| | One of our members posted a message in our forum section criticising Ivan of Norman Audio as a ‘rude’ shopkeeper. Other voices proclaimed that he is not. Well, I never find him rude. The other day I was sitting in his showroom waiting patiently for my turn to be served, I was impressed by the way he treated one of his customers. His affably politeness towards this client, his professional explanation and his gentle persuasion were very convincing. Makes me feel that Ivan is trustworthy especially when you have some money to spend on Hi-Fi but caught between this and that… Well, perhaps the well-bred attitude as observed by me that day was purely because I was sitting there…because he was intimated by my presence? I can’t comment! Let our members be the judges! |
| | | | Anyway, the reason I spent a few hours in his shop was because I was humbly invited by Ivan to listen to his S$5,000 system. Through the phone I was quite astonished to hear that because I thought the only brand of amplifiers carried by Norman Audio is the world-renowned YBA - Yves Bernard Andre – and all the while I was longing to have a chance to audition the Signature series of which the Preamp costs around S$35,000 and power amp slightly over S$50,000. To me, they are just another ‘cry for the moon’ items, but they itched my mind! Ivan has brought-in this series to Singapore before and he actually sold a few sets but at the moment he has no stock. Although YBA has a huge product range and there are some affordable amplifiers costing well below S$5,000, but the name YBA was engraved in my mind as the equivalent of ‘expensive’. At that instant I was about to say no and reject Ivan’s offer. After we published my first recommended S$5,000 system – Audio 88’s “Audio Space + Elac” system – not long ago, this S$5,000 subject has become more or less a ‘custard-pie’ matter within the audio industry. For me to recommend another S$5,000 system within such a short period is definitely a feared and unwise move. However, look at it the other way, it is unfair to the industry or to our readers if there is only ‘ONE’ recommended S$5,000 system…People may asked, did you sleep with Brandon or what? |
| | | This is nothing to do with my affectation but I really have to decide carefully whether I should recommend another S$5000 system or not. Is there any invulnerable solution? However, Ivan convinced me thoroughly. First, he told me that both the amplifier and the CD player are from YBA although they are not named YBA; Second, the speakers included in the package is a floor standing speakers with 5-star rating ranked by both “Hi-Fi Choice” and “What Hi-Fi”. Third, the package even comes with YBA original interconnect and speaker cables. All these add up…to me is a bewitchment! I need to know more. So I went to his shop in an afternoon… Actually what he referred to; the YBA that is not named YBA but is in fact YBA; is called Audio Refinement - another range of YBA that was launched few years ago. Audio Refinement products are designed by Mr. YBA himself except that he did not listen to each and every piece like he did with every YBA product…Is that the reason these products are marketed under another brand name? |
| | | | Wow! Do you mean Mr. YBA really listened to every piece of YBA products himself before it ex-factory? I am amazed to learn that…He must be really enjoying listening to his own products or he has nothing else better to do. Otherwise what a boredom! Anyway, Ivan told me that the relationship between YBA and Audio Refinement could be described by an analogy: If YBA is an Audi; Audio Refinement would be Volkswagen, regardless of the COE prices of course! That means Audio Refinement is made using the parts and design philosophy of YBA but selling at more affordable prices. A scale-down version! However, they add the word ”Complete” to name this series! Well, Mr YBA is actually driving an Audi…But I really don’t see how Volkswagen simulates Audi? Which model do you mean? The soul, heart and main ingredient of this S$5,000 system offered by Norman Audio is Audio Refinement’s 50wx2 (8ohm) integrated amp named “The Complete Integrated Amp”. Despite its unique smooth and high-class silver finishing and cosmetics (knobs, etc) inherited from YBA, the Audio Refinement has obtained many, many positive reviews throughout the world from publications like Stereophile, IAR, Inner Ear, Audio Art, Sound Stage, etc. by itself due to its inherent sound quality. Ivan passed me a thick booklet containing copies of all the reviews and if I really have to go through them, it shall take me a few nights. I am always very busy during nighttime, Ivan! Do you have ‘Playboy’ or ‘Penthouse’ instead? |
| | | I hate reading reviews…generally they are stupefacient! However, my decorousness forced me to flip through the file just to pretend in front of Ivan that I am interested. Among tons of reviews in the file obviously I’ll pick the most authoritative Stereophile’s review. Jumping across the lines I read this:
“Simple and elegant in appearance…the complete series is not some glorified mid-fi concept, many of its design refinements are directly descended from Andre’s past decade of designing the line of no-comprise YBA products… The amp is very easy to listen to – no edginess or grain. Even more impressive were the solidity and pacing it imparted to the speakers, resulting in greater bass control, sound quite punchy and adult… Effortlessly in driving speakers like Joseph Audio RM22si at 84.5db. The amp’s rhythm and pacing were dead on; quick, tight and articulate, with exceptional bass control… Images were so vividly drawn, the sound staging so holographic, the stereo separation so clean. Not forward and aggressive, but gently laid-back – in the best sense of the term… Smoothness to the treble that was quite pleasing, without any sense of edgy, solid-state brightness…very involving and never fatiguing….” (Review by Chip Stern, Stereophile) |
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Well, sounds pretty interesting…What drawn my attention was that not many solid-state amplifiers at this price range can obtain so many ‘kind words’ from reviewer of Stereophile… |
| | | However, other prestigious magazines, for example, ‘Audio’ also raved it up by saying:
“…Its single main circuit board is populated with lots of audiophile-approved components such as Wima and Roe capacitors and what appear to be Vishay resistors… To drive a pair of Platinum Solo (84db)…smooth, naturally liquid sound that was a pleasure to listen to and there was no lack of depth, top-octave detail, or air. It drove the Solo with dynamic, musically satisfying power and sounded defined and authoritative right to its capacity… No hesitation to recommend it for serious audition to anyone who is seeking simple, high-quality music playback – where sonic and spending must be carefully balanced and who is ready to dip into the high-end waters…” (Review by Daniel Kumin, Audio) |
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WaWaWah! Did I ever say I don’t trust any reviews but my own pair of ears only (read Infatuation)? My saliva really started dripping. All the while I’ve been looking for a small amp for my bedroom system and seems that this Audio Refinement…if the performance is really as excellent as what I read, is nothing but ideal. OK, since Ivan was still serving his customer, I carried on… IAR Hotline seems even more exaggerating:
“The obvious value leader in integrated amp and indeed the best solid state integrated amp we have heard yet at nay price surpassing big name high-end units… The sound is unique among solid-state products. It is the first solid-state product that successfully captures the essence of tube sound. Its sound actually goes over the hybrid fence into tube territory, with a slightly liquid, delicate sheen to the upper frequencies… Indeed, the Audio Refinement integrated is more musically enjoyable than any and all other solid state products, regardless of price…” |
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| | | | Ivan, that’s UNFAIR! How can you asked me to audition your system with all these strong influential comments filling up my mind in prior? What if I can’t hear all the good points as mentioned? Does that mean that my listening power is not as good as the Stereophile’s reviewer or the IAR people? If I can’t say anything negative about the Audio Refinement you might as well just asked me to publish all the original reviews on 1388.com instead…save me the trouble…Ok, since my mind was already being contaminated by all these review talks, you might as well tell me more…treat me like a potential customer… Not a word from Ivan but he passed me a set of the integrated amp with the lid open; I almost drop it on the floor instantly due to the unexpected weight. Wow, it is HEAVY! The first thing that attracted my eyes was the special R-type transformer. Wow, it is BIG! The orange coloured ROE capacitors together with the neatly layout PCD filled up with high quality components such as Wima Caps is illustrative enough that this product is something extraordinary. Wow, it is CLASSY! Ivan then told me about the three special ceramic feet that comes with the set. “Only available in the Singapore & Malaysia markets only!” he said. Then he showed me the unique and elegantly designed remote control that can control both the CD player and the integrated amp… |
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