Given the cost, a real deal-breaker for me, other than long-term product support, would be aesthetics. And, no, this is not because I am a retailer.
I had a SB3 running into the rather industrial-looking Lavry DA10. Now, the SB3, while cute, is not exactly the loveliest bit of gear. Throw in a Lavry and you're talking geeky. Geeky is not part of our decor. So, to me, having the extra bells and whistles, design-wise, is important. The dual displays, the knob, etc., look good in our living room -- good enough for my wife to notice and comment on it. And that, my friends, is saying a lot. The bottom line is that I am picky about design and that small sonic differences can be outweighed by design issues. Now, if the sound is a tad better and the design is a world better... But, YMMV. I have friends with cables all over the place, strange boxes piled on exotic boxes, etc. They tend to be 1) single or 2) have dedicated "guy" room in their house. I am happy to have my primary system in the family room. That is where we spend a great deal of time, entertain guests, house a collection of modern furniture that far outprices the audio stuff, etc. Anyway, interesting review, Tom. Thanks for taking the time to do this. I think you are right: for some people, and especially those already owning a SB2/3, going the way of modifications might be attractive. For others, certain considerations -- sound quality, support, and aesthetics -- make the Transporter attractive. Either way, it's all about enjoying music and the experience of putting together a system that appeals to YOU. In the end, the consumer is the best judge of what that means and what will get him (or her) there. -- highdudgeon Relax. It's about the music. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ highdudgeon's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=2195 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=30140 _______________________________________________ audiophiles mailing list [email protected] http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
