I have a related question, would there be a significant difference listening to a 25 year old Adcom versus a Pass, which arguably is probably the best sounding amplifier I’ve heard?
Let me end the Premp/Amplifier sound debate ...
I'm old enough to remember Julian Hersch from Audio magazine and his very unscientific view that all amplifiers sounded the same once they met a certain threshold. Now the site Audio Science Review pushes the same.
I call these views unscientific as some one with a little bit of an engineering background as well as data science and epidemiology. I find both of these approaches limited, both in technology used and applied and by stretching the claims for measurements beyond their intention, design and proof of meaning.
Without getting too much into that, I have a very pragmatic point of view. Listen to the following three amplifier brands:
- Pass Labs
- Luxman
- Ayre
If you can't hear a difference, buy the cheapest amplifier you can. You'll be just as happy. However, if you can, you need to evaluate the value of the pleasure of the gear next to your pocket book and buy accordingly. I don't think the claim that some gear is pure audio jewelry, like a fancy watch which doesn't tell better time but looks pretty. I get that, and I've heard that. However, rather than try to use a method from Socrates to debate an issue to the exact wrong conclusion, listen for yourself.
If you wonder if capacitors sound different, build a two way and experiment for yourself. Doing this leaves you with a very very different perspective than those who haven't. You'll also, in both cases, learn about yourself. Are you someone who can't hear a difference? Are you some one who can? What if you are some one who can hear a difference and doesn't care? That's fine. Be true to yourself, but I find very little on earth less worthwhile than having arguments about measurements vs. sound quality and value.
To your own self and your own ears be true. And if that leads you to a crystal radio and piezo ear piece so be it. In my own system, and with my own speakers I've reached these conclusions for myself and I have very little concern for those who want to argue against my experiences and choices.
- ...
- 197 posts total
Dear @holmz : You posted: " When they have zero distortion, then by definition they will sound the same." "" It is getting down towards the theory side of “close to zero” distortion. "" I took both statements to post that example of 4 amps with really " near " closer to the Zero distortion " ideal "/target. I mean that in my example I took the assumption that all four really have zero distortion and from there came my questions I posted. If those amps have " zero distortion " and are running inside its operational specs and obviously with speakers the amps can handle then according with what you and other gentleman posted in theory those amps will sounds the same. I doubt that could happen till we listen to it. " I am leaning more towards accuracy in signal quality. " that's good and critical because with out system accuracy we will far away of the recording. "" I am more leaning toward fidelity over a musical flavour. "" of course because in that way you will be near to the recording.
R.
|
Well I answered your question truthfully @rauliruegas and I have no practical way to subjectively listen to every amp, nor to go through every subjective review. So I go somewhat by others using similar speakers have found to work, as well as using objective measurements to try and exclude gear. However my last two amp are one that my friend with the Mangaplanners sold to be secondhand. For Class A, A/B, and D distortion and IMD do give some indication of the quality. Most people are not likely to mod their amps with different capacitors as the OP had mentioned, so shooting equipment can be a complicated path.
Usually it is measured in the frequency domain... rather than statistically. |
- 197 posts total