Controversial topic - Components vs. Design

[Upupa Epops]

But Sanken's are better, 'cos they are used by well known manufacturers , what I say, Toshiba's too, but by others . - that is question, to use or not to use ? I will go by my own way - 2N3055! or Ad or El or Kt or 6L6 or ... funnel, which have sweetest soud ? I'm sorry boys.

[Kees]

It's simple:

An electronics engineer should know the limitations of the components and adapt the design to those limitations.
PCB design introduces many parasatic components.

Again, no black magic.

By the way, if want to learn something about electrolytic capacitor's, visit the website from BC components. I have the impression that not many people understand these C's, especially life calculations.

[DrG]

- Magic caps do not exist!

Agreed. However some caps are significantly better in some applications. These differences are measurable. They are also audible.

- Transistors from SANKEN are not better than many others!

I wouldn't know, never used them. But I plan to.

I wonder if your "socialistic" equanimity extends to tubes? I can absolutely guarantee you that a Sovtek EL34 sounds vey different from a Mullard...

- The Schematic design (and PCB-layout) are more important than the choice of components!

Does that not go without saying? The schematic IS the amp. However... you've put your foot in your own argument here: in the 'other' thread dealing with this (JLH - Pass - Krell clone - Cresendo what sounds best) you are on record agreeing with Wingfeather. And our feathered friend is of the opinion that circuits with identical measured parameters sound identical.

Which means that you think this too (unless you've changed your mind). Which means the schematic means diddly squat! Which means I'm unsure of your opinion on the schematic: is it important or will any circuit that delivers the desired THD/IMD etc do the job? Please clarify as I seem to be confused here...

[Rudy]

Magic caps don't exist, but bad one's do, so selecting caps is still an issue.

Sanken, Toshiba are not better then any other BJT, BUT ... it is a LOT easy'r to design an amp with these BJT's then with non audio-BJT's, sure its possible, that i don't argue about.

The last part i don't agree with, both have a lot off inportance to the result off the amp, not only the design, but aswel the components you selected for the design, they have to fit there needs in the design.

And yes "Symmetrical designs are best", well thats my opinion, but you always need twice the components

Greetz Rudy

[Upupa Epops]

If you see on both directly same signated tubes, you will see, that they are not visibly the same, but set of their basical parameters is the same. Others significant parameters can be manufacturer by manufacturer little diferent and from theirs look insignificant, but in some cases audible. Can you say, which is better, if both are EL 34 ?

[thylantyr]

How can something subjective become
controversial ?

[DrG]

Precisely, Upupa...

Others significant parameters can be manufacturer by manufacturer little diferent and from theirs look insignificant, but in some cases audible.

And unfortunately for ACD the same may be true for transistors and amplifiers in general.

How can something subjective become controversial?

Shriek...

[Tony]

- The Schematic design (and PCB-layout) are more important than the choice of components!

i have used several combinations, for output trannies i have used mj15003/04, mj11032/33, 2sb554/d424, 2n3055/mj2955, for drivers, mj15003/04,tip42c/42c, for vas, 2sa510/c510,2sa484a/c484a, 92pu06/56, mpsu06/56, for snall signal, bc237/307,bc546/556...with varrying rails of +/-50 to 85volts dc, and the result was the same, very good sound, not tiring to listen to...so i believe design do play a big role...

[Wingfeather]

Which means that you think this too (unless you've changed your mind). Which means the schematic means diddly squat!

Well, the feathered friend is back. My overall opinion on this has just been posted onto the thread from which this one came. I think nothing of the kind that the schematic means diddly-squat. I've never said it and I have never thought it. What I DO think is that if two totally different topologies manage to produce less distortion than is audible to the human ear (<0.1%), then they will be indistinguishable. Simple logic really in that if they distort the signal by such a small amount that we can't hear it, how can they sound different?
And if two different topologies manage to produce exactly the same distortion spectrum as each other across every type of load (a feat which seems pretty much impossible), then I think they will also sound the same, for the same reason as above.

[Steve Eddy]

Originally posted by thylantyr
How can something subjective become
controversial ?

Ego and insecurity.

se