How did they get all that performance into such a small box?
Written: Aug 21 '01
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Sound: |
 |
|
| Ease of Use: |
 |
|
| Durability: |
|
|
|
Pros: Presence and "body" of sound; compact; accepts banana plugs
Cons: Some non-purists may regret lack of tone controls
The Bottom Line: Should certainly be considered if you are in the market for an integrated at around this price point, or even higher.
|
|
|
| rdar's Full Review: Creek 4330 Stereo Amplifier |
This is actually a review of the Creek 4330SE. The main difference between the 4330 and the -SE model is that the latter is rated at 50 watts per channel into 8 ohms, compared with 40 for the 4330.
I bought this integrated amp as an upgrade to my Rotel 970. The Rotel was far from unsatisfactory, but having read much favorable buzz about Creek products, when I saw a chance to buy the 4330SE at a drastic discount, I decided to have a go.
The first thing that is obvious, right out of the box, is that this unit is remarkably compact. That will probably not make a great deal of difference to most users, but if your shelf space is at a premium, this is an asset worth considering.
The box is the same Bible black as most audio gear, though the minimal lettering -- there is only a source selector and volume control -- is an unusual, and pleasing, turquoise. The LED pilot light is also in the greenish range.
The rest of my system -- I mention this because it's impossible to generalize about the performance of an integrated in isolation -- consists of a Rotel CD player, Pioneer cassette deck and CD recorder, and B&W 602 speakers. Speaker wire is Straight Wire Rhythm; interconnects are Nordost Solar Wind.
My immediate impression when I had the 4330SE connected and fired up was that the music was suddenly discernibly more dimensional. I won't say that it is the best imaging I have ever heard, but compared with the sound of the Rotel there is more "there" there. Subjectively, the sound seems to have greater solidity and body. I agree with another reviewer on this site who describes the sound as "involving."
Transient response, the quickness of instrumental attacks and releases, is splendid; I have yet to hear anything that sounds like smearing. Transparency for large ensembles is, again, not the greatest I have ever heard (from much more expensive equipment), but is still remarkable and often thrilling.
Like other good items of audio equipment, the 4330SE ruthlessly shows up the deficiencies of bad recordings. Disagreeable mixing and artificial sound quality are rendered more obvious and less tolerable than ever.
Even on otherwise good recordings (I listen mostly to classical and jazz), though, there is a trace of high frequency edginess. I am withholding judgment of the Creek on this count, though, because I suspect this is an attribute of 16-bit digital recording and perhaps the B&W speakers. I can't wait to hear what this amp is capable of when driving speakers more lifelike warmth.
As I write this, Audio Advisor is offering the Creek 4330SE for $595, a markdown from $800.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 595 + $17.95
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
rdar
|
|
Reviews written: 1
Trusted by: 0 members
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.