Most resolving, transparent amps.

How can I tell (without actually listening and evaluating synergy, especially with speakers) if an amp is in fact going to be 'transparent'? Are amps universal in application? If, when I hear a system, I judge to be less than transparent how do I know it's the amp as opposed to the IC's, cables, line stage, etc, that I'm using with it. Is there an absolute reference?

You make a good point, Newbee. I guess I'm judging by some direct comparisons within a single system using familiar music, but that doesn't take into account synergy with speakers, and there most certainly is no absolute reference. Then again, how do any of us judge any of this stuff given that it is always attached to a chain of other components, which may or may not have synergy for whatever reasons. A good reason to take everything you read with a pound'o'salt and make your own judgments in your own system. I guess this is just input and a point of departure, but I find it interesting in this discussion that Class D and OTL comes up over and over. There have been very few mentions of tube amps here.

Marco

"How do any of us judge...."

Marco, I simply use one of those old forked sticks used to find water wells. Amazing devices! :-)

Don't take my post personal, it had more to do with the premise of the thread than anything else. In your system that amp that lets you hear the sound you want to hear IS, IMHO, the most transparent. If it reminds you of live music more than anything else its more transparent. Notice I didn't say detailed in the sense of an increase in high frequency information used enhance a feeling of expanded sound stage or sonic minutia you would never hear unless you were sitting next to the instrumentalist.

Personally I think Tvad has taken the right path at the fork in this road. Now I'm just curious about the amp he is getting to replace his Moscode. :-)

BTW, I've read quite a bit about both D amps and OTL's. I would love to hear the OTL's on some good electrostats.......

I guess for me "transparency" is not necessarily the sound of live music, per se, but the lack of a presence of some distortion, coloration, static, noise, grunge, etc. between the recorded music and the listener. How well the music is mixed and recorded then becomes a critical criteria as to whether or not it sounds like "Live" music. No amount of transparency is going to make a poor recording sound "live". I've heard recordings where what otherwise might be wonderful nuance of detail, becomes an annoying distraction - this is where a very revealing system arguably becomes a liability.

Marco

PS I wasn't taking your post as a personal, Newbee, I did think you made a good point.

Marco, I think that is a fair definition of 'transparency' in fact it is probably the most appropriate one. I always get confused about the difference between transparency to the recorded sound and transparency to the sound live, except when I've just gone to a concert. I need to get out more! :-)

Marco is right. That is why I stressed system synergy. The fact is, however, their is no getting all the, " Dead quiet, black background, dimensional, layered, imaging, open, extended top end...," without an amp that can disappear with the best wires, front end, and speakers.

I have heard top dollar OTL systems, built for synergy. I love them. It takes a whole lot more power to bring out the best of my speakers, more akin to electrostats. The way I have, I prefer mine.