My ears are better than an spl meter
Like Pogre, I resist threads like this because they become pointless when the OP gets belligerent or starts making claims that fly in the face of reality. There's a reason for SPL meters to exist. They perform a measurement task that produces a result. Like a ruler to measure length and produce a result. Are your eyes better than a ruler? Neither are your ears better for measuring sound levels for a match.
I was surely on a level field
You were in a demo showroom. By definition, you were not on a level playing field. There's nothing about walking in to a demo room that's designed to give you a level playing field experience. Do you think you're on a level playing field in a Casino with 98% slot returns? The house wins even at those odds.
Sound is everything - it's that simple.
Don't tell me about how you like a measuring device , your ears are the ultimate decider.
You're in a Best Buy sound room it's 100xs better than anywhere else you can test without buying 5 avrs to bring home.
A BB show room is 100x than anywhere else? Now we're getting somewhere ! If y'all think a BB showroom is a great place, 100x better than anywhere else, I think we have come to the real source of our differences in opinion.
I have owned Denon's for many generations of their product. I have a brand new one I am testing right now. Muted? Gimme a break. Side by side in my own personal listening space, its virtually indistinguishable from my tried and true 8 year old model. Keep all the variables the same (as much as possible) and you should be able to swap AVRs one to another and hear very little difference once they are level set.
You are entitled to your opinions. I got no problem with you believing every word you've typed so far.
An opinion is a personal belief and you are certainly entitled to yours.
