Anybody else waiting for GaN and Purify to have a baby?

Based on @ricevs and @atmasphere discussion, I want to ask a stupid question:
Between GAN and Purifi based amplifier - would there be a big difference in the quality of sound OR do they approach the same sound quality when designed properly?

That depends on the distortion signature, which seems to be more important than **how much** distortion is present. If "designed properly" (IOW having a similar distortion signature) I would expect the same sound quality too. This is simply because most of what we audiophiles describe as differences in amplifiers comes down to their distortion signature.

The "distortion signature" is just one of an infinite amount of things that effect the sound. So no, no two different implementations of Purifi amps sound the same (I am trying two new mods tomorrow on a Purifi amp and I am sure I will hear two new "different" takes). Its the same with two amps with the same "distortion signature". They will sound different for a thousand different reasons. EVERYTHING makes a difference......I state this over and over again as it is my direct experience of testing parts and execution and circuits for over 45 years. You change the fuse in an amp and you have a completely different sound......even though the "distortion signature" remains the same. Believe what you want. I know what I experience......experience is the only valid path to truth. You must directly listen to something to know anything in audio.

"Designed properly".......now that is funny. There is no consensus in high end audio as to what that means. You have the nerd types who say it is in numbers....and you have the subjectivists who believe what they hear.....many of whom....hear different things....he he. In drag racing you can measure the results (elapsed time and speed). In high end audio......what the result is.....is subjective.....totally.....so there is no reference....just beliefs.....some beliefs based on theory and some on experience. I say again.....you must listen to know what is "real" for you.

If all you need is a certain "distortion signature"......then why make a new amp? There are already amps with that signature.....nothing new there. We are constantly evolving.....everything is. We discover more and more each day.....new things that cannot be measured that make the sound better. This is good. When we finally can measure all that we hear it will be a miracle of miracles. Of course, our life is already infinitely miraculous. 60 trillion cells in every human body.....dancing in the light of God.

No one knows what amp will be best in the end......for there is never an end.  I keep modding the Purifi and I will keep modding the GaN amps......they will all keep getting better and better.  I believe, that in less than one year.....high end audio will start to have its mind blown......not saying any more.   In three years....we will be swimming in the infinite possibilities most have never known.   Good stuff....I mean great stuff.....for very little $ coming to your door soon.

The "distortion signature" is just one of an infinite amount of things that effect the sound.

It is true that phase shift can cause colorations. But beyond that almost anything else that results in an audible difference is likely due to how it affects the distortion.

"Designed properly".......now that is funny. There is no consensus in high end audio as to what that means. 

This is true. For me, 'designed properly' (which I hope was easily inferred from my prior post) simply means that the amp will have a distortion signature that allows it to be neutral (while otherwise allowing the amp to be usable and reliable....). I don't regard most solid state amps as neutral because their distortion signature includes unmasked higher ordered harmonic distortion which is audible as brightness and harshness; literally the reason that vacuum tubes are still around. They aren't 'designed properly' IMO.

If all you need is a certain "distortion signature"......then why make a new amp? There are already amps with that signature.....nothing new there.

This is true as well. However the reason to make a new amp is simple: the amps that have had the right distortion signature in the past are all tube amplifiers. None are solid state. Class D offers the ability to have a similar distortion signature, but at a much lower level, easily over a magnitude lower. This allows the amp to also be more neutral. A class D amplifier also does not need regular service, makes a lot less heat and is more compact. If you can offer all those advantages over tubes with the same smoothness and detail thru the mids and highs why on earth would you **not** do that?


The trick here is understanding how the measurements correlate with what we hear. This is rarely done in the spec sheets which give you very little information about how the circuit actually measures. This is why I'm talking about the distortion signature since it is something that can be easily measured with today's equipment and its predictable that if you get it right the amp will sound like music to the human ear.


Here are some aspects of a proper distortion signature:1) the THD measures the same at 100Hz, 1KHz and 10KHz (usually only the 100Hz distortion is shown in reviews and on spec sheets)2) the primary distortion components should be the 2nd and 3rd harmonics (which are nearly inaudible to the ear) in sufficient amount such that they mask the higher orders. A tube amp makes more higher ordered harmonics than almost any solid state amp, yet sounds smooth because the lower harmonics are masking the presence of the higher harmonics.


If you don't get these two things right the amp will not sound musical and organic.


The chief engineer at Scott once said "If it measures good and sounds bad, -- it is bad. If it sounds good and measures bad, -- you've measured the wrong thing."
It was true when he said it and its still true today.

Class D offers the ability to have a similar distortion signature, but at a much lower level, easily over a magnitude lower. This allows the amp to also be more neutral. A class D amplifier also does not need regular service, makes a lot less heat and is more compact. If you can offer all those advantages over tubes with the same smoothness and detail thru the mids and highs why on earth would you **not** do that? 

Does this notion give anyone else a slight bulge in their pants?