How important is S/N Ratio....?

but when a lower S/N level can be quantified.....it has to have a relation to actual levels of distortion present....

Agreed but I think several replies here are simply trying to say that the link is not as strong as you suggest. Otherwise people with analog gear (vinyl or tape) would be very unhappy - and they are not! Distortion and Signal to Noise can be separate issues and don't have to be related. You can have one bad and the other good and vice versa. Of course in excellent gear both will be good.

Shadorne.....

"Agreed but I think several replies here are simply trying to say that the link is not as strong as you suggest. Otherwise people with analog gear (vinyl or tape) would be very unhappy - and they are not! Distortion and Signal to Noise can be separate issues and don't have to be related. You can have one bad and the other good and vice versa. Of course in excellent gear both will be good."

Interesting as tape has a very large bandwith.....I really can't say about vinyl as I moved to digital source long ago and have never thought about going back......

Of course I am talking about the high upper end here....as the build quality of the componets and circuit design...seperate the levels of sound performance.

Well let me ask you then......what are 3 qualities of a amplifier that combines both excellant thd and S/N levels...

Well noise in coming from Vinyl is a part of the playback which I think is totally different from the noise generated from an amplifier. Noise coming from the playback of analog sources is inherent to the technology itself, where physical contact is required. However, the noise from an amplifier is more like a flawed power supply and interference issue.

I know I am intruding to a 2 person discussion here but theories do suggest that an amplifier with low noise means a good power supply and a product of a good circuit designer. Low distortion generally means an amplifier that gives less fatigue to the listener. Of course different distortions contribute to a different sound. Since these topics have long been covered and tested before why not let's move on to an issue on the effect of amplifier damping on a loudspeaker because it seems that there is a trend of going for a very high damping in the amplifier industry of late, and with good results.

Long time audiophile magazine reader here.
Best
Alexander

Damping factor has been discussed many times on these forums and it is also misleading to pursue this number. I maintain that above a damping factor of 50 then you gain next to nothing. In fact, extremely high damping factors may be indicative of very high amounts of feedback and just like an amplifier with a specification from 10 Hz to 400 Khz I am wary of these kind of amps (Why do I need to amplify signals out to 400 Khz - surely it is better to get rid of this unwanted stuff). To me - there is danger in chasing excessive specifications which do not add anything to the sound quality but run the risk of making the amplifier less stable under difficult operating conditions....just two cents.

Oh and three things to look for in an amplifier:

1) More Power

2) More Power

3) More Power

...forgive me a cruel chuckle and a wink to Mini-Me!