2. amps-preamps
  3. 137752-82411

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
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
vtvmtodvm
@geoffkait —Well, I don't know the answer to your question, but, as (apocryphally) credited to Mark Twain…
“It’s easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled.”

So I guess some people always need more proof.

>>>>As PT Barnum was fond of saying,

”People would be generally much better off if they believed in too much rather than too little.”
roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
Tube amplifiers with their typical output impedance of >1 ohm will act as tone controls as they interact with the typical varying impedance of most speakers. Ohm's Law applies here! Go look it up!
roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
The more one spends on an amplifier the more it is praised!
snackeyp's avatar
snackeyp
455 posts
 
I have owned three different SS amps and could hear the difference between them.
I have owned two tube amps and could hear the difference between them.
What others have said about the more expensive amps offering more power is true.  My ears prefer the sound of tubes, and I definitely prefer the amp I have now (Primaluna Dialogue Premium HP) over my previous amp (Cary SLI-80).  The Primaluna is more powerful, and the preamp stage is better.  The sound improvements are not dramatic, however.  The Cary amp sounded wonderful, it's just that the Primaluna sounds better.

sktn77a
41 posts
 
They have to do it over and over again to prove to the "golden ears" that there truly is no real difference!!!
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