How close to the real thing?

Atmasphere,

The problem here is that while theorem is supposed, there are real-world phenomena that do not care about the theorem.

I'm sorry, I don't quite follow. Yes, if you use Spice, say, to examine behaviour just based on straightforward theory, it will most certainly not match what really happens. However, if you add in ALL the actual parasitic behaviours of the components, the "real-world phenomena" you mention, into the Spice model then there should be very good agreement between the model (theory) and reality. After all, one of the classic nonsenses of a typical Spice circuit are the perfect voltage sources stuck where needed -- that alone guarantees that the match can be very poor.

In volume three, page 26 Crowhurst ...

Sorry, had a quick look, as far as I can see he is just saying, be careful with negative feedback, otherwise it becomes positive feedback and you have an oscillator -- straightforward stuff.

Frank

Fredseas2,

You banged the one note on my kids' upright piano and then compared it to a recording of a concert grand, as I remember. I agree with you that that one note did not sound identical to any one of the many notes in the recording. It wasn't even really close. But the recording certainly resembled the sound of a piano, and it wasn't a particularly good recording and it certainly was not one of the "best" systems available.

At this past RMAF I heard a live piano recital in the hotel lobby and then heard Ray Kimber's incredible four channel system play one of his IsoMic? recordings of a piano. Not identical, but boy were they similar to my ears.

Well, Edseas2, I'm so glad that your view settles everything, after all! And of course, you have the BAS to back you up. And to think we've created a thread five pages long discussing a conclusion we could have just asked you for. :)

Merry Christmas, Ed.

Merry Christmas everyone, enjoy your families, see you back in the threads... Tim

Mr. Ayer-

I assume that you forgot all about listening to Holly Cole - "Don't Smoke In Bed" -on your system. I listened to the entire album but that was when your system was a year or two older so I guess that I haven't heard a "great recording on one of today's great systems" have I?

Furthermore, I'm not talking about a recording being acceptable if it "certainly resembled the sound of a piano", I'm talking about a recording being indistinguishable from the sound of a real piano.

We are nowhere near that today from everything that I have heard so far.

Ed