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Most resolving, transparent amps.

What has your experience been in amplifiers?

The most transparent, detailed amps you've encountered.
I like to hear everything that's going on and follow the different lines and instruments but it does need to come together musically.
Dead quiet, black background, dimesnional, layered, imaging, open, extended top end - all qualities of top amps, I think. Let the music come through as it was put on the disc - no editorializing.

What have you found?
mr_bill
jax2
3,031 posts
 
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.
newbee
4,775 posts
 
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! :-)
muralman1
1,527 posts
 
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.
frankg
176 posts
 
Lamm M1.2 Ref. does it for me. (110watt class A hybred). Clairty/Resolution with an organic realism.

Frank
stltrains
845 posts
 
there are a lot of terms used in our hobby.
the determining factor is your ears and your room.
this is what makes this forum so loaded with terms and gives us all of this info.
until you hear componentes, sources, and wires in your own music room then you will know for your self how it sounds.
i am guilty in the fact of advising gear as much as anyone. but in the end i guess thats why we are here on the gon.
and it goes on and on.
music cant live without it. yea
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