How important is build quality?

Posted by Andre Yew [IP: 208.8.104.2] on May 01, 1999 at 00:43:16
Using Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 4.01; Windows 98):

In Reply to: How important is build quality? posted by Brian Paulsen on April 30, 1999 at 14:37:54:

This is an interesting question, and many reactions we see in the press to this build quality issue reflect the myopia of the press and, unfortunately, some audiophiles that have chosen to focus on one aspect to the detriment and ignorance of other important things. This is the same attitude that's given us our obsession with jitter and DAC chip brands.

I think the real issues are more complicated than that. For example, weight can be a useful measure of an amplifier. Josh Carter wondered how much of his Classe's weight came from its fairly thick panels. I can assure Josh that most of the weight of the larger Classe's come from the iron in its huge transformer and its heatsinks. Same goes for Krell and other nice amps that can drive low impedance loads like a constant voltage source, which requires a very hefty power supply and output stage.

I have to wonder about the same standards applied to processors. I think here the standards must address issues of RF shielding and internal grounding (so a cardboard box would be entirely inappropriate), durability of the connections and front panel switches, and ease of service (for upgrades). Ergonomics would rank high on my list as well, because, though it does not directly reflect physical build quality, good ergonomics reflect thought and consideration in a product's design, which are necessary qualities for something of superior build quality.

Good build quality would seem to be function specific, and would change depending on what component you were talking about. Although it looks like Krell is trying cross lines with its $18K subwoofer machined out of aluminum billet. I hope wooden sub owners are not dying of envy :-).

--Andre

Follow Ups:

• How important is build quality? - Michael A. Sills 07:43:32 05/01/99 (1)
  • How important is build quality? - Michael A. Sills 07:52:44 05/01/99 (0)

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