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IDEAL INNOVATIONS - COMMENTS & FEEDBACK
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Date:2006-11-13
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| Name: Harry Smith |
| Email: hsmith237@cogeco.ca |
Comments: Sid,
This is just a brief note to say that Barb & I are every bit as pleased with our Custom Model 4 preamp as we are with our Custom 40 power amp. This is also a case where the whole is much more than the sum of its parts. When we hooked the preamp into our gear, the sound was clarified and deepened. We continue to enjoy a higher level of clarity and quality in our music, thanks to your excellent equipment!
Thanks for a great job!!
Harry & Barbara Smith |
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Date:2006-11-03
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| Name: Ken Roach |
| Email: mamodbasher@yahoo.ca |
Comments: A little background before the review:
My name is Ken Roach and I live in Hamilton Ontario. I am just barely this side of 56 years old and I am a certified electronic technician. I received my 'ticket' in May of 1973 from George Brown College in Toronto, after serving a 4 year apprenticeship at Wilson Television & Hifi, where I worked for seven years in the business of repair and testing. I received my training in an era that saw most of consumer entertainment systems still utilizing tube technology. Solid-state was around, but still fairly new in this segment of the market. I am no stranger to vacuum tube equipment, but like most of us, strayed into the realm of the new and supposedly better technology of the 'transistor'. I had even built a tube stereo amplifier back then, but abandoned it to pursue the solid-state road.
Keeping that in mind read on'
First, I would like to thank Syd for his time and patience in deciding on the purchase, as this is something that seems to lack in even the best 'high-end' audio stores. Customer satisfaction is one thing that you do very well, Syd.
When I first contacted Syd, he invited me to come to his shop, bring my speakers and whatever music that I wanted to hear, and audition the amplifier before making the decision to buy. He was concerned that the Paradigms may not work well with only 25 watts per channel, as they are not one of the more efficient speaker systems around. So, I packed up my Studio 20's, a half-dozen CD's and headed for Ideal Innovations. We spent about an hour reviewing selected tracks on the disks played on two different CD players (this was good, as it gave more credibility to the listening test). I was amazed at the sound of this amplifier, even in an environment that was not exactly my living room. It was clear that the amplifier had no problems at all driving the Paradigms to realistic listening levels. There was no doubt that this was a good unit and there was also no doubt that I was taking it home!
My system, at the time that I bought the Custom 50 was utilizing the Paradigm Studio Reference 20 speakers, connected to a Luxman L-430 integrated amplifier (120 wpc). The Luxman L-430 is a very good unit and considered high-end audio in the early 80's when it was new and it is still considered an excellent amplifier today. So, the 25 wpc tube amp had its work cut out for it.
My input sources were limited to a tuner and a CD player, as this unit is a power amplifier with two switch-able inputs. Well, the results were nothing short of amazing. The CD player in particular (Pioneer PDF-1007) sounds incredible through this amplifier. I have read many reviews of this particular CD unit ' some good, some bad. Anyone who thinks that this player does not have decent sound capabilities, has never heard it driving a Syd Beaumont amplifier!
Diana Krall was in my living room (sonically at least). The vocal capabilities of this amplifier are particularly accurate. I can't remember ever hearing a better reproduction of the vocals on anything by Diana or Streisand, or Diane Nalini. Incredibly forward and very smooth, even at low or high volume levels.
The bass response in authoritative and precise, and never shows any signs of running out of power. The high end is equally good ' I have heard sounds in familiar pieces of music that I have never heard before ' absolute magic! I have a very eclectic music collection, and it does everything right ' period.
Phyllis (my wife) and I have been riveted to the stereo now for almost two weeks, replaying all of the favourite music and still are amazed at how much better (and different) it all sounds. It is like discovering it all over again.
We have since upgraded to Paradigm Studio 40's (only been 3 days) and all I can say is, it only sounds better.
One word of advice to anyone who loves music (regardless of type or style) ' tubes! If you have never experienced a good tube amplifier, invest in one from Syd. You won't regret it. These are very high quality units with integrity and care built into each and every one. In my opinion you will not find a better person to deal with or a better value for your dollar.
Getting my first (and likely not my last) Ideal Innovations amplifier has been one of the highlights of my entertainment purchases. It has been a very long time since I have felt this good about a product purchase ' kudos all around Syd!
Ken Roach. |
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Date:2006-10-03
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| Name: Harry Smith |
| Email: hsmith237@cogeco.ca |
Comments: Syd,
Every time we switch that baby on we like it better and better!!
Harry |
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