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
headphonedreams
527 posts
 
I agree with almost everything @soix  said above. Great post!

As some as said, you need to define where in the price range of amps you think it doesn't matter anymore. Do you really not hear any worthwhile difference between a $100 amp and a $10 000 amp? 

OP might also want to read up why double blind tests are not always the best way to test audio.
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Try isolating the amps sometime. It’s a whole different ballgame. Kind of the difference between mid fi and the high end. Even the guy off the street can hear the difference then.  All the dudes, like the bullet headed guy from Stereo Review, who made those grand pronouncements that amps all sound about the same predated proper vibration isolation, which didn’t become a cause celebe until the late 90s, a perfectly valid reason people don’t hear differences in cables, either.
fleschler
2,008 posts
 
Back in the 1970s, so many receivers from major companies sounded the same-distorted.  They were designed around measurements, how low can the THD and IM go, not around musical sounds.  I dreaded hearing my teen age friends playing rock.  It hurt my ears/head.  I would go home and enjoy my Yamaha integrated or Fisher 500c into a pair of Dynaco 35s, Dual 1209 and Grado cartridge.  Cheapest cabling, no vibration isolation, no acoustic treatments (nice big room 20X20X10).  That was comforting sound.
initforthemusic
282 posts
 
Big, big differences between my Power Amps. Have 5 now, did have 6 until recently, but sold one. Why? Because it sounded inferior to the other 5. Easily heard.
initforthemusic
282 posts
 
Of course the differences between Pre-Amps are even bigger. In fact massive.
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