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Should an amp have a "personality"?

I currently have a SimAudio W-7 amp.  If there is a word to describe its sound, it would be NEUTRALITY precisely capitalized.  I mean it is neutral to a fault.  It's NOT warm, or bright, or analytical, or sweet, or anything that might be misconstrued as a personality.  It's just "IS".  It has nothing that would offend me but nothing that is endearing either.  I suppose some people may like this type of sound.  I also have another SimAudio Moon W-3 amp, and although it is neutral, but it has a distinct personality of being slightly forward, slightly upfront and ultimately more interesting to listen to.  

At this point, I am a bit disappointed what the W7 is not "FOR".  I want its sound to be FOR something be it slightly warm, or forward, or a touch bright or something that is a bit interesting even if it is a flaw.  It's like a politician who wouldn't say he's for something at the risk of offending his potential voters.  

PASS Labs amps are known to be a bit warm in the bass along with all their class A type of sound just as tube amps but they somehow make music sings.  
andy2
big_greg
6,623 posts
 
Pretty much every piece I've owned has had some sort of unique sonic signature - amps, preamps, phono stages, speakers, streamers, CD players, headphones, etc. 

As others have said, it's a matter of finding components that have a personality that you (and the rest of your components) are compatible with.

What sounds good to you may not to me and vice versa.  I think that the better I get at communicating what I hear and the "personality" characteristics that appeal to me, the easier it gets to find that sound I'm looking for.
michaelgreenaudio's avatar
michaelgreenaudio
1,019 posts
 

"Every amp has a personality. Actually internal wire, caps, resistors, rectifiers and even the darn chassis EACH have a sound personality.  So yes, the end product also does."

My first visit to this thread. Thank you Grannyring, there for a while I thought we were going to be in another thread that lives outside of audio reality.

MG

inna
7,296 posts
 
roxy54, "subtractive coloration" is a great term. I think, this kind of coloration is virtually missed in all discussions, amplifiers or not. And within reason subtractive colorations are worse for me than added colorations.
david_ten
5,480 posts
 
Hmmm  Sins of omission vs Sins of commission...
andy2 OP
1,545 posts
 
Our hearing is too complicated and the English language is not adequate to characterize our hearing perceives sound and music.  

If we can't agree on the meaning of the word "neutrality" then it's hard to move to the next phase.  If "neutrality" does not exist, then why do professional reviewers keep using the word?  Is it the best they can do?

Of course there are others who believe "neutrality" does not exist because every single component such as an amp has its own distinct sound therefore by definition is not "neutral".  

Tube amps are the most "colorful" but for whatever reason most people believe they are most truthful in term of reproducing music.  Too bad they cost too much lols.  Hey like they say, you have to pay to play.
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