What's most important really is not what theorists, or romanticists say, but what you hear.
Ultimately, your own empirical evidence is the main reason to spend any money at all in this hobby. I can argue that most measurements are stuck in the 1970s and use overly simplistic models for amplifier behavior. I might be right, or I could say to you that I really like my integrated amp enough to have spent the money for it (a point which cannot be false).
I mean, lets say I hear a difference between a $500 amp and a $5,000 amp. How does that ultimately matter to you, if you can't?
Everything else is interesting, research, fun to chat about.
The other thing to point out, and caution you, is that this hobby is like the abyss which stares back. You can learn to discern a lot, because your ear/brain mechanism is capable of tremendous discrimination and adaptation, but knowing what brings you joy to begin with is important. Don't train yourself to hear things that ultimately aren't important.
Best,
E
Ultimately, your own empirical evidence is the main reason to spend any money at all in this hobby. I can argue that most measurements are stuck in the 1970s and use overly simplistic models for amplifier behavior. I might be right, or I could say to you that I really like my integrated amp enough to have spent the money for it (a point which cannot be false).
I mean, lets say I hear a difference between a $500 amp and a $5,000 amp. How does that ultimately matter to you, if you can't?
Everything else is interesting, research, fun to chat about.
The other thing to point out, and caution you, is that this hobby is like the abyss which stares back. You can learn to discern a lot, because your ear/brain mechanism is capable of tremendous discrimination and adaptation, but knowing what brings you joy to begin with is important. Don't train yourself to hear things that ultimately aren't important.
Best,
E