If the main question of the thread is: Chord GroundARAY- brilliant or bollocks?
Then we need to establish the difference between:
Is it brilliantly marketed (vagueries), priced (expensive) and packaged (posh) to optimally elicit the suggestion that it makes an audible difference
or,
Does it actually make an objectively verifiable difference in sound output
There is plenty of evidence that the factors named in the first bullet point have a real and measurable effect on our perception. So if we want to establish whether the second bullet point is true, we need to account for that.
Again it’s fine if you personally don’t care if you spend £550 (one) or £2500 (five) on these devices as long as you think you hear an improvement. But that doesn’t tell us if they are just brilliantly marketed or if they actually do something beyond that.
Sorry for appearing as flippant as my comment appeared. I’m sitting here looking at this thread and wondering what on earth folks are getting so excited about. It’s August; holiday season; a time to relax and enjoy life; a time to chill out. These devices are tweaks, they’re not massive game changers. People hear things differently - some may feel the sound quality is altered, some may hear an improvement, others a reduction in some aspect of quality. You’ll only find out if you try. And it’s really fine if you can’t be bothered. But I honestly don’t understand why anyone would get worked up into a froth over these, particularly if they can’t be ars*d to try them out. I say move on and enjoy the remains of the summer. It is not that important!
In quantum mechanics, Schrödinger’s cat (substitute ‘cat’ for Chord Ground Array) is a thought experiment that illustrates a paradox of quantum superposition. In the thought experiment, a hypothetical Chord Ground Array may be considered simultaneously both alive (brilliant) and dead (bollocks) as a result of its fate being linked to a random subatomic event that may or may not occur or be listened too.
Apologies as it’s taken me a while to process my experience and write it up in as non an incendiary manner as possible!
So I was a my local dealer last week with my best mate, to audition a selection of amps. Amongst other things, these Chord Ground ARAY devices came up in conversation with the three of us. We decided to grab the demo versions and have a listen.
First off we plugged them into the source and amp we where listening to (Non Naim) and we all thought we could hear a difference in a positive aspect. There was much stroking of chins and phrases along the lines of increased clarity and sound staging. Darker blacks and such like. We then decided we would take turns to blind test as best as we could by each of us randomly plugging or not plugging them in and writing down if we thought in or out / positive or negative effect on sound. We did this with a few amps and sources ranging from entry level to very high end. (Again none of this was Naim equipment)
After a few hours of messing about and drinking of much coffee it turns out we are all clueless. None of us could reliably predict any difference in quality with these things plugged in or not!
So in conclusion. For me I wouldn’t say “Bollocks or Brilliant” I just couldn’t hear any difference and neither could a dealer or my mate with any certainty. So if they work for you, then they may be the best thing since sliced bread. Maybe I’m a cloth eared muppet, flat earther etc.
However I’m a grand better off without them, so I can live with that
I’ve asked previously that this thread not veer off topic and degenerate into an argument over the efficacy or otherwise of blind testing. I have removed the last few posts. Certain members, please take note. Thank you.
I think there was a difference, but I don’t know what it was. And I couldn’t be sure. I was listening on my own and plugged the RCA version (DIN not available) in and out a few times. It felt a bit pointless but then I was only demoing one as a result of this thread, not because I really wanted to try one.
Life is busy, and I don’t get to listen much these days except for a precious window at the weekends. I spend more time reading about hifi/music on the train than listening, sadly. So after about 10 mins I put it back in it’s box and forgot all about it.
I don’t know whether it’s good or not, but as @anon4489532 said, it’s on the wacky fringes of HiFi twiddling and if there was an improvement, it’s way too subtle for my unsophisticated brain.
I got to try the DIN Aray today - luck put a whole day to myself on the cards.
Very first reaction, very non-scientific…
Blimey.
I don’t know how it works, but on very first listen (Jah 9, reggae poetess), it seems to.
Bass has taken on a presence, vocals seem warmer, better sense of spaciousness and…and… it’s just really nice to listen to.
I will say I’m a little bit surprised, and more than a little “eh, what?!”
But…more time and ‘testing’ (hah, as if I ever tested anything!) needed. I’m not good at this stuff - I tend to react with emotion rather than dissection.
And, to ward off the dogs, this is a very first reaction.
Bite me
I saw that - he plugged it into the back of the EE switch and said he felt it was a definite improvement. So EE switch and ARAY produces a noticeable uplift.
I talked to Chord about a second Aray. In my set up, they recommended another DIN, to try on either 252 or SCDR and see which was better. Superline, which I also asked about, would need two BNC for L&R, so I passed on that.
The CD2 has no spare sockets and I don’t stream.
