2. amps-preamps
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Low Level Listening and Distortion

Would some amps sound better at lower levels due to distortion being produced at a lower sound level than another? In other words, a "clean" sounding amp (think stereotypical class D) sounds better to me at higher volumes while another amp sounds much louder than the class D at higher levels but great at lower levels, which I assume is our ears translating distortion into "louder" in our heads. Is it the job of a preamp to be sure the amp sounds the same at all levels or is this just impossible to make the sound that linear? I have one of the newest GaNFET amps from a well-respected designer/manufacturer playing at the moment and it sounds boring at low levels but good at higher levels. Not surprisingly it also sounds quieter at the same matched volume levels (using white noise) than the tube amps I also have. I hope I explained my question so it can be understood. Thanks.

bhvf
barts's avatar
barts
773 posts
 

I listen to music at just about every level as I'm a believer that all music has a proper level which goes beyond anyone's taste in volume.  A small amount of that is dictated by the recording itself as opposed to the actual music.

Try blasting Simon & Garfunkel some time, it doesn't work for me.  Nor does listening to DSOTM at anything but full blast.

I'm listening to Billie Eilish - Happier Than Ever - Not My Responsibility and the SPL was 63-69 which is kinda loud but correct.

What say you?

Regards,

barts 

barts's avatar
barts
773 posts
 

Let it play the next track as well, they lead into each other.  You're welcome.

Regards,

barts

barts's avatar
barts
773 posts
 

I also failed to mention that the noise floor in my listening room is 18db.

Honestly can't imagine hearing leaf blowers.

Regards,

barts

ghdprentice
8,100 posts
 

@curiousjim

 

To me low is 55 - 65 ish, normal is around 65 - 75 loud 80 - 90db.

 

This has changed as my systems have evolved. In the 70’s and 80’s I used to seek out opportunities to hear loud systems… I remember going to a high end store which had Klipschorn’s and enough power to crank around 110db. What was obvious in retrospect… the SPL meter did not move a lot… meaning the background noise was very high (was deafening)… the high frequency hash and noise floor. I still can remember the background hash… at the time I had no idea what it was. That was a sizable amount of the sound pressure. In retrospect some of the worse sound I have heard.

 

 

Now with my current and contemporary systems the background noise and hash is just gone. What is driving the SPL meter is the actual music only. A lot of the perception of loud is difference between the noise floor and the notes.

curiousjim's avatar
curiousjim
5,369 posts
 

“This has changed as my systems have evolved. In the 70’s and 80’s I used to seek out opportunities to hear loud systems… I remember going to a high end store which had Klipschorn’s and enough power to crank around 110db.”
 

The JBL Century 100’s - DQ-10’s with Apmpzilla - Son of Ampzilla and modded Hafler amps cranked up to 11!  What were the big Bozak speakers from mid/late seventies?

Those were the days.

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