Κώστας Φ.
Truth hurts. Here's a teddy bear.
- Μηνύματα
- 8.978
- Reaction score
- 895
Cost: $1095 (MSRP)
"The P-8 has been the first NuForce preamplifier; it is not a very recent product, but its price tag makes it one of the few preamplifiers eligible for a mid priced system. So I was really interested in verifying the level of this unit, as not always power amplifier producers are able to achieve the same results with pre-amplifiers.
...
Conclusion
So you might think we have here a hyper detailed, unforgiving preamplifier, with a not perfectly smooth sound. But is this the correct point of view? Not at all. There are a few important elements to take into consideration.
First of all, the unit has been compared with very high quality tube preamplifiers. In absolute terms, very few units can go through such a test without showing any flaw. In particular the sound is only very slightly less liquid and smooth than the references, which is in my view already a great success.
Secondly, the unit has a few areas (transparency and precision, in particular) in which its performance is better than the references.
Finally, if you just compare P-8 tag price with any decent preamplifier on the [Italian] market, you'll realize that, apart a few products of minor brands, this unit is probably the less expensive available. So, you simply should not expect it to be as good as the best units, costing ten or more times.
Actually, the P-8 excesses were barely perceivable, even though the unit has been tested in a very high quality system. I would really be very surprised if they should prove perceivable in a economically balanced system.
However, it approximates or makes better than the reference units in some areas, which makes it a very good unit, independently from its price tag, and a great bargain if you consider it.
So before buying a new preamp you are strongly suggested to give P-8 a chance, listening to it as long as possible to get used to its sound. At the end, perhaps you will decide that this is not the ideal pre-amp for you, but for sure it will open your eyes about what you should expect for the money."
Full Review: TNT-Audio
