Comparison, Unbiased Review & Ranking of 12 High-End Home Cinema Audio Systems - Page 4

Hey NewHTbuyer,

RE: "What I saw was people piling on the OP before he had even had a chance to verify his identity" - Yes, unfortunately this is exactly what has happened; and it hasn't stopped either.

I'd like to say thank you for standing up for treating others decently; however, with regards to a public Internet forum like this, I am not unsurprised at this childish behaviour, which includes puerile petty jibes and insults. This is precisely why up to date I have not chosen to participate in these forums as my interest solely lies with imparting interesting and relevant information onto others and partaking in adult intelligent discussion; and unfortunately 90% of the posts in this thread have comprised babies throwing their toys out the pram and acting like I have insulted their RELIGION or something; when in fact the reality is that I am the VERY FIRST person to publish a report of such a comprehensive review and analysis of all the top high-end home cinema audio brands, all readily available in the UK. I would have been nice to have people welcome my publishing a report on such a due dilligence exercise, but these individuals seems incapable of adult intelligent discussion and seem only able to hurl insults and be deliberately obnoxiously argumentative and obtuse; and criticise everything, when most of them have clearly demonstrated they haven't even bothered to read my report properly and have never themselves conducted a similiar exercise, which I would ask that they do, and as such I would ask (AGAIN) that they conduct themselves in a professional manner, but note how this plea will almost certainly fall on deaf ears and the puerile behaviour will continue.

I believe the subject of whether or not I am who I say I am (which I have to say I find somewhat hilarious) has now been proven. I am the Managing Director of SCEPTRE PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT LTD in the UK; who's qualifications include Nutritional & Food Science; and who's A/V experience entails over 20 years stemming from childhood interest in high-end music hifi to current obsession with home cinema, including designing and building very high-end cinemas. As such, I am indeed of the rare position of being truly unbiased and impartial when it comes to AV Brands; something which I believe CANNOT be said about all those who are doing all the attacking and criticising... who I note include representatives of AV Equipment Manufacturers, so OF COURSE they are never going to agree with my opinion. Please kindly note that I have never claimed to be a Sound Engineer; however, my 20 years AV experience including designing and building high end audio systems most certainly qualifies me to be able to carry out reviews of audio equipment. Anyone who says otherwise is a moron.

I also believe the subject of whether or not I have auditioned these audio systems (again something which I find pretty hilarious) has also been substantiated.

As has my "professionalism", which I have just explained above.

I am VERY happy to answer anyones questions, but would ask that people please start to act your age (assuming we don't in fact have a bunch of children online with us) and keep matters to intelligent discussion.

How exactly am I "arguing in bad faith"???

Perhaps because I am standing my ground and not giving in to the playground bullies?



OK let's put this to bed once and for all shall we?

RE: MY PROFESSIONALISM WITH REGARDS TO A/V - My 20 years' A/V experience including designing and building high end audio systems most certainly qualifies me to be able to carry out reviews of audio equipment. Do you disagree? Please kindly confirm.

RE: MY BEING ENTIRELY IMPARTIAL AND UNBIASED - My name is Nigel; and I am the Managing Director of SCEPTRE PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT LTD in the UK; who's prior business was ULTRALIFE LTD, a manufacturer of Nutritional and Sports Supplements. Hence, I do not sell any A/V equipment direct to the public, and I have no affiliation whatsoever with any specific brand of A/V Equipment, and consequently by definition am indeed of the rare position of being truly unbiased and impartial when it comes to AV Brands; something which I believe CANNOT be said about all those who are doing all the attacking and criticising, such as YOU.


But you know my identity; I have just repeated it for the umpteenth time; so, given I am the Managing Director of a Property Development Business, please kindly explain exactly how I am in any regard a SALESMAN OF AV EQUIPMENT? Oh that's right... I'm NOT.


Well EXCUUUUUUSE ME for being passionate about home cinema audio quality! Since I am clearly obsessional about home cinema isn't it kind of OBVIOUS that I going to be pretty opinionated?

Furthermore, I will repeat (again for the umpteenth millionth time) that it is my opinion; you are perfectly entitled to your own that clearly differs. So instead of trying to bludgeon me to death that my opinion is somehow "WRONG" how you simple respect the fact that that I am perfectly entitled to my opinion and let's agree to disagree and shake hands as friends, OK?


So let me get this straight, you are STILL criticising me for not conducting my auditioning of 12 high-end home cinema audio systems back-to-back and all in the same room???

What exactly does your comparision of a singular item of AV Equipment with your existing equipment which you conducted in the same room illustrate? I shall tell you... it shows that it is easy and simple to conduct a comparison of a singular itemof AV Equipment with your existing equipment in the same room. SO WHAT? This information is in no way relevant, because it is completely not feasible to do that for all 12 other these high-end audio systems.

But since you will indubitably persist in pursuing this matter Mister All-Negative-Criticism why don't YOU try to do that with all 12 of these high-end audio systems listed in my report and see if you find it so easy, let alone possible... what you will find is that what you are criticising me for not doing is IMPOSSIBLE bar purchasing all 12 audio systems, and because you cannot set up 12 complete audio systems in the same room at the same time, nor quickly enough change equipment over, set it up and calibrate it properly between auditions, to meet your time limit for aural memory, then you would have to custom build a new housing development that contained 12 identical rooms for you to then install all 12 systems; so basically you are looking at a cost into the millions of bucks and at least a years' worth of time. Well I'm sorry but you need to understand that given the circumstances I have done the very best that was possible without going to these ridiculous measures, and hence since you yourself cannot and would not do this you are bang out of order for criticising me as such mister. So I suggest you let this one drop because if you persist in arguing that I should have used the same room for auditioning all 12 systems you will only embarrass yourself further
Edited by madboynutter - 7/7/12 at 2:05am

hey wlhungdude (brilliant usename by the way!!!),

It's MY OPINION. You don't have to agree with it; and you are perfectly entitled to yours.

You know what? I think I'm going to start calling you MR HAPPY, because you are in serious need of taking a HAPPY PILL. I bet you are a blast at dinner parties... NOT!

It seems you are seeking a pissing contest... well sorry to disappoint but I am frankly not interested. You are of the opinion that over 20 years A/V experience does not qualify me to post my opinions on A/V equipment that I have auditioned, despite the fact that there are far less experienced individuals than I who review A/V equipment for magazines; well, let's agree to disagree, OK? I think that my latest Ultimate Home Cinema build will more than demonstrate that I do in fact know more than a little teensy bit about A/V.

And RE "I am not saying you need to place all 12 systems in a room to do a worthwhile comparison" - Erm, sorry but go back and read your own posts the inference of what you've been saying is EXACTLY that; and I have repeatedly explained WHY.

RE: "you can't present your vaunted note-taking comparison method as infallible" - Sorry, I have NEVER claimed that my auditioning process was absolutely ideal. I have readily acknowledged that the differing rooms will have been an influencing factor to an extent on audio performance. What I have done is the best that can be feasibly achieved. Yet this is not good enough for MR HAPPY, who it should be noted has never done a similar due dilligence exercise himself. MR HAPPY repeatedly criticises that the same room was not used and there was too long a time period between auditons; and consequently the only way such an exercise could have been carried out to MY HAPPY's totally infeasbile standards is to purchase all 12 high-end audio systems and construct a house with 12 identical rooms contained therein. Well sorry to burst your bubble MR HAPPY, but being critical that I have not done something that is completely infeasible is wholly unreasonable and quite frankly stupid.

So if my method of comprehensively auditioning these 12 high-end audio systems is not satisfactory to your totally infeasble standards, then I again invite you to carry out a similarly comprehensive evaluation of all these 12 high-end audio systems conducted to your infeasible standards, which will of course require you to audition all 12 audio systems in identical rooms and immediately after each other. Let me know how you get on and I look forward to reading your report.

Or alternatively, why not simply take my report as it is intended, namely my opinion from which you can decide to taken on board and/or dismiss as little or as much as you like. You are entitled to your own opinion, which I wholeheartedly respect, I only ask that you reciprocate, instead of flicking your poo at me like a monkey.

Very interesting actually, thanks

All the brainless obnoxious attacks are highly entertaining, and of course expected given it is a public Internet forum.

I've pretty much concluded that there is no-one on this forum capable or interested in having an intelligent discussion; but you never know, someone might surprise me.

Care to explain that nonsensical statement?

I don't know the exact room dimensions but it was very large; and I used a SPL METER to confirm dBs were both at and then subsequently above reference levels.

I am not a sound engineer and despite all the accusations I don't work for Steinway so I can't explain how it achieves those volume levels. I know it sounds crazy, but the Steinway systems go very, very, very loud indeed.

Something else equally bananas is that the drivers on the LS Boundary Woofers hardly move at all when the volume it set to these very high levels; I have no idea how that works either.

I readily put my hands up and state that I don't know HOW the system outputs such high SPL with the S-15 being such a tiny speaker; however, I can and have observed that they do and have confirmed this via use of an SPL meter.

BTW with regards to my latest take on the Ultimate Home Cinema, the room size is 4,720 cubic feet and I'm installing a Steinway S-Series Audio System; and I have it confirmed that it will quite happily output audio at and above reference levels in that size room.

Sorry to rain on your parade Mr Physics Professor, but care to explain how I measured via use of an SPL meter that the SPL outputted by the Steinway audio systems was at and subsequently above reference levels?

I think you need to go speak with the English Professor and have him explain the meaning of the word HYPERBOLE to you, since there's no exaggeration here whatsoever. Because I confirmed the SPL via use of an SPL meter that's a FACT, not a HYPERBOLE professor.

And thank you for confirming what I had already deduced, namely that you have never in fact even listened to a Steinway system, and hence are passing judgement on a system that you have never listened to, which is akin to reviewing a book that you've never read... your credibility... window... out

In which case thank you for confirming that I have 20 years' A/V experience

And with regards to your analogy you have in fact entirely proved my point, in that FOOD CRITICS haven't undergone training as a Professional Chef... capish?

Please kindly confirm which other brand operates the same way as Steinway Lyngdorf audio systems.

Well, now we're getting somewhere!

I will most certainly be providing this

I will in fact be providing fully comprehensive information, drawings and photos with regards to the design, construction, build, setup and testing of the Cinema.

Here's a couple of photos as a taster, which illustrate that the room is pretty damn big; the projection screen is going to be 4.2 metres / 13 foot 9 inches wide