Do you understand your amplifier?

In General, my answer is yes to solid state. I've built a couple kits, and have modified 2. I understand the diffence between Class A A/B D, different output transistors, power transformers supply caps, yada yada.
I can read the basics of a schematic but I cannot sit down and draw out anything detailed in a circuit design or completely understand detailed schematics. So, in detail my answer is no.
In tubes, I have rolled a few tubes. Call me Schultz there
I Know Nothing!

I doubt that there would be any more consistency between the recommendations provided by computer programs developed by different people or organizations than there is between the recommendations offered by individual audiophiles.
08-11-11: Almarg

Al, that may be true, but the database could be set up to provide great information:
- speaker phase angles, easy, moderate difficult loads and the amps to pair with various speakers

- amp/ speaker pairings known for matching well and sounding well together

- avoidance of impedance mismatches- preamps-amps, sources- preamps

-completely synergistic audio systems that list all components

-warnings about improper amp- speaker matches or problematic matches of electronics speakers and sources

This could give audiophiles a head start on possible mistakes, especially for the inexperienced. The consistency could be in helping people avoid mistakes in their pairings when making gear choices. Many costly mistakes might be avoided. Most of this stuff ain't cheap!

magic box make pretty music

08-11-11: Foster_9
The database could be set up to provide great information.... This could give audiophiles a head start on possible mistakes, especially for the inexperienced. The consistency could be in helping people avoid mistakes in their pairings when making gear choices.

Excellent point.

As I see it the audiophile is basically acting as a systems engineer. It is generally neither necessary nor possible (given the usual unavailability of schematics and meaningful theory of operation writeups) to have a detailed understanding of the internal design of an amplifier or other component.

What is both possible and desirable is to have a good understanding of the interface characteristics of the components (input and output impedances, impedance variations with frequency, etc.), and of the end-to-end transfer characteristics of the components (gains, sensitivities, signal-to-noise ratios, etc), and of how all those things interact.

While of course none of those things will be or should be decisive in finalizing a choice of components, that kind of understanding will, as you said, decrease the likelihood of poor matchups and expensive mistakes, narrow the range of choices, facilitate diagnosing problems, and make it possible to better prioritize investments of time and money.

Best regards,
-- Al

Exactly!

Build it and they will come?