Article: CA Bits & Bytes Volume 3: 2012 CES, Upcoming Reviews

[audiozorro]

IMO the demos are quite misleading because of the significantly higher volume that is achieve with the QOL engaged versus bypassed. Having a bypass in the unit is somewhat gimmicky feature to sell the QOL since the QOL folks cannot demonstrate an instance where the music sounds better through the bypass. I think a more useable feature would have been to have a variable bypass that engages the QOL circuitry from zero to 100%, especially since there are instances or setups where the full QOL effect might seem excessive.<br />

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I believe the volume levels must be identical for a fair comparison. Most people will find the QOL unit to enhance the 3D characteristics of sound. This is almost similar to what one might get with well done reverberation - not that QOL is using reverb but I believe they are altering the phasing and timing through analog circuitry.<br />

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Of course this is just my opinion since I don't own the QOL unit. I am most interested to read your report.

[audiozorro]

I assume that a good part of the QOL involves one or two transformers, capacitors and bypass capacitors in some kind of circuitry to alter and recombine the audio signals.<br />

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It sounds great and as anyone who has played around with different transformers and capacitors knows the significant differences these things can make.<br />

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About the only thing that I dislike about the QOL is the gimmicky bypass feature whose primary purpose is a sales tool. What would be more useful for any consumer would be a variable bypass that engages the QOL circuitry from zero to 100%, especially since there are instances or setups where the full QOL effect might seem excessive. Perhaps someone attending the show could ask the QOL folks to consider a more useable consumer feature that would still be capable of demonstrating the dramatic difference when the QOL circuitry is dialed down to zero.