John Curl's Blowtorch preamplifier part II

[scott wurcer]

Originally Posted by Pano

I just hear a tiny "ticK" there. No cork.

Consider the source

[SY]

Did you hear it on speakers? If so, congratulations!

[Pano]

Yes, SY's brain is conditioned to hear corks everywhere.
I was listening on cans. Will try speakers later today.

[ThorstenL]

Hi Ed,

Originally Posted by Pano

I just hear a tiny "ticK" there. No cork.

I suspect that track is a bit "corked"...

I don't have the album, so I cannot comment.

I find that fine detail audibility depends on the speaker having a sensible directivity, e.g. no dome tweeters etc... The massive room scatter from dome tweeters tend to obscure a lot of stuff...

Ciao T

[fireworks]

Since the general agreement is that even the best amplifiers sound differently, let's talk about the best ones.
Of course, everyone will have a different opinion about which ones are "the best sounding amplifiers".

John, Charles and others, what is the best sounding amplifier you've ever heard in these categories (regardless of any measured performance like THD, IMD, etc.):
-tube amp with GNFB
-tube amp with no GNFB
-semiconductor amp with GNFB
-semiconductor amp with no GNFB

[john curl]

Tube amp with no GNFB

[jan.didden]

Originally Posted by ThorstenL

Jan,



Hold on, you presented your assertion as observed fact. I can think of a few possible solution, however this is not what I asked, what I asked is what test setup YOU used to establish "no audible difference between input and output" for "best amplifiers"?

I really need to know the experimental setup you used to establish your results to know if I should give credence to the claims you made.

Ciao T

I don't think I mentioned a setup. I said that if you don't hear a difference between input and output signals, that amp was 'ideal enough' in terms of reproducing the music accurately enough. I have not done any comprehensible test to find out if my own or somebody else's amp meets this criterium.

Do you not agree that if we can hear no difference between input and output, that that is sufficient and necessary?

Or do I misunderstand you?

jan didden

[ThorstenL]

Hi,

Originally Posted by fireworks

John, Charles and others, what is the best sounding amplifier you've ever heard in these categories (regardless of any measured performance like THD, IMD, etc.):
-tube amp with GNFB
-tube amp with no GNFB
-semiconductor amp with GNFB
-semiconductor amp with no GNFB

It depends on system context (mostly but not entirely speakers).

In a system that is compatible the "compatible" amplifier will be the best.

If we may choose everything freely than a high efficiency speaker of exceptional quality combined with a non-feedback single ended tube amplifier using specific pre WWII Tubes would be my personal choice.

Ciao T

[Joachim Gerhard]

The best amps i ever heard are the Audionet Max and The Vacuum State KT88. They could not be different. The Max uses gobs of feedback and measures extremely well with nearly 1000W on tab into 2 Ohm. The Vacuum State is a zero NFB diffential design and the late and great Allen Wright told me that he had not even measured distortion during development. He was not interested in things like that. It was dead quiet though on my 100dB sensitive speakers and rather wideband and high power ( 4 x KT88 per mono block ). The Max sounds extremely accurate and pristine but without being harsh. There is a nothingness to sound that my classical oriented audiophile friends find irresistable. They tell me that they can follow the partitur to the nth degree. It throws a big stage if its on the record. I can hear no loss of micro detailing and that was also reported from the ones that use it in other systems. Allens amp is something different. It does not analyse the music. It simply playes the music in such a beautifull and mesmerising way that you simply forget in a minut that you are listening to your HiFi.
Pick your poison.

[ThorstenL]

Hi Jan,

Originally Posted by janneman

I don't think I mentioned a setup. I said that if you don't hear a difference between input and output signals, that amp was 'ideal enough' in terms of reproducing the music accurately enough.

Not quite. Your originally wrote in the original post:

Originally Posted by janneman

Does that mean all amps sound the same? Unfortunately, no, they don't. But the best ones out there have no audible difference between their input and output signals.

To me this writing signifies that according to your testing "the best ones out there have no audible difference between their input and output signals".

It it merely expresses a belief, not rooted in actual experiment, as it now appears, than I am forced to disagree at this time with your contention, for lack of actual and tested evidence.

It is noble a belief to hold, for sure, I tend to be much more circumspect in my beliefs.

Ciao T