Sugden amplifiers - What's so special about them?

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Sugden amplifiers - What's so special about them?

Рет қаралды 40,434

Күн бұрын

It's not so often one gets the chance to compare four different amplifiers from the same manufacturer. In this talk, I share my thoughts on why I like Sugden amplifiers so much and the things you should take into account before purchasing an amplifier from Sugden.
The music chosen for the comparisons at the end was: 'I've got you under my skin' sung by Clare Teal with the Syd Lawrence Orchestra. (More info from www.chasingthedragonrecords.co.uk)
The Sugden amplifiers covered:
Sugden A21: Specifications
Line Input Sensitivity 170mV for max. out
Power Output 23 Watts into 8 Ohms
Frequency Response + -1dB 10Hz-20kHz
Bandwidth 6Hz-200kHz
Signal to Noise less than 83dB
Gross Weight (packed) 11kgs
Dimensions 92 x 430 x 350mm hwd
Sugden A21SE: Specifications
Line Input Sensitivity 110mV @ zero attenuation for full output
Power Output 30 Watts into 8 Ohms both channels working
40 Watts into 4 Ohms both channels working
Frequency Response + -1dB 12Hz-141kHz
Bandwidth 6Hz-280kHz
Signal to Noise Less than 90dB
Gross Weight (packed) 15kgs
Dimensions 115 x 430 x 360mm hwd
Sugden SPA-4: Specifications
Input Sensitivity 1Volt for full output
Power Output 75 Watts into 4 Ohms both channels working
Frequency Response + -0dB 15Hz-30kHz
Bandwidth -3dB points 2Hz-200kHz
Signal to Noise less than 85dB
Gross Weight (packed) 25kgs
Dimensions 250 x 430 x 350mm hwd
Sugden ANV-50: Specifications
Line Input Sensitivity 110mV @ zero attenuation for full output
Power Output 50 Watts into 8 Ohms both channels working
100 Watts into 4 Ohms both channels working
Frequency Response + -1dB 12Hz-45kHz
Bandwidth 8Hz-86kHz
Signal to Noise less than 85dB
Gross Weight (packed) 11kgs
Dimensions 143 x 430 x 370mm hwd
If you would like to find out more about Pearl Acoustics and our Sibelius loudspeakers, please visit our website at: www.pearlacoust...
or email us with your questions: enquiries@pearlacoustics.com
Social media links:
/ pearlacoustics
/ pearl.acoustics

Пікірлер: 346

@stevenheaton5960 11 ай бұрын

I live 3 miles away from the Sugden factory I took my a28 down for a service and check up,I was treated extremely well,factory tour and spent 2 hrs in the listening room,absolutely amazing gear,they did have a very modest pair of Acoustic energy Ae109 the 90s stalwart,the Manager said they were amazing value for money and worked superbly with their amps.Really nice genuine people. Thank you for your films,most interesting and informative.

@PearlAcoustics 11 ай бұрын

I have never visited. Would love to one day.

@jimfarrell4635 10 ай бұрын

I have literally just discovered the grilles from my AE109s squashed between bookcases. My son still uses my old 109s which are still doing a solid job. I think they were the introduction to floorstanders for a lot of people of my vintage.

@Drackleyrva 10 ай бұрын

What other speaker brands pair well with Sugden?

@cyrusbudatfletchergateart3569 9 ай бұрын

ProAc Tablettes 10 signature

@tillaard61 Ай бұрын

You'r lucky, I wish to do the same 😊

@benfromhaarlem6617 Ай бұрын

Thanks Harley for this magnificent review! In the early 0's, round about 2003 I decided to search for a second hand Sugden for the replacement of my Cyrus II combined with PSX. In 2004 I bought a Sugden AU51 P and C in mint condition, approximately 7 years old. I had to wait 12 years to finally be able to buy the matching Sugden AU51 DAC and Sugden AU51 Transport! Last year the grandson of the electronics architect of the '90 Sugden gear sold me the Sugden AU51 Phone after the in The Hage (Den Haag) based Audio shop De Jong & Warnaars quitted their business...So, celebrating this year my proud 20th year ownership of Sugden gear!

@PearlAcoustics Ай бұрын

Thanks for your kind words. So pleased you’re happy with your Sugden gear. It’s certainly priced outstanding value for money for you! Enjoy.

@JonathanMHMiller 9 ай бұрын

Thank you Harley Lovegrove for this insightful and polite video. I am the son of Patrick Miller and we as a family are very appreciative of the respect you gave towards the loss of my Father. It means a lot during these difficult times.

@PearlAcoustics 9 ай бұрын

Dear Jonathan, how lovely to hear from you. Bearing in mind, all that your father had done for the brand during some difficult years, I felt we owed it to him. My deepest sympathies go out to you, your family and staff. If you are ever in Belgium, we would love to welcome you to our listening room here. Best wishes Harley

@terencefield3204 10 ай бұрын

Very sad to hear that Mr MIllar pas so recently passed. A fine lifetimes work. Wonderful products. A great contribution to life and achievement. R.I.P.

@johnseddon2955 10 ай бұрын

Thank you for this interesting video. I have a Sugden A21 SE partnered with a pair of Proac Response D2s in a medium to small sized family room with less than ideal positioning. They are a liquid smooth, dynamic and detailed combination. You can really sink back into the music. They also sound complete at low listening volumes which is important for me in a busy household and to preserve my hearing. I know it’s subjective but I like the industrial design of the amp as well. I can’t see myself changing this partnership. Thank you again

@BadMonkeyFinger_Audio 6 ай бұрын

14:09 | 14:44 | 15:20 | 15:56 | 16:32 It's just amazing how you can actually discern differences among the amps through KZfaq. That's why I find these comparison videos useful; while you don't hear ultimate sound quality, you DO hear relative sound quality.

@PearlAcoustics 6 ай бұрын

Thank you! So glad you find them useful.

@Pressure_23 5 ай бұрын

The above comment is correct. It is surprisingly useful. One can hear the difference in bass weight between the different amps. Unexpected. An a21se with a custom orange front panel (a cost option) would be a lovely device to have in the house. Keen to hear these with perhaps some Harbeths.

@RedRiverMud 5 ай бұрын

Totally agree. Listening through my iPhone and cheap earbuds, I heard the greater difference between the A21 Stealth and the SE.

@andywrollo2915 4 ай бұрын

Especially when you listen on yer phone😂😂😂😂

@BadMonkeyFinger_Audio 4 ай бұрын

@@andywrollo2915 lol, well that's not what I'm doing, but I get ya. I'm actually listening through Philips SHP9500s, Sennheiser HD598se, and Grado SR325X headphones, all driven by a NuForce uDAC3. Through each set of cans, I can hear distinct sonic differences (not ultimate fidelity, obviously).

@zindahoon 11 ай бұрын

Wow , just wow the way you’re explaining things with so much simplicity

@PearlAcoustics 11 ай бұрын

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it

@markhusbands6132 11 ай бұрын

Love this channel, you always bring interesting subject matter.. this one for me is spot on.. the IA-4 has me sooo intrigued.

@PearlAcoustics 11 ай бұрын

Thanks!

@paulharvey2630 11 ай бұрын

Have visited the Sugden facility in West Yorkshire - a real throw back…RIP Patrick Miller MD who I met on my visit who sadly passed away in September.

@IKETHEBIKE-jk 11 ай бұрын

I owned a sugden amp at the end of the eighties in Germany. At this time the amp wasn‘t as expensive as today but it sounded great. Thank you for your video

@PearlAcoustics 11 ай бұрын

You’re welcome

@davidstein9129 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for informing me about Sugden amplifiers. I had no knowledge of them prior to your video.

@PearlAcoustics 6 ай бұрын

You’re very welcome!

@mdlatham 9 ай бұрын

So glad I found your channel. I’ve watched several of your videos that I didn’t think I would be interested in but found very informative and sparking curiosity to learn more. Thank you!

@PearlAcoustics 9 ай бұрын

Welcome aboard! So glad you enjoy them

@RR-ut9wv 5 ай бұрын

I'm blown away by the review of Sugden SPA 4. It's on my top of list. Thanks.

@PearlAcoustics 5 ай бұрын

You’re very welcome

@user-ef3hf1et3t 16 күн бұрын

I had one for about 2 years, paired with their LA-4 Preamp. I was convinced that it would be my end game amp etc. I now have the MPA-4 Mono blocks . Now I have reached end game.

@lawchoongseng789 10 ай бұрын

Thank u. I enjoyed the short music playback comparison. It tells a thousand words.

@PearlAcoustics 10 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

@trevoroutim8519 3 ай бұрын

Great video. I love my Sugden A21 from 1969. I was so amazed at the quality of sound through my Tannoy Berkley speakers. They match so well.

@PearlAcoustics 3 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing!

@tonydeniro284 4 ай бұрын

Great channel and subject matter! I bought my a21se maybe 4 years ago. Its the best amp i have ever owned or heard. It pairs nicely with my tannoys. If i had the cash on hand, i would buy a pair of your speakers.

@PearlAcoustics 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for your very kind words of appreciation. The A21SE is a little wonder. Couldn’t agree more! Best wishes from Belgium.

@daveappleton7871 10 ай бұрын

I heard my first Sugden in 1974 when my Outward Bound instructor invited his group to his apartment. I only remember that he had a Revox and a Sugden I was absolutely amazed at the sound and ever since then Sudgen has been my Holy Grail. I had an A48 and a C28/P28 Pre/Power combo in the 90s which I enjoyed tremendously but my current ANV-50 is spectacular! Thanks for the Video and the minute's silence at the end for Patrick Miller may he rest in peace 💝.

@PearlAcoustics 10 ай бұрын

You’re very welcome

@apollomemories7399 10 ай бұрын

A few friends and I used to meet our Geography teacher in the pub on Friday nights and he'd come back to one of our houses after to listen to records and a few more beers. I've a feeling that might be a tough call these days.

@bunsw2070 7 ай бұрын

Fantastic channel. Excellent format. In the listening comparisons I was surprised how easy it is to hear the differences. To me, the vibrato in the singer's voice showed off the differences the most in my few minutes of listening. The SPA-4 was far ahead of all the others in the sustain and decay and nuance of this vibrato. I use an Audio Note UK Meishu 300B single ended integrated amp with new production Western Electric 300Bs to drive Hifiman Susvara headphones. I had to put 8 ohms of resistors on the output to tame a brightness. My dealer said that was unusual. Must have been a ringing in the output transformers. I tried 2 different brands of reasonably high-falutin' resistors and sure enough you could hear the differences between the 2. I'm getting off the rails here but my point was that when I first got this amp the thing that I noticed the most was the decay. It went on for ages compared to what I'd been used to. Decay and time coherence are just 2 things that cannot be measured. Maybe you could invent a crude way of doing it but that still wouldn't be a precision way, it would just be to convince skeptics that it existed at all and what's the point of that. Doubters will doubt. BTW, these WE 300Bs give off this mesmerizing bluish glow that makes me want to keep the top off the amp and stare at them. I'm hypercritical of everything and don't have much good to say about anything but I must say this is quite spectacular. It seems to originate from the inside layer of the glass envelope. It's 3d and gently moves all the time. Like Sugden, Audio Note doesn't waste money on excessively fancy chassis, and a lot of people won't by them because of this. Good for the rest of us. They can't keep up with demand as it is.

@PearlAcoustics 7 ай бұрын

Thanks very much for your kind appreciation, and also for your interesting comment

@johnwoodham6906 7 ай бұрын

Hi harley Due to this video i went and bought a sugden a21. Fantastic amp no regrets such a lively amp 23 watts seems loud to me. Coming from a musical fidelity amp don’t notice much more detail…but much more lively makes the MF sound flat almost lifeless. What i am getting is more space and a cleanest is the sound . Dynamics is fantastic so much power on tap. Thank you harley for the video keep them coming much appreciated.

@PearlAcoustics 7 ай бұрын

Thanks for your feedback John. Great to hear you are so pleased with your Sugden. Enjoy.

@stephencallil6512 10 ай бұрын

Got a old A48.Brought it off a hi-fi shop wanting to rid of the trade-ins. Totally amazed at how good the sound is . The amp next amp I am buying is a Sudgen. Also I really like your channel as you are honest

@PearlAcoustics 10 ай бұрын

Thanks

@budgetaudiophilelife-long5461 11 ай бұрын

THANKS HARLEY 🤗 WE APPRECIATE YOUR 💯 HONEST LOVE OF MUSIC 🎼😎👍💚💚💚

@PearlAcoustics 11 ай бұрын

I appreciate that

@user-xt3ot1xu1b 3 ай бұрын

I am a huge Sugden Fan. I love that they are still hand made on a bench by people who have been there for 30 years. You get a lovely tag with the person's name who built your amp. I have The IA-4 in the basement on my second system. My main system consists of the Sugden MPA-4 mono blocks. I have they LA-4 pre amp as well. With 165 W of Pure ClassA at my finger tips, i now have reached my audio Nirvana.

@PearlAcoustics 3 ай бұрын

That’s fine to hear

@user-ef3hf1et3t 2 ай бұрын

@@PearlAcoustics I have them paired with Dynaudio Confidence 30 speakers. It is a great pairing. I Find The Sugden amps to be very Musical with great imaging. They tend to run on the warm side, that is a small price to pay for the quality of sound they produce.

@Leo-Crespi 11 ай бұрын

I enjoy your approach, you are able to find a fine balanced between technicalities and tangible pieces of information; good communication skills. I think the big one looks amazing though, great design. Thanks for the video and making my Sunday night more interesting, good stuff as usual.

@PearlAcoustics 11 ай бұрын

Thanks. You’re very welcome

@mediascapes2011 11 ай бұрын

The high heat output is to warm the heart, it seems to work fantastically well.

@PearlAcoustics 11 ай бұрын

I think so too!

@simongrove3276 10 ай бұрын

Nice video as always, I love your passion and honesty, please keep producing more video's, it a highlight of a day when one is released - Cheers

@PearlAcoustics 10 ай бұрын

Thanks!

@richcarless7740 10 ай бұрын

3 days ago I asked my local HiFi dealer if I could borrow a Sugden A21SE over the weekend, as I wanted to see how it paired with my ProAc D20Rs. He didn't give me the demo version from the shop, instead he gave me a brand new one boxed up. I said, are you sure? If I don't like it I'll be returning the box opened. He didn't seem worried. Needless to say after listening to the AMP for about 4 hour there was no way I was going to return it, it's simply sublime. I can only describe it as organic, things sound as they should, and the vocals .. my days.

@PearlAcoustics 10 ай бұрын

😀 great story! Thanks for sharing

@mariusscurtu6255 Ай бұрын

Beautiful 👌enjoy!

@macieklysek625 10 ай бұрын

Hello, I truly love your reviews and the way you talk about audio equipment:) This one is very special to me as a fan and user of many Sugden and other British audio for many years.I fell in love with Sugden about 15 years ago when I heard old A21 black one with gold letters, probably from the 80'/90', paired with big floorstanders and Thorens TD-160 at a dealer who was mostly selling Rega decks and NAD audio. I went there to buy my first Rega turntable after reading a review in one of British hi-fi magazines:) I was very excited about buing Rega that time but what got stuck in my mind was that sound of that old Sugden, so accurate i would say, so clear and so warm and charming at the same time. Over the years, together with my father who passed on his passion to vinyl records, turntables and audio to me, we had many amps from well established brands but we can loudly confirm something special and magical about the Sugden. He uses his A21SE signature with dedicated A21 stage two phono with Michell Gyro and me now IA-4 with Rega RP6 and Linn Sondek. So i miss a review of IA-4 here a little bit and your thoughts how does it compare to others. If I got you right, you don't care much about built in phono section? Do you always prefer external phono pre-amps? Do you have any favourites to pair with Sugden? I'm using mm carts only at the moment and wonder if it is worth buing an external phono for my IA-4 like masterclass PA-4 . What i noticed, the build in mm section is much more quiet than cd input or when i use my external Rega Fono mm, making an impression the built in mm section is worse. But when I put the volume up, soundwise i cannot decide definately which one is better:) Best regards

@PearlAcoustics 10 ай бұрын

Hi, thanks for your comment and kind appreciation. I only prefer using external phono preamplifiers when using moving coil cartridges, and if I am likely to go to moving coil then I do not want to buy an internal mm phono stage. The good news is that there are some truly excellent moving magnet cartridges on the market today.

@macieklysek625 10 ай бұрын

@@PearlAcoustics Hello, thanks for reply. What bothers me most about internal built in phono stages is they usually sound much more quiet than external phono pre-amps or other line inputs. That's strange why it is usually that way that the gain for phono input is lower than for other inputs. Anyway I'm looking forward for your review of the new iconic MF A1 and how it compares to Sugden:) Greetings!

@DonHamlin 11 ай бұрын

Great coverage of an underrated company. Love your videos.

@PearlAcoustics 11 ай бұрын

Thanks! 🙏

@alfovebraseth 11 ай бұрын

Thanks for a lovely video, I really enjoy my Sugden amp.(IA-4). I find them very reasonably priced, given local English production of the highest audiophile standard. One reason why the ANV has a different sonic character might stem from it´s switching power supply, and the use of low-pass filters to get rid of sampling noise (you can see a much reduced bandwith).

@PearlAcoustics 11 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing!

@jamesmartin3339 10 ай бұрын

Before this video, I thought my IA4 had a different sound character compared to my McIntosh and Passlabs integrated amps. This review confirmed my thoughts and now appreciate even more how my Sugden sounds.

@Mrhifitunes 8 ай бұрын

Another great video 👍. Loved watching it. And love my sugden A21 SE. I like the chassis too. I saw in your description part you mention signal to noise for those different amps as "less then..." While in fact it is "MORE then...". I think the anniversary works with rail voltage that follows the signal so it doesn't have a much overhead as a classic class A and therefore runs less hot.

@PearlAcoustics 8 ай бұрын

Thanks very much for your compliments. And thanks for pointing out the error, I will fix it today!

@michellepark778 11 ай бұрын

Great overview of the Sugden amps thanks Harley as they are a little company producing some nice & simple products. You do not see many reviews for this brand. Thanks to hearing the A21 amp a couple of years ago I now own a pair of Masterclass MPA-4 mono power amplifiers with Monitor Audio PL300 II speakers. A great combination with class A. Keep up the great work!

@PearlAcoustics 11 ай бұрын

Thanks!

@laurencechen1486 9 ай бұрын

Have heard the A21SE and loved it. Bought a Pass XA25 and love it, too (with a tube pre). But, Sugden is special. Will add an A21SE for another room...someday!

@PearlAcoustics 9 ай бұрын

😀👍 it’s always nice to have options!

@Entitaet69 7 ай бұрын

I have an SS integrated and plan to upgrade but I still don't know whether I should go for a better SS integrated or for a tube pre amp. Which tube pre do you use going into the XA25 ?? And do you also have an SS pre? I would appreciate your suggestions, thanks in advance!

@medonk12rs 2 ай бұрын

Never listened to or pushed buttons of a Sugden amp... but I really do like the looks! Classic-futuristic, IMHO.

@PearlAcoustics 2 ай бұрын

😉

@stephenbrickwood5148 9 ай бұрын

Lovely video, thank you. Current dumping Quad 405 then check out a ZinAmp modern take on the idea, might become a new favourite, is for me, affordable and brilliantly sounding!

@PearlAcoustics 9 ай бұрын

Ok great tip, thanks! Glad you enjoyed it

@harrisedgar 11 ай бұрын

I feel the same about Sugden, so in my opinion you are doing a public service by giving them a spot on your channel. As usual wonderful video..!!! A question though: Between SPA-4 and the LA-4 which one has the sudden signature of the most? (how would I inject more "Sugdenness" if I could only start with one of them?) it is important that you know that you're about the only person in the Internet that can answer this, because I haven't found anyone that has this combo available, let alone entire sugden collection...! You truly nailed it with this video, in fact I think it's very short I would love to see a second part or a detailed video of each member of your collection. Thank you.

@PearlAcoustics 11 ай бұрын

Thanks for your kind words. The LA4 is rather transparent, so I would say the SP4. Hope that helps

@christopherwright8179 10 ай бұрын

Beautifully put together piece on Sugden. Would love to see a comparison between the A21 and the newly revised Musical Fidelity A1. I used to have the MF A120 which was one of my best sounding amplifiers, but it was very hot and fragile!

@jimfarrell4635 10 ай бұрын

Excellent idea, Christopher. That would be a fascinating comparison given the price differential.

@christopherwright8179 10 ай бұрын

Yes, I know that the Signature is over £1k more expensive than the MF, but I still think that it would be an interesting comparison.

@PearlAcoustics 10 ай бұрын

Good news. I have one on order and hope to review it in the coming weeks

@christopherwright8179 10 ай бұрын

@@PearlAcoustics Can’t wait to hear what you have to say.

@contemporaryartist6542 11 ай бұрын

Thank you! Same reason I run First Watts. My J2 is sublime.

@lemanouchecbien1 11 ай бұрын

Just love your channel!

@PearlAcoustics 11 ай бұрын

Thanks

@gr328 11 ай бұрын

I have the Masterclass AA pre / power from 20 years ago - still going strong. It's not quite as powerful as the new version but there's magic in the pre design 🙂

@PearlAcoustics 11 ай бұрын

Thanks for your comment

@tremot7143 11 ай бұрын

I need to express some gratitude here, because it was your comparison video which got me interested in the brand. I acquired a vintage Sugden A48 Mk3, and set it up with recapped late 70s KEF Concerto speakers. The amplifier is an A/B design, the first 10 watt in pure Class A. It's an excellent pairing and sounds glorious.

@PearlAcoustics 11 ай бұрын

Glad I could help!

@stevescudder1507 11 ай бұрын

I owned an Austin America while in college. It was a maintenance nightmare but I loved driving it.

@apollomemories7399 10 ай бұрын

Simply marvelous Harley. I'll be popping round one night to relieve you of your model. What nights are you out?

@PearlAcoustics 10 ай бұрын

Most 😀 glad you enjoyed it!

@kesm66 9 ай бұрын

I recently bought a A21SE…stunned…it’s driving a pair of Spendor 4/5 Classics & Salk Song 3 Encores. The Sugden provides holographic texture & organic warmth that my Hegel H390 doesn’t provide.

@PearlAcoustics 9 ай бұрын

Thanks for your comment and contribution to the topic

@donkeyshot1 10 ай бұрын

@4:35 The sound signature of all the impressive Class A Sugdens may be similar but I wonder if that extends to Sugden's rarely spoken about, barely reviewed and only Class AB amp, the humble Mystro. Have you heard of it, Harley? I've got it in my rack, and I love it. Great video, as always, thank you!

@PearlAcoustics 10 ай бұрын

I am ashamed to say I have never heard of it. Enjoy!

@mikeuk4130 2 ай бұрын

Thanks for that insightful comparative review, Harley. I wonder what you (would) think of the Sugden Sapphire FBA 800 power amp. Whilst not such a behemoth as the SPA-4, it still puts out 40 WPC in Class A and its innovative design and the resulting performance figures suggest it would address your concerns about the relatively higher noise floor of the A21SE, upon which I believe it is based. Perhaps you might be able to favour us with a review including that model, please. Keep up the great work.

@PearlAcoustics 2 ай бұрын

Hi thanks for sharing your appreciation. I forwarded your comment to my local Sugden distributor and he very kindly agreed to lend me one. So the next step, over the Summer break, will be to extensively test it and see if it is worthy of a review… if you reply here in August, I will let you know how I am getting on 😉

@mikeuk4130 2 ай бұрын

@@PearlAcoustics Will do, Harley, thank you so much.

@MaxZappa1 10 ай бұрын

Instruments on the A21SE have more body, presence and air than on the A21. In essence more real. Super amplifier.

@SignorZukini 11 ай бұрын

Hats off to Sugden. It's good when a company manages to get it right first time and resist the constant pressure to update their products. The original Sugden circuit was a simple, primarily single ended design which sounded good then and does now. Sometimes people just need to be reminded they exist! If you manage to get your hands on the rereleased Musical Fidelity A1 it would be awesome to see a comparison. Very very different design and internals (symmetrical with LTP inputs) but also known for its unique engaging sound.

@PearlAcoustics 11 ай бұрын

Thanks for your comment. I am trying to get an A1

@SignorZukini 10 ай бұрын

@@PearlAcoustics excellent news!

@burakharley272 10 ай бұрын

Hello from the Republic of Türkiye. I follow you with pleasure. As the owner of Sugden A21A, thank you for the information you provided.

@PearlAcoustics 10 ай бұрын

My pleasure

@torarnekvaly7753 10 ай бұрын

I love the design of the Sugden amps. I have never thought it as cheap. I even love the "toilet" button of my FPA-4! :)

@PearlAcoustics 10 ай бұрын

😂

@mjjm6220 11 ай бұрын

As a Sibelius owner, I intend to buy Burson mono-blocks with Class A to the first 30W.

@PearlAcoustics 11 ай бұрын

That should sound great.

@calvertbarba 10 ай бұрын

Thanks for another great video/review! Very enjoyable to watch. I’m curious about the switching power supply; seems like more and more companies are starting to use them instead of transformers. Has there been a breakthrough in the technology? Did Sugden developed their in-house?

@PearlAcoustics 10 ай бұрын

Hi thanks for your your kind appreciation. I am not sure about a breakthrough but it does seem that these kinds of amplifiers are sounding more dynamic and musical. For specifics, I need to refer you too Sugden for more details. Best wishes, H

@r423sdex 11 ай бұрын

Harley, get yourself the Audiolab 6000a, or the play version , you will be very surprised. Its insanely good for the money. I managed to get a ex display 6000a play for £599. Im beyond shocked by its performance.

@mrmeaner3917 8 ай бұрын

While the Audiolab 6000a is a great amp for its price point, it truly cannot compete or compare against a Class A Sugden. I had the 6000a before my Sugden A21SE and it’s a million miles away from the Sugden. For many the Sugden amps tend to be forever amplifiers.

@modulardesignsystems 10 ай бұрын

Thanks for a wonderful AB demo recording. AB reviews depend on the brains processing. The brain however is a different kind of computer that doesn't have hard fixed output results as the results are dynamic. While the differences between the amplifiers is as clear as day and night, trying to reproduce the results will vary from time to time and listener to listener, there are those who will hear no difference whatsoever. There are those who will hear different things at different times. Because the working of any brain is dynamic people become more comfortable with a fixed measurement that we can agree on. This is equivalent to accepting a low resolution measurement with few dimensions as opposed to a complex result with many dimensions.

@PearlAcoustics 10 ай бұрын

Thanks too for your contribution to the discussion

@joemartin6439 9 ай бұрын

I enjoy listening about Sugden amp . But I love my Audio Space AS-i3 integrated tube KT-77Power tubes and Casta C horn Speakers.

@PearlAcoustics 9 ай бұрын

That’s absolutely right. The idea behind these videos is not to sell equipment but to bring them to the foreground of our hobby. In this way we can marvel at other designs and appreciate the ones we own.

@jos5067 11 ай бұрын

Visibility and recognition will be earned when they send out more review models, in my opinion. I wish to buy one but can’t find enough reviews to be sure. The A50 model has to compete with Yamaha and Accuphase, for example, and they are reviewed very well.

@PearlAcoustics 11 ай бұрын

Indeed, review models do not exist. I am waiting to hear the 800

@Charles12509 10 ай бұрын

Hello, I love every minute of your videos, thank you for making them…I have tube amps for my Klipsch Heritage speakers. I am getting tired of messing with tubes, would the Sugden be a good fit? They are 99 efficient….

@PearlAcoustics 10 ай бұрын

Thanks for your very kind appreciation. If you want to move away from tubes, then absolutely Sugden are a very good alternative. Good luck on your listening journey

@darrensworkshop6783 10 ай бұрын

I noticed you missed out the Austin 'Morris" ...not their finest moment and I should know as I had one.. Thanks again for the content.

@razisn 11 ай бұрын

Thanks for this video. You should try the new (old) Musical Fidelity A1 2x25W push-pull Class A solid state amp of original Tim de Paravicini design. At 1500 pounds it is the bargain of the century and i'm sure it will be able to drive the Sibelius speakers well.

@musiclassica 11 ай бұрын

Was about to mention the same. Three thousand Eur for an amp with a rattling case is sth i will never understand. The Musical Fidelity does not seem to suffer from this. On top, it has an MM and MC phono pre-amp integrated. Harvey is right that a separate is better but it’s an unbelievable nice extra, not to mention a tape-loop and pre-out. And all that for a mere 1.600 Eur.

@razisn 11 ай бұрын

@@musiclassica Actually 1600 Euros.

@PearlAcoustics 11 ай бұрын

It’s definitely on my list to try out. It’s not that easy to get hold of at the moment.

@musiclassica 11 ай бұрын

@@razisn Thanks, I’ve adjusted it.

@jedi-mic 11 ай бұрын

A shoot out between the two new music fidelity A1 and the naim nait 50, be interesting combination a match between the two?? @@PearlAcoustics

@richardherbert3519 11 ай бұрын

Great video again

@PearlAcoustics 11 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

@TheCharlesAtoz 11 ай бұрын

I think you should monetize it....use the money to buy gear and put in your hifi room. Good video Harley!!

@PearlAcoustics 11 ай бұрын

Thanks! 😂

@yuriwalter385 10 ай бұрын

Monetize and donate. If you are not monetizing your channel, someone is (KZfaq stakeholders). If you monetize, you can choose what to do with the money. More gear, more records, free concert tickets for young, you name it!

@PearlAcoustics 10 ай бұрын

@@yuriwalter385 thanks for the suggestion.

@PoulPetersen 11 ай бұрын

I own the Sugden Masterclass cd player, best I ever heard

@PearlAcoustics 11 ай бұрын

Now that’s a machine I have never seen or heard. I know that Sugden can build excellent DACs

@PoulPetersen 10 ай бұрын

It's called masterclass PDT-4F

@loftcase 11 ай бұрын

Thank You for sharing.

@PearlAcoustics 11 ай бұрын

My pleasure!

@jmal5390 8 ай бұрын

I have an A21 and although I have amps nearly 5x the price, I always come back to the A21. I really don't know what more I could want in an amp. My other amps do some of the audiophile tricks better, but I find myself paying attention to my equipment instead of listening to music. The A21 doesn't have as much detail, or as much air as the others, but it has a beautiful tonality that just makes great music. As silly as it might sound, I love waking up, making a cup of tea, and listening to my Lyrita records on the Sugden. It is as close as I can get to being transported to an imaginary past across the Atlantic. It's one of the few remaining fantasy spaces left for me, as age and experience slowly pull back the curtain on the realities of life.

@PearlAcoustics 8 ай бұрын

A beautiful post. Thank you for sharing. I know exactly what you mean!

@attilaz8775 9 ай бұрын

Very great video, thanks. What about Masterclass IA-4? It would be interesting to see a comparsion with other Sugden amps and also with Sibelius speakers. I have Harbeth SHL5plus XD with IA-4. Hope one day I can try or own a pair of Pearl Sibelius somehow.

@PearlAcoustics 9 ай бұрын

Hi, thanks for your kind appreciation. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get my hands on the IA-4 but I guess it still has the the signature Sugden performance. I can’t imagine them releasing something that doesn’t? If you want to reach out to us via our website, we can sometimes arrange auditions, either at one of our listening rooms, or with a real life customer. Best wishes from Belgium

@Ricky-cl5bu 11 ай бұрын

That’s and amp I haven’t got my hands on yet , but I will get a A21

@PanAmStyle 10 ай бұрын

Many years ago I became interested in Sugden due to Ultra High Fidelity (UHF) magazine from Montreal giving their components really good reviews. At the time I had very little money, so they disappeared from my radar. I’ve recently settled on a combination of Lab12 Pre 1 feeding the DECware SE84UFO and unless I spring for a good second system, I don’t think I’m changing. That said, it’s a bit sad that I have yet to even hear a Sugden amplifier. Perhaps at the Toronto high end show this month I will be able to do so.

@tubelilous 10 ай бұрын

Thank you very much for the insight

@PearlAcoustics 10 ай бұрын

My pleasure!

@davybloggs1564 7 ай бұрын

Interesting review of Sugden, although, IMO, you are wrong to say a ('fancy') chassis has no influence on the sound. From your point of view, you could apply that logic to say a stand/shelf/support has no influence on the sound, which is also not the case.

@PearlAcoustics 7 ай бұрын

Thanks for your comment and kind appreciation. Indeed, you are absolutely correct. The functionality of the chasis is important. What I should have done is qualified my meaning of ‘fancy’. what I meant was a chasis with artistic embellishments designed to look nice, but not adding to sound quality.

@AdiMaco 7 ай бұрын

Disclosure! I worked as a salesman, marketing, and technical advisor at an audio equipment dealer and I also had Sugden in my portfolio. I listened to Sugden for about 3 years almost every day. Their entire range of amplifiers is very good. It is known that Sugden is a small company that produces in England. The A21SE is probably one of the best integrated in the world, regardless of price. The LA-4 is very good and so is the monster SPA-4. With the ANV-50 they made a mistake, in my opinion, the current source of the amplifier is a PWM. Even if it's a PWM done well, at a high frequency, I think it doesn't compare to a linear source. Even so, ANV-50 sounds good too.

@PearlAcoustics 7 ай бұрын

Interesting… I can only agree. The ANV 50 is good but it does not have that something special that the others have. I personally put it down to its use of current dumping, rather than the classic pure Class A the others follow, but maybe I am over simplifying?

@NawMan357 9 ай бұрын

Great explanation!! would you happen to know if there is a period of time for break-in?

@PearlAcoustics 9 ай бұрын

I really don’t think there is. Usually, manufacturers put their amplifiers on a test bench prior to dispatching them to their clients. That should be enough. It is believed that some amplifiers sound better when they get up to full running temperature, I can see that is possible. But more then that, I really don’t think so.,

@user-yn4sm5ef8g 10 ай бұрын

Thank you for the insightful video on Sudgen products. I bought a pair of Sibelius speaker from you earlier this year and has paired with Sudgen A21SE following our email exchange which also touched upon ANV-50 and A21. I enjoyed the combination very much, very musical and easy to listen to with ease. Now your video makes me thinking about SPA-4. Can you tell me how you drive the Sudgen SPA-4 directly? And can you also drive it using A21SE as pre-amp? Many thanks, Tom

@PearlAcoustics 10 ай бұрын

Hi Tom. Glad to hear you are happy. I have a Project CD player, with matching preamplifier with balanced out, and I drive it straight into the SPA. But the Sugden pre-amp is really good (especially their D800). But the combo is very expensive and only slightly better. Not everyone even agrees it is! Feel free to write to me again…

@frankk.2865 11 ай бұрын

I should recommend Lavardin Amps. 😉

@davidstein9129 6 ай бұрын

Anybody compare the sound of Pass Labs preamplifiers to the Sugden's? Which models did you compare? Which ones did you prefer the most? Thanks! Regards, David

@PearlAcoustics 5 ай бұрын

Big topic! Video coming soon. 😉

@patricaomas8750 11 ай бұрын

You seem to have from your intro, to have experience with what music and instruments should sound like I can only go by what l like and that might not be true to life. Don't know if that makes sense. Sugden is from Northern UK so having a dual use of heating.I think they look great I was watching a KZfaq vid about one amp company whose £$6000.00 amp 33% of the cost was the case.

@PearlAcoustics 11 ай бұрын

Thanks for your comment. True, the north of England is rather cold! 😀

@dab9742 7 ай бұрын

I was hesitating between Sugden Masterclass IA-4 and Luxman L-590AXII for a class A amp. When I saw that the filter capacitors were Samwha, I immediately preferred to buy the Luxman ! What's more, it's much more beautiful, and more complete on every level. 😎

@PearlAcoustics 7 ай бұрын

That’s interesting. Thanks for sharing. What will the Luxman be replacing?

@user-ef3hf1et3t 16 күн бұрын

Have you figured out how much Welcome to the club tax you paid which is built into the price? I own an IA-4 as well, and it is a fine amp.

@dab9742 15 күн бұрын

@@PearlAcoustics Sorry for the late reply, the Luxman replaced a Denon A-110, which is very, very good, and which I'm keeping, to alternate with lots of other amps, including some tube ones.

@JB-ot9lx Ай бұрын

Thank you for your very interesting reviews ! What about the comparison between the A21 SE Signature and the MASTERCLASS IA-4 ? Warm regards.

@PearlAcoustics Ай бұрын

Hi Thsnks for your kind remarks. They are much appreciated. I have never managed to get my hands on an I-a4. It seems to be very popular in the US.

@user-ef3hf1et3t Ай бұрын

I have an IA-4, they are an end game amp. Very big bold articulate sound. You will love the soundstage and presentation.

@bopper2984 10 ай бұрын

I believe post pandemic there’s a 6 month waiting list for new Sugden amps. I have A21SE driving a pair of Sterling Broadcast SB-88s (87 db) and the power is ridiculous. In fact volume knob barely moves. Also, if prepared to wait, you can have a custom colour faceplate. 😊

@PearlAcoustics 10 ай бұрын

Indeed waiting times can be long.

@1mctous 10 ай бұрын

I'm getting the most texture and tone from the SPA-4 direct (no preamp). The ANV-50 is noticeably brighter than any of the pure class A amps.

@claytonkeltto3239 11 ай бұрын

Thanks for talking Sugden...I was almost ready to ask for more thoughts in a comment to your other videos. The A21SE is on my shortlist. One other class A amplifier that I'm curious about is the Valvet...any experience with their products?

@PearlAcoustics 11 ай бұрын

You’re very welcome. Sorry, no experience on Valvet.

@sean_heisler 11 ай бұрын

Nice video! Wow, the SPA-4 seemed to take it there, via the preamp, I think! Sounded wonderfully complete and full with great instrument separation. While I have never heard one I am quite fond of Sugden amplifiers. Myself, I am currently running a 35-40 watt Nelson Pass Class A amplifier with a tube preamp and it's wonderful. I don't know how I can ever go back to anything but a class A amplifier now.

@PearlAcoustics 11 ай бұрын

Thanks a lot! For your kind words and comment

@gabrielbacca381 10 ай бұрын

Great video Harley - I just purchased an Exposure 2510... loving the sound. Exposure is another audio company gem from England. Sugden was above my budget I am afraid. So many great audio companies in England, any reason behind that? I am sure the fact that most of the current music in the last 50 years comes from the Island, has got to do with it 🙂 Thanks for the video...

@PearlAcoustics 10 ай бұрын

Thanks for your kind appreciation. One of the reasons(I believe) there are so many HiFi companies in the UK (I believe) is because after the 2nd world war, Britain had a great reputation for quality. Both performance and HiFi manufacturing. It was synonymous with quality. Because of this manufacturing clusters formed (Huntingdon) - Kent Sussex etc. Everyone was near by, supply chains could be accommodated. Spin-offs from universities also helped with R&D. But the biggest driver snd commercial purchaser was probably the BBC. To get the BBC to buy Obe’s products was the golden goose. In the US, there was no single ‘BBC’ and thus not such a clear goal. But GEC was a massive influence / competitor to companies like Mullard. Hoping this helps?

@gabrielbacca381 10 ай бұрын

@@PearlAcoustics This is all fascinating... And I bet there was a particular reason as to why England developed that reputation for HiFi quality during and after the WWII. During times of war, so many developments take place, optics, sonar systems etc. Yes, the BBC sure was the major player. And it served as stepping stone, eventually, for the development of new music as good quality studios was easily accessible, I imagine. Anyways, thanks for your kind response !

@PearlAcoustics 10 ай бұрын

@@gabrielbacca381 you’re very welcome

@Kobryner1 10 ай бұрын

Dear Harley, some time back I did ask You whether Pearl Acoustics would be a good match with my Sugden A21 Signature. You replied that very soon You are planning to test it. I am happy to hear that I drew Your attention to Sugden, the handicraft, solid craftsman of an excellent Hi-Fi equipment. It is pity that I have no chance to test your Sibelius SG speakers anywhere in Poland as most probably I would purchase them. Greetings..

@PearlAcoustics 10 ай бұрын

Hi. Indeed I remember. If you contact us via our website. We can always look out for the nearest listening possibility. Best wishes

@theaustralianconundrum 10 ай бұрын

Now aged 65 years and an old Australian, I love these videos of what I grew up with as my Diamond standards. So many wonderful memories! Subscribed with a passion! Thank you sir. @@PearlAcoustics

@PearlAcoustics 10 ай бұрын

@@theaustralianconundrum thanks!

@theaustralianconundrum 10 ай бұрын

Thank you sir.@@PearlAcoustics

@matldn2697 10 ай бұрын

I have been a Sugden fan for over 30 years. They sound liquid, detailed and natural. Most of their products are sold to Asia. But they are not that well reviewed in the UK.

@carminedesanto6746 11 ай бұрын

Greeting from Toronto..my goodness..there’s a name I haven’t heard in a while….

@PearlAcoustics 11 ай бұрын

Thanks

@pervertt 10 ай бұрын

All 5 versions of the song sounded exactly the same to me. If there are differences they weren't evident to me. And I'm listening via a pair of DT770s.

@duncandistortion 6 ай бұрын

Sugden i found out yesterday don't use certain premium japanese components,The large reservoir caps were not Nippon chemicon/Elna/Nichicon or Rubycon they were Samwha,Not a brand i expected to see for that brand & price.

@PearlAcoustics 6 ай бұрын

Interesting… but the result is still that they sound good. And perhaps that’s important here? Thanks for your comment

@duncandistortion 6 ай бұрын

@@PearlAcoustics It's also about reliability.

@PearlAcoustics 6 ай бұрын

@@duncandistortion indeed. Absolutely, however I am not aware of Sugden being unreliable, are you? Mine have been perfect.

@frankgeeraerts6243 11 ай бұрын

Maybe we enjoy because you enjoy making the videos with passion for music ...... To me about the demos........for what it is worth listening trought the naughty filter of youtube the choice of my soul goes to the ........... SE and the 4 direct !....... Thank you

@PearlAcoustics 11 ай бұрын

😀

@10sassafras 8 ай бұрын

Try it! Find out if you can identify the sound without knowing which one is plugged in. Talking the way you do about each amp will mean so much more if you can tell the difference. By the way, what is so expensive about the electronics that a better switch or a panel that doesn't rattle is out of the question?

@PearlAcoustics 7 ай бұрын

Thanks for your comment. I think you’re be surprised that when you get used to listening to a range of amplifiers and can switch between them very easily, just how one can begin to identify tiny quirks. I totally get your point, the difference is subtle at best. As for your last point, I think it’s simply a question of choice. Ie if the good people at Sugden don’t see it as a problem, then why spend any time or money changing it? I kind of understand their way of thinking, even if it goes against the grain of most of their competitors

@10sassafras 7 ай бұрын

@@PearlAcoustics Yes and no. I wouldn't be surprised if it was a specific thing you were listening for. For example the starting transients on valve and solid state instrument amps sound quite different and I was able to pick it in blind testing. I would be surprised if you could repeatedly identify a brand difference of the same type of amp or a model difference of the same brand such as in this video. Until you test yourself objectively you won't really know.

@iloveaviation-burgerclub-a8145 10 ай бұрын

That amplifier low right looks like it weighs a ton or more 😂 Hearing that click of the power button was just so surprising 😂 The EuroStar toilet button... pretty close Harley.

@PearlAcoustics 10 ай бұрын

😂

@iloveaviation-burgerclub-a8145 10 ай бұрын

@@PearlAcoustics "Man and I thought my amp was huge..." 🤣

@neilritson7445 11 ай бұрын

Surely Hi Fi sound depends on the other components? I had AR4x speakers which had a wonderful treble sound for piano, but...only an average deck!

@afonsomiguelcorreia 4 ай бұрын

Does the sugden A21SE performs as weel with 4ohm speakers?

@PearlAcoustics 4 ай бұрын

That’s a good question. I really don’t know. I can imagine it should. But there’s 4ohm minimum and 4ohm speskers that drop well down below 4. It might be worth checking with Sugden, or reaching out to one of their forums?

@aguru5217 8 ай бұрын

Wonderfully helpful review. Thank you. Sugden is now top of my list. Both the ANV-50 and A21SE are options for me with my current ProAc speakers. Do you have a preference of either in your system (i.e. if you had to choose one)? I will not get the chance to demo either in my system before purchase , so any thoughts greatly appreciated.

@PearlAcoustics 8 ай бұрын

Oh, if I could only have one, it would be the A21SE. It epitimizes what it is to be a Sugden amplifier!

@aguru5217 8 ай бұрын

@@PearlAcoustics thank you very much. I appreciate your reply, and the interesting and fun videos you create.

@budgetaudiophilelife-long5461 11 ай бұрын

MOST WELCOME 🤗

@PearlAcoustics 11 ай бұрын

Thanks

@harrydavidson5014 10 ай бұрын

I have owned many Sugden products over the last 25 years. I had an A21 which was partnered with my Proac Studio 100 speakers. It was a match made in heaven. I then thought i would upgrade to the Sugden A21SE Signature and found it to be surprisngly different with the Proac's. I didn't like it at all. I found it to sound glassy and brittle and pretty lifeless and hard to listen to. I sold the A21se sig after giving it a few month's as i just didnt get on with it at all. I have read other reviews that noted the difference in sound signature too. I have also owned a Sugden SDT-1 cd player for 25 years and it has been amazing until recently when it developed a fault. I contacted Sugden and asked if they could repair it but the answer I got surprised me when they said i would be better looking for a local repair shop due to the fact that being a cd player, it may not travel well and could be further damaged or damaged again on return to me. I found this strange as I have the box and packing and presumably Sugden still send out new cd players to suppliers and dealers. I know sound is subjective and everyone is different but i didnt find the sound of the A21 to be similar to the A21se sig in any way. Surprising too that Sugden wouldn't accept the cd player for repair as they have a great back up reputation.

@PearlAcoustics 10 ай бұрын

Thanks for your comment.

@user-bj7ey4fr5o 10 ай бұрын

Hello Harley, this was very interesting. One model that you did not cover is the IA-4 amplifier. I recently purchased one and currently use it with Spendor D7 speakers. But since I had them, I have always wondered how they would work with the Sibelius speakers. Do you think you could listen to a IA-4 and perhaps compare it with the A21-SE and/or the ANV-50? I think this would be an interesting comparison. Manfred

@PearlAcoustics 10 ай бұрын

Hi, I am told that the A21SE and the IA-4 are very similar in their characteristics. I have been asking for an IA-4 for months and months but my distributor does not get any. I think they mostly go to the US. I see absolutely no reason why the it would not be a good match for the Sibelius. It’s made by Sugden, and it’s pure class A. Sorry I can not help any more at this time.

@user-bj7ey4fr5o 10 ай бұрын

Dear Harley, yes, I know that the IA-4 is hard to get. I had to wait for mine almost 6 months until the Sugden distributor in the U.S. could get it for me. I hope you get one at some point in time and test it yourself. I just trust your judgment a great deal and I am currently considering a new pair of speakers that would deliver me the musicality that I am interested in with the IA-4.@@PearlAcoustics

@PearlAcoustics 10 ай бұрын

@@user-bj7ey4fr5o 😀

@jedi-mic 11 ай бұрын

That's a shame Croft acoustics died about 8 months ago similar ethics in their design, I like Croft acoustics I've never had a chance to get one, I wonder how the two sounds side by side? Slightly different concept of using valves in conjunction with MOSFET outputting 55 Watts, but a great design, have you ever chance to listen to One? I'm not sure if the Sugden is worth the price!? It's not cheap the A21SE, for the same price you can get the fezz audio Kt150 what I would say is a better amplifier by a country mail but I could be wrong but I don't think so! You should try one out I'm sure they'll send you one, would like your opinion!

@sportscarnut 10 ай бұрын

You ought to listen to Schiit Audio Kara preamp and Tyr monoblocs.

@violin-schwerin 11 ай бұрын

I was seriously considering a sugden as my endgame amp. lost my heart and ears to a luxman tube amp

@PearlAcoustics 11 ай бұрын

That can easily happen!

@ulrichgorlich6292 11 ай бұрын

Thanks, I owned a A21 30years ago. Too bad I sold it.

@PearlAcoustics 11 ай бұрын

You’re welcome

@stevesmith3033 11 ай бұрын

I watched the whole video to find out what's so special about them... All I got is they sound great and have their own sound. I appreciate the thorough, detailed and informative explanation. Maybe this is just a British bias? I also like how he makes the point that they're not paying him for the review in any way but then goes on to mention the name of the dealer that loaned him the amp. So clearly there is some sort of benefit going on here.

@PearlAcoustics 11 ай бұрын

Hi, thanks for your comment. I thanked the distributor for lending me the preamp and A21 because it’s the way I was brought up. To say thank you when someone lends me something. After all, once it’s taken out of the box, they have to sell it as an ex demo model. There is absolutely nothing in it for me. I do it for the pleasure.

@stevesmith3033 11 ай бұрын

@@PearlAcoustics So you don't have access to them to thank them in person, by phone, text or email? The only way is to do it in a public video recording on your channel? Also, to say something is the best and your only explanation is that it has a wider soundstage and just sounds right is not very substantiating. Remember that you're making a public recording and not a casual conversation with a stranger at a coffee shop. I gave you 18 minutes of my time to find out what's so special about them. I also went and searched on Facebook Marketplace, Reverb and eBay in the U.S. and didn't find a single amplifier. Again I think maybe this is just your British pride and nothing more. I looked at guts shots and it's all generic and cheap components on a pc board and they even use ribbon cables with snapping connectors. So I'm not seeing any evidence of "best" status.

@humanitech 11 ай бұрын

Sorry but I don't get your cynicism - as it does not make any sense!? As Harley has explored, talked about and reviewed loads of different hifi gear, but clearly likes the way the Sugdens sound ....so he has purchased some different models! So what's wrong, suspicious or dubious about that?!... or having subjective tastes in hifi... As surely that is the whole point!?

@georgecav 11 ай бұрын

How in hell can you learn whats good about them on KZfaq. Go to a shop and audition for that . Sugden just has a warm and natural and somewhat detailed sound that some listeners love and the reviewer did refer to that plus thanking the person who lent them publicly is actually important including that you and I can judge whether the review might be clouded by that. Finally, you arent paying to have these videos produced so expect that there will be more positive than neg aspects to reviews as otherwise who would lend these guys gear to review.

@georgecav 11 ай бұрын

Thank you for adding audio. It can be very useful if you use a good setup to record it and I use good reproductive equip to listen, cg headphones in my case and I could never hear these otherwise. Sad about ceo passing and again great younadded a memorial acknowlegdment. Sugden are too polite for me but a friend has loved his for over 30 years.