2. amps-preamps
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Is there actually a difference?

Speakers sound different - that is very obvious. But I’ve never experienced a drastic change between amps. Disclaimer that I’ve never personally ABX tested any extremely high end gear.

With all these articles claiming every other budget amp is a "giant killer", I’ve been wondering if there has ever been blind tests done with amplifiers to see if human ears can consistently tell the difference. You can swear to yourself that they do sound different, but the mind is a powerful thing, and you can never be sure unless it’s a truly blind test.

One step further - even IF we actually can tell the difference and we can distinguish a certain amp 7/10 times under extreme scrutiny, is it really worth the thousands you are shelling out to get that nearly-imperceivable .01% increase in performance?

Not looking to stir up any heated debate. I’ve been in audio for several years now and have always thought about this.
asianatorizzle
abrew19
146 posts
 
"Any yutz with ears can hear the difference between an amplifier before and after vibration isolation. Well, maybe not the bullet headed dude from Audio Review."

Do you mean Julian Hirsch from Stereo Review?

partroysound
25 posts
 
Kinda unrelated to this discussion but how much of a difference is there between a very early Levinson (ML3,ML9) and a current one or similar brand? I've always wanted to know.
13blm's avatar
13blm
63 posts
 
I recently bought  a used Krell 300i integrated on a whim. It proceeded to wipe the floor with some amps that cost many times more.  Many amps do sound similar but wide deviations  exst too .  Which is right depends on your taste and system synergy. 
vtvmtodvm
66 posts
 

Per Peter Aczel, of The Audio Critic:  “Longtime readers of The Audio Critic know the drill that comes at this point: I repeat, for the nth time, that all amplifiers having high input impedance, low output impedance, flat frequency response, low distortion, and low noise floor sound exactly the same when operated at matched levels and not clipped. (Those who are unable to stomach this simple truth, proved over and over again in double-blind listening tests, should stick with Stereophile.)”


geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Proved over and over in double blind tests? Then I guess it must be true.

Question: Why did they have to do the blind tests over and over again? Weren’t they convinced by the first test? 😳
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