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


Over the years I have owned many amps....rated at different S/N ratios. As a example 80,90,100 or 120 db down....but some sound more transparent than others regardless.Also the higher the rating theoreticly is should sound better....right? Does your amp sound better than the advertised rating? If it does.....tell me 3 things that stand out about your amp.

wavetrader
As for "More Power" I would suggest "Less Power".

Au contraire baby, More Power is More Mojo
-135 db down is meaningless only when....there is no sonic difference discernable....but when I add two low noise PSU capacitors and 10 ultra low noise caps to a SS amplifier and the sound is unmeasurably better...I guess the poor guys that spend 30K for a amplifier can't tell the difference either...BTW the upgrade cost me 750 bucks....including labor.
Wavetrader,
I will love to upgrade the components n my components too, but have you ever wondered whether it might be detrimental to the flow of current when you use different solders to what was originally used on the circuit boards? Like the interactions between different alloys and the also the matter of whether the components will be mounted as stably as the ones originally supplied. Nowadays it's all surface mount. These are the main concerns that are preventing me to do such risky modifications. But if the amplifier is made by hand when purchased, I won't have any problems with that.
Wonderful.....I am no tech...but this amp has pull out CB's so the recapping was not that involved...the thing that was a challenge was fitting the low esr power caps. The solder issue you mention is better left to those that make their living...doing such things.

I will have a matching pre-amp with these ultra low noise caps vs a unit with some Nichicon gold installed.....if I get a quantum leap with the ULN type.....well it will be interesting.
Wavetrader - if you do this yourself be sure you know what you're doing. Installing low ESR caps with certain voltage regulators might cause oscillation.