What does "Timber Accuracy" mean?

[Dufus]

It means it has natural 'tone' meaning the instrument's color is preserved.

[M Gregg]

There is more to it than amplifier distortion..
And a perfect amp might not create perceived Timbre...Sound stage etc can have an effect..and harmonic content..

This one of the hardest things to achieve...and to reproduce it across a wide range of music styles is very hard to achieve.

Regards
M. Gregg

[cbdb]

"Rise Time"and "settle time" of amplifier?

Doubt it, most amps are a lot "faster" (which is the same as your hi freq cutoff) than instruments.

[cbdb]

And a perfect amp might not create percieved Timbre

What does that mean? You like your amps to change the signal? Timbre is the harmonic content of the signal, if you recreate that, your timbre accurate, if you change the harmonic content (balance) you are distorting the signal. Why do people have to read so much extra in simple concepts.

[M Gregg]

Because its the synergy of the total system not just one part, and the match between the components have to compensate for loss or gain in each part.
An amplifier without speakers is not a HIFI..and components are not all accurate.

Regards
M. Gregg

[cbdb]

Originally Posted by M Gregg

Because its the synergy of the total system not just one part, and the match between the components have to compensate for loss or gain in each part.

Regards
M. Gregg

So you expect your amp to make up for less than perfect freq. response in your speakers, for example?

[M Gregg]

The ability to drive a set of speakers and damping will all effect the perceived timbre..Its a case that they have to match each other..Just putting any speaker with any amp may or may not create the desired effect..note I say effect...Its got to the hardest thing to do and get right across a wide range of music content. And people will pay megga bucks to "try" and get it correct...Its the audiophile rabbit hole..

I have listened to systems that sound like someone playing a guitar in another room and was shocked to find a hifi and not a person..It has only happend on very few occasions..

Regards
M. gregg

[SY]

Originally Posted by M Gregg

There is more to it than amplifier distortion.

Modern amps have far less distortion than is necessary to alter timbre. Musician, instrument, microphones, recording venue, loudspeakers, room- those are the things which actually affect timbre.

[cbdb]

Because its the synergy of the total system not just one part, and the match between the components have to compensate for loss or gain in each part.

Thats what some of the powered speakers do (usually with DSP) but nobody builds stand alone amps like that, and thats what we are talking bout isnt it?

[cbdb]

The ability to drive a set of speakers and damping

Again, any decent amp will do these things. You seem to be talking about the amp as an effects box, sorry IMHO thats not Hi-Fi