General Asylum: REVIEW: Audio Refinement Complete Integrated Amplifier (SS) by Mikecohike General audio topics that don't fit into specific categories.

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This is a review of both the Audio Refinement “Complete Integrated Amp and CD player”. After extensive research I drove 60 miles to purchase these two pieces of audio equipment. I thought I had found the perfect integrated amp and CD combination. The Complete series by Audio Refinement. What I discovered was complete disappointment. I am glad that I took the option to home audition the equipment for a week before purchasing it. If you are a serious listener this combination will not satisfy you. It is a nice looking amp and CD player for casual listening or as a second system.
The integrated amp sounds compressed as if all recording are done in a small place. It misses space and imaging. The bass is weak. The rhythm seems off, as if slow. When your foot should be tapping to the music you sense a delay. There is no provisions for adding an amp for there is no external connection between the amp and preamp, as seems almost standard at this price range. Sound a side; the mechanics of it are a disappointment. The cross talk between the audio input selections is beyond belief, especially at this price range. Example, if the input selection you select tuner and have the CD player on (your tuner is not turned on yet) you can hear the CD playing. It’s as if it is on mute. I believe this accounts for the distortion – poor channel separation you experience especially when you get into full classical music.
. The CD player is not worth $1000.00. When you play a song. (I used a test CD from Stereophile – a good recording) with quiet passages what you experience is audible rumble. At first I thought my wife had the washing machine on. When I returned the unit to the dealer he could not believe it. We tried another “Complete CD” player with the exact same results. We then tried CD players from $400.00 to $1800.00 and there was no rumble, during these passages. Only silence,

Again this is great equipment for the casual listener. Once you get past the glossy brochure, what you experience is audio disappointment. The parent company YBA made a mistake by attempting to gain access into the $1000.00 price range. This equipment is easily beat by components half the price. Also note this equipment is made in Taiwan.
Be aware that the reviews that rave about this equipment may be coming from dealers.

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