Reference 8, and taking it apart for a closer scrutiny of its internals. The full article, including measurements and detailed pictures, can be found at the below url.

NuForce revisited, Reference 9.02, no small miracle?
http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/article/1831/

Best regards,

Sander Sassen
http://www.hardwareanalysis.com

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #114 on:** 2 May 2006, 05:19 pm »

SSassen:

Quote

In terms of quality of execution and attention to detail however, it falls well short when compared to more mature designs.

Chris[/list:u]

Wind Chaser · « **Reply #115 on:** 2 May 2006, 06:01 pm »

Pointless and irrelevant. These so called reviews that dwell on technical measurements but say nothing about what ultimately matters. A real music lover doesn't give a damn about technical measurements. Tell us what it sounds like and compare it to other products in the same price range. Tell us about the system, the room and music used in the context of the review. Then if we sense you're not biased with some ill conceived agenda, we might learn something useful.

SSassen · « **Reply #116 on:** 2 May 2006, 06:17 pm »

Wind Chaser,

Quote

Pointless and irrelevant

I guess you can never please everybody, least of all you, considering your previous comments in this thread. How about you try some constructive critisism for a change? Rather than the ill-conceived and irrelevant comments you've repeatedly posted in this thread. Then I'd be more than willing to discuss any specifics with you, in this case you're just a bad smelling gust of wind I chose to ignore.

Best regards,

Sander Sassen
http://www.hardwareanalysis.com

Wind Chaser · « **Reply #117 on:** 2 May 2006, 06:34 pm »

Quote from: tvad4

I also agree the most important aspect of any review is a description of the sound of the product, and a comparison to other gear at its price point and above.

Wasn't that constructive enough?

SSassen · « **Reply #118 on:** 2 May 2006, 06:50 pm »

Well, I'd love to, but I'd rather compare on technical merits than price as most of these amplifiers have inflated pricing that makes it hard to compare. It is not as if we're comparing $20K automobiles, where the final verdict comes down to how it handles or what extras are thrown in on last minute's notice. If I were to compare on what these amplifiers would cost if we make a educated guess on total cost of manufacturing I'd be comparing a set of NuForce amplifiers to ~$800 A/V receivers or similarly priced stereo amplifiers.

The amplifiers I use for comparison are actually comprised of a collection of amplifiers I couldn't convince myself to part with over the years and a number of DIY amplifiers. Most of these DIY amplifiers are far from off-the-shelf kits and include, for example, a single-ended tube amplifier, a Hiraga class-A amplifier clone, a number of class-D amplifiers based on Hypex's UcD modules (one is described in detail on my website), others are the popular Marantz PM-80 and a few I don't recall the exact type numbers of.

I think I described the sound in detail, but without fluffing things up too much as is common in many magazines. They're very similar to the Ref 8s, although with a bit more authority, better control and better tonal balance. I have no doubt these amplifiers will appeal to some people, but they come up wanting if you compare them to more capable amplifiers.

Best regards,

Sander Sassen
http://www.hardwareanalysis.com

SSassen · « **Reply #119 on:** 2 May 2006, 07:03 pm »

Oh, one thing I might want to add is the fact that (as described in the first paragraph) I set out to see whether I could validate NuForce's claim that the Reference 9.02 was leaps and bounds above the Reference 8.

Best regards,

Sander Sassen
http://www.hardwareanalysis.com