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Colloms Sound Quality Ratings

Subjective sound quality scaling

These comparative sound quality ratings are mainly used for audio electronics: power amplifiers, preamplifiers, CD players and integrated amplifiers.

How it was done

Some 25 years ago, I adopted the IEC based scale operating from 0 to 10.  Zero represented nil fidelity while 10 was assigned to essentially perfect reproduction.  Given a sufficiently large and representative group of products, a score of 5 naturally  became the group average for sound quality. Such results were self-limiting and self-sufficient for each group test.

Maintaining a historic standard based on such results has proved difficult as equipment continued to improve and the sound quality scores edged inexorably higher towards 8 and 9. The need to differentiate degrees of excellence demanded increasingly finer resolution as this scale was being logarithmically crushed towards that pre-chosen limit of perfection, namely 10.

I solved this problem by removing the barrier represented by ‘scale 10’ and decided that my numeric scores should rise in proportion to the gauged percentage improvement over previous references, many of which are maintained in my own equipment store. These references help immensely in achieving a measure of long term consistency.    

Historically, low grade, marginal quality integrated amplifiers score as they always did, at the 5 to 6 point level, while worthy hi fi alternatives attain 12 to 18. Improved power amplifiers lie in the 18 to 28 range, while top of the line references have now reached 40 points and more. Subjectively, weighing all the subjective parameters, including ‘involvement’ – the ability to hold the listeners attention – a 40 is considered to be subjectively ‘twice as good’ as one scoring 20. Appreciating sound quality at these higher levels requires a commensurate performance from all other elements in the chain that is used to evaluate the products.

A further decade of commercial endeavour since the sequence began has taken the scoring to a present maximum over 150. Nevertheless a superb score such as this cannot fully account for individual taste and how good a match might be achieved with a given partnering system. Thus the intending purchaser’s own discretion, judgment and experience will still be required to make sense of these sound quality scores. A number of historic and interesting products are included in the listing for reference purposes.

Method and ratings

Auditioning begins with preliminary trials, an extended running-in and warm-up period, plus informal trials with the partnering system, exploring the more obvious aspects, and seeking complementary combinations of audio components to see how to best understand the quality of the DUT, the device under test. Different shelves, platforms or feet can assist, while other important aspects include cables overall, including mains cables. An amplifier may sound bright with a given speaker and cable set. This is useful information but if other aspects of its potential are to be fairly assessed it is worth trying to fine-tune the system first. Preliminary descriptions of sound quality are developed in this phase.

The second stage involves powering up reference amplifiers, checking levels and absolute phase, and making comparisons, comparing and contrasting the many dimensions of sound quality. With reference scores pre established for the comparison products an idea of the special and overall merits of the DUT can be established. At this stage, given some practice, it fairly easy to determine a difference score for the test products.

The mental framework is one of percentages. If, when compared with a familiar reference which has a long established sound quality score of 30, the DUT is subjectively about 50% better; for example a balance of deeper soundstage, better reverberant field, sharper focus, more rhythm and listener involvement, crisper bass, sweeter treble, higher resolution, and these and other aspects are all weighed in the balance. On this basis the new product is rated 15 points better than the chosen reference and thus gets 45 marks. This will be a provisional score because one further step needs to be taken.

Such subjective ratings inevitably have embedded in them the musical sensibility of the listeners, and here the test bias leans more to the involvement and entertainment aspects of sound reproduction, and where a beautiful sound and a big focused soundstage alone will not score at the highest level if the sense of drama, dynamics and rhythm is also unduly diluted.

It is unfortunate that there are many nice sounding products on the market where the designers have unduly focused on beauty and detail and seem to have quite missed the point about musical performance; these designs are good at reproducing the notes but fail to show the musicians working as a team.

If Hi Fi reproduction is rendered elegant but boring then we all might as well pack up now, as we inexorably head towards Musak performances, hastened by the advancing dissemination of MP3 lossy coding and its ilk.

Consider that the final published score could be regarded as artificial, an illusion since you are unlikely to hear this full potential at a dealer, and will only hear it at home if you take the product to the practical limit. So there is a third stage in the judgement process which concerns powering down and disconnecting, and ideally physically removing, all the comparison and redundant source components from the test system. The DUT is now operated alone, free of unnecessary supply interference, digital noise from other components, physically well supported and located, in as optimal a system match as can be practically achieved. At this point a final sound quality score is confirmed, following extended listening with a variety of program and program sources, the best that could be optimally achieved.

Digital Audio

Device Under Test (DUT) Rating
Accuphase DP70v cd/pre 33
AMR777 47
Arcam CD192 15
Arcam Solo on CD 16
ARCAM SuperDAC FMJ D33 35
Audio Analogue Crescendo 28
Audio Note Cdt Three II Black DAC 5, signature version 53, 75
Audio Note Level 6 transport, Level6 power 425
Audio Note Level 5 DAC Level 5, Force Power 400-450
Audio Synthesis DAX 46
Audio Synthesis DAX Decade 50
Audiolab 8000 CDP 15
Audiolab M-DAC 70
Audioquest DragonFly Mk1 45
Aurender W20, fully locked to DCS Scarlatti 200
Bel Canto CD-2 23
Benchmark DAC2 HGC 38
Boulder 2020 Dac 32
Burmester CDP 089 65
Cambridge Audio DAC Magic 100 130
Cambridge Audio DAC Magic Plus 110
Cambridge Audio CD1, 1987 14.5
Cambridge Audio Sonata NP30 50
Cary 300 CD 26
Chord DSC 1500 DAC 35
Chord QBD76 35
Classe DAC 1 26
Creek Classic 22
DCS Elgar DAC: HD, CD 48,38
DCS Scarlatti when fully clocked 200
DCS Puccini DAC - Transport CD, filter 2 93
DCS Paganini 135-145
DCS Puccini DAC - Transport CD, direct 120
DCS Puccini U Clock on SACD direct 135
DCS Puccini U Clock direct sacd, filter 3 option 150
Denon 700CDP 12
Exposure ClassicXXII 45
Exposure MCX 75-90
Krell MD10 - 64DAC 43
Krell KPS 20i 48
Krell KPS25cx 50
Krell KPS28 cd 35
Krell 300i CD 28
Krell Connect / DAC 160
Lampizator DAC Generation 3 Level 4 60-80
Linn Sondek CD12 42
Linn Karik Numerik CD 17
LINN Akurate DS CD, streamed HD 80,120
Device Under Test (DUT) Rating
Marantz CD 65 SE 12.5
Marantz CD-7 CDP 50
Marantz CD 17 KI 22
Marantz CD60 SE 15
Marantz CD 85 14
Mark Levinson ML30 DAC-Transport 45
Meridian 602 CDT 23
Meridian 203 DAC 25
Meridian MCD mk1, historic score 8
Meridian 808i.2 Reference Signature, direct 125/135
Metrum Acoustics Octave 185-210
Metrum Acoustics HEX balanced output 195
Micromega CD 10 20
Moon Equinox RS 20
MSB Platinum Signature IV 200-240
MSB DAC, provisional rating 2008 version 55
Muse Model 9 CD 30
Musical Fidelity V90 150
MytechStereo 192 DSD 90
Naim CD 5i 14
Naim CDS2 50
Naim CDS3 78
Naim CDX2.2 XPS2 56
Naim CDX2.2 45
Naim CD 555 89
NAIM NDS,555PSDR 300
Naim Unitiserve SSD 225
Naim Unitiserve HDD 250
Naim DAC, XPS2 90
Naim DAC 72
Parasound Z DAC 34
Resolution Audio OPUS 21 40
Rega DAC 55-60
Rega Apollo 28
Rega ISIS 82
Resolution Audio Cantata streamer 70
Rega Saturn CDP 29
Revox B226S CDP 9.4
Sony 337 SE CDP 12.5
Sony SCD1 CD/SACD 38 / 55
Sony 557es 11.5
Vertex AQ Aletheia 250
Wadia 16 43
Wadia 860 45
Wadia iDock 170 10
Wadia 7/8 T /DAC 47
Weiss DAC202 65/ 75
Zanden 3 box CDP 105

Integrated Amplifiers

Device Under Test (DUT) Rating
AMR AM -77 55
Arcam A38 FMJ 23
Audionote Ongaku (uk 2005) 45
Audiolab 8000s 1990s 15
Audiolab 8000a (original) 8.2
Audio Research VSi-75 loudspeaker dependant 65-85
Ayre AX-7e 30
Cambridge Audio Azur 840 6
Conrad Johnson CAV 50 35
Creek Destiny 33
Creek Evolution 23
Croft Polestar 16
Cyrus 6 12.5
Cyrus 8 14
Dartzeel CTH-8550 150
Denson Beat 100 amplifier 17
EAR 859 (int.) 25
Electrocompaniet EC1 -3 14
Gamut Si 100 34
Ikon Audio Stereo Three Hundred 10
Jolida JD502BRC 33
Krell FBI 63(PA), 58 (int.)
Krell KAV 300i 22
Krell S-300i 45
LFD (load dependant 40) 60
Device Under Test (DUT) Rating
Musical Fidelity A1 (Original) 15
Musical Fidelity A 1000 20
Musical Fidelity XT-100 28
Naim NAIT orignal recapped 26
Naim NAIT 5 31
Naim NAIT 5XS 36
Naim Supernait 48
Naim Supernait HI-Cap 64
Naim Nait5 XS (Flat Cap) 35 (45)
Naim Supernait 2 77
Naim Nait5 XS Flat-Cap 45
Pathos inpol remix 39
Pioneer M9 11
Plinius 9200 disc/line 18/20
PS Audio Trio C100 10
Pure Sound A10 25
Pure Sound A30 23
Rega Elicit R 45
Rega OSIRIS 27
Roksan Kandy IIIL 20
Roksan Caspian 26
Rotel RA 820B X2 9.5
Sugden A21 Series 2 16
Unison Research S6 30
Unison Research P40 30

Power Amplifiers

Device Under Test (DUT) Rating
Audio Note Kegon SE ( WE300B) 40
Audio Note Ongaku (2005, load dependant) 55-85
Audio Research D120 19
Audio Research MA100 18
Audio Research M300 16
Audio Research SP11 Mk2 15.5
Audio Research D115 II 11
Audio Research D25 18
Audio Research M 300 14.5
Audio Research VT 150 (SE) 28 (29)
Audio Research D400 18
Audio Research D120 19
Audio Research Classic 120 20
Audio Research VTM200 28
ARC D125 18
ARC REF 150 185
Audio Research REF D110 (check loading) 133
Bel Canto SET 80 23
Bel Canto e.One REF1000 10.5
Bully Sound BSC 100m provisional 130
Bully Sound BSC 60s provisional 180
Cary SLP 70 Power 16
Cary 572 SE 35
Cary 300se LX20 (fixed bias) 50
Cary 300se LX20 (auto bias) 38
Cary 805 c (load dependant) 45
Cello Performance power amp 12.8
Channel Islands D100LGR 13
Classe CA 201 17
Classe CA 200 20
Conrad Johnson Premier 8a 38
Conrad Johnson MV125 18.5
Conrad Johnson MF 2300 22
Conrad Johnson MF 2500 22
Conrad Johnson MV55 23
Conrad Johnson Premier 140 35
Conrad Johnson LS70 38
Conrad Johnson MV60se [EL34] 35
Conrad Johnson MV60se [6550] 40
Conrad Johnson Premier 350SA 110
Cyrus PA 7 monos 24
D'Agostino Stereo power amplifier 210
DNM PA3s 33
Edge NL 10 Mono 37
Electrocompaniet AW 250 power 17
Exposure MCX 100
Flying Mole DAD -M100 proHT mono 20
Goldmund Mimesis 3 power amp 16
Halcro DM 38 33
Hot Tubes JD1 50
Jadis JA 30 power 15
Device Under Test (DUT) Rating
Jadis JA200 16
Karan KA S270 power 36
Karan KSA 450 80
Krell Evolution 402 original 75
Krell FPB 650m 55
Krell FPB300 (original) 33
Krell FPB300 Mk2 39
Krel PfPB400CX 78
Krell FPB 400 65
Krell FPB700cx 100
Krell KMA 100 II 14
Krell KSA 100s 21
Krell KSA 80 17.5
Krell MDA 300 23
Krell KSA200s 19.5
Krell KST power 19.5
Krell KAS-2 30
Krell Evolution One 130
Krell FPB600 45
Krell KSA150B 20
Krell KSA 50 9.7
Krell KMA 160 21
Krell FPB 400cx 75
Krell Evo 402e 145
Krell Evo 402 ( later series) 120
Krell KAS 2 31
Mark Levinson ML 20.5 16
Mark Levinson ML 333 22
MSB Platinum 200 mono 145
Muse 175 power 17
Musical Fidelity A370 15.3
Naim NAP 200 provisional 80
Naim NAP 250 classic 29
Naim NAP 300 ( 2013) 130
NuForce 8.5V2 9
Pro-Ject Amp Box 5
Quad 405 7.3
Quad 202 10
Quad 303 6.5
Quad 606 8.5
Quad II Classic 2009 18
Radford STA 25II 12
Robert Koda K-70 185
Sharp 1 bit SM-X100 15
Spectral DMA 50 (pre 1990) 15
Sunfire 300W 14
Tag McLaren 100X5R stereo 17.5
Technics SE-A 3000 power 12
VAC Phi 200 stereo mode 130
VAC Phi 200 as monoblocks 180

Preamplifiers and Phono Stages

Device Under Test (DUT) Rating
Aesthetix Rhea Phono 38
Aesthetix Calypso (26 with NOS valves) 20
Audio Music R-S (Balanced) 125
Audio Research LS 7 28
Audio Research SP10 11
Audio Research LS5 II 21
Audio Research LS 15 25
Audio Research LS 9 24
Audio Research LS 15 25
Audio Research LS 2 25
ARC SP11 II 15.5
Audio Research LS 8 20
Audio Research PH 1 22
Audio Research LS 22 30
ARC REF 2 Phono MC/MM 155mm 145 mc
Audio Research LS 3 b 25
ARC REF 2 line 57
ARC REF 3 115 SE,130 Bal
Audio Research REF 5 SE 205 SE, 225 Bal
ARC REF 5 160 SE, 175 Bal
Audiolab 8000p provisional 25
Audiolab 8000c pre 11
Audio Note M8, Audio Note M10 48 (aux in)
Audio Note M-9, Audio Note ANS -9 (MC Phono) 160
Audio Note ANS-4 step up 65
Audio Synthesis Passion (Vishay) 36
Audio Synthesis Passion Ultimate (remote) 31
Audio Synthesis Passion 30
Aurorasound Vida 70
Boulder 2010 28
Bryston BP26 16
Cary pre SLA 74P phono/line 16
Cello Palette 16
Cello Audio Suite Pre 15.5
Classe CP 65 35
Concert Fidelity CF-08LSX-2 150
Conrad Johnson EV1 30
Conrad Johnson CT5 90
Conrad Johnson Premiere 15 45
Conrad Johnson ART 57
Conrad Johnson ART II 68
Conrad Johnson ACT-2 (mkII) 105 (110)
Conrad Johnson Premier 7 36
Conrad Johnson 17 LS mkI 46
Conrad Johnson 17 LS -II 44
Conrad Johnson PV 14L 24
Conrad Johnson PF-R 22
Conrad Johnson Evolution 20 20
Conrad Johnson Motif (line) 23
Conrad Johnson Premier 16 49
Device Under Test (DUT) Rating
Conrad Johnson Premier 14 39
Conrad Johnson Premier 16LS 49
Conrad Johnson Premier 18 28
Conrad Johnson Sonographe fet pre 15
Conrad Johnson 18LS 30
Conrad Johnson PV10 B 28 (line)
Creek OBH -15 MM, MC phono 35, 19
Creek OBH 22 passive (load sensitive) 39
Creek OBH 21 Headphone amp 40
Cyrus Phono (PSU) 28(35)
Edge Signature one (battery) 37
Electrocompaniet EC3 18.5 MC, 22 line
Exposure MCX 98
Halcro DM10 22 disc/26line
Jadis JP 30 (original series) 14
Klyne sk6 13.5
Krell Evolution One 120
Krell Evolution 202 70
Krell KSP pre 21
Krell KRC-2 22.5
Krell KCT 28 28
Krell KPS 28 35
Lehmann Audio Silver Cube 26
LINN Uphorik 98
Mark Levinson No 38s 33
Mark Levinson ML 26 20.5
Musical Fidelity MVX pre 12
Musical Fidelity MVT 13.5
Music First Reference  Bal/SE TFR 180
Myryad MP 100 pre 15
Naim Prefix mc phono 45
Naim Superline mc phono- Hi-Cap 120
Naim Superlinemc phono Supercap, Supercap DR 145, 190
Pink Triangle PIP pre 18
Plinius Koru 15 MM/MC
Pro-ject Tube Box SE II Phono MC, MM 45,45
PS Audio GCPH 15
Roksan Platinum Phono Reference DXP SE 45
Roksan Platinum PR15B 20
Stevens and Billington transformer passive 33
Tag McLaren DPA 32 19
Thrax Dionysus 135
Thrax Orpheus 225
Townshend Allegri autotransformer 230
Townshend Glastonbury  Pre 1 SE AutoTFR 195
Trichord Dino Mk2 MC phono 29 std supply, 33 NC supply
Van Den Hul Grail MC phono 65
XTC PRE II 80 (line)
YBA Pre 1 15.5

Loudspeaker Cables

Device Under Test (DUT) Rating
Abbey Road Reference 28
Abbey Road Monitor 25
Audio Quest CV-4.2 55
Bell Wire' ( 5m ) 8
Cardas Golden Reference 90
DNM Precision 43
Gamut Wormhole Signature 55
Kimber Monocle XL (single wire version) 40
Kimber Black Pearl 110
Kimber KS 3035 72
Kimber KS 3038 95
Kimber 8TC SE 72
Microphonic Audio 'Reference' 21
LFD 'Loudspeaker', flat copper ribbon cable 50
Nordost Frey 35
Naim NACA5 105
Nordost Heimdal 30
Device Under Test (DUT) Rating
Transparent Reference XL mm 100
Transparent Reference XL mm2 155 !
Transparent Reference MM 96
Transparent Music Wave Plus 69
QED Silverline Anniversary XT 17
QED XT 400 12
Russ Andrews/Kimber Crystal 24 47 Kimber spades
Russ Andrews/Kimber Crystal 24 52 WBT 4mm
Tellurium Blue 20
Telluirium Black 23
Van Den Hul Royal Jade 28
Van Den Hul Super Nova 35
Van Den Hul CS122 ( better at longer lengths) 31
Van Damme Classic 2x1.5 mm twin axial 14
Wireworld Atlantis 5 42
Wyrewizard Dreamcaster bi wire 31
Yter (best below 4 m length) 85

Interconnect Cables, Analogue and Digital

Device Under Test (DUT) Rating
Abbey Road Reference 28
Abbey Road Monitor 25
Audio Note Pallas SPDIF 93
AudioNote SOGON 42 80
Audioquest Diamond USB 75
Audioquest Forest 110
Audioquest Carbon USB 1.5m , 5metre 67, 35
AudioQuest King Cobra 27
AudioQuest Sidewinder 24
AudioQuest Diamondback 30
AudioQuest Columbia, dc bias 34
Belden cat 5 UTP 120
Belden Cat 6 UTP 130
Belden Cat 7 165
Bell Wire' (1m) (single strand) 11
Brilliance HI FI Synergy 32
Cardas Clear USB 47
Cardas Golden Reference 130
Cardas Golden Cross 115
Chord Silverplus 5m USB coiled 70, uncoiled 90
Chord Sarum SPDIF 85
Crystal Cable Piccolo 43
DNM Precision 45
Furutech GT-2 USB 82
Kimber USB-Ag Blue 80
Kimber Silver Streak 60 ( WBT connectors)
Kimber 'USB' 73
Kimber Timbre 30
Kimber Tonik SD 95
Device Under Test (DUT) Rating
Kimber Tonik 33
LFD Silver interconnect (Oct 2008) 85
Meicord Cat6 UTP 150
Monster Interlink 400 mk II 20
Naim 75ohm BNC Digital 120
Nordost Blue Heaven 43
Supra USB 2m 70
TCI Tiger II 30
Transparent Reference XL mm 120
Transparent Reference XL mm2 145
Transparent Reference MM 110
Transparent Reference SPDIF digital 110
Transparent Music Wave Plus 64
QED Graphite USB 3m , 1m 36, 40
QED QNEX 3 23
Russ Andrews/Kimber Crystal-Cu 50
Van Den Hul The First Ultimate Digital used for SPDIF 75
Van Den Hul The First Ultimate 115 (note significant electrical resistance)
Van Den Hul The Name 35
Van Den Hul the Hill 32
Van Den Hul The Mountain 53
Van Den Hul The Second RCA 45
Van Den Hul Integration 105
Van Den Hul The Second , (Balanced only) 80
Van Den Hul Orchid 36
Wireworld Platinum Starlight USB 70
Wireworld Equinox 5 45
Wyrewizard Dreamcaster 25
Wyrewizard Enchantress 45

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