"In controlled double-blind listening tests, no one has ever (yes, ever!) heard a difference between two amplifiers with high input impedance, low output impedance, flat response, low distortion, and low noise."
Peter Aczel
This is ignorance on the highest possible level. I have friends in the recording industry & friends playing professionally classical music etc. We all have done several blind tests in the last 15 years with shocking differences in amplifier reproduction. This really is an insane statement. Unbelievable!
Peter Aczel
This is ignorance on the highest possible level. I have friends in the recording industry & friends playing professionally classical music etc. We all have done several blind tests in the last 15 years with shocking differences in amplifier reproduction. This really is an insane statement. Unbelievable!
OK, I let this one pass. But you're just asking for trouble here. If it gets nasty, the tread will be closed.
Well, who is this Peter Aczel anyway?
I am sure there are differences, even with similaily priced product. But, I believe that for these tests, they should only blinfold audience who play non-amplified accoustical instruments.
My CAN$ 0.02, E
I am sure there are differences, even with similaily priced product. But, I believe that for these tests, they should only blinfold audience who play non-amplified accoustical instruments.
My CAN$ 0.02, E
Oh heck. I'll say something...and I usually avoid threads such as this one like the plague.
1. He qualified his statement well: double blind, low output impedance, high input impedance, flat response, low distortion and no noise. These are all equalizing factors ensuring that the two amps will sound the same.
2. His statement lends credibility to itself because if you know what those things are you can set up the test to repeat it, at least somewhat close to his conditions.
Your statement, however, does not represent a rebuttal, and I don't know what boundry conditions you tested under. Were you comparing a 300B SET to a Halcro? A DIY amplifier that might have marginal stability at best to a well designed amp?
I don't think his statement is idiotic at all. I remember going to a CES where someone was selling little cardboard tri-pods that lifted speaker cables off the floor 3" to protect them from "the earths harmful magnetic radiation which induces asymmetrical wavefront distortion." That one set the bar pretty high.
Scott
The error in this thought is that it implies that distortion can be quantified as easily as the other parameters. There were investigations at the Technical University Berlin where they found that the worst kind of distortion are the subtractive components of IMD. And from this point of view most of these low output impedance, high damping factor beasts looked quite poor. Then they designed an amp optimized to this criterion - a valve amp.
Do you have a reference for the study...that would be something I would be interested in....
Scott
You mean rising time, different loads, different IM etc. etc. does not make a difference? Sorry but you can't be serious...
Hi, that sounds very interesting. Do you have further information or any references for me / us to follow?
With thanks.
Well I'll be..... There's a critic for just about everything nowadays. If it sounds good to you, that's all that matters, right?
Well, statements that are technically wrong that could end up with someone getting hurt have to be called out, that's just the right thing to do.
But there are some topics that don't even need the 10-foot pole to be brought out anymore.
Please search for "The Audio Critic". You can download all the issues I think. It is full of hatred against Stereophile, Hi-Fi News etc. I'm not a fan of these magazines but the statements of Mr.Alcaseltzer are more hate filled fanaticism than scientific approach. Still, there are some very interesting articles to read.
Well, I suppose if I had used the phrase "help ensure" they sound the same you wouldn't have replied like this?
Nah, there isn't rational discussion to be had here. I'm out of this thread unless that Berlin technical institute paper reference shows up.
Scott
OK, folks:
This was a statement (post #!) made by (allegedly) Mr. Peter Aczel.
So, why not, get him here and explain his opinion. One of you should know how to get in touch with him.
E
This was a statement (post #!) made by (allegedly) Mr. Peter Aczel.
So, why not, get him here and explain his opinion. One of you should know how to get in touch with him.
E
Right. And you're never gonna get any agreement on that. If it were possible, we could start making those amps that everyone likes and shut down these forums. 😛
- Status
- Not open for further replies.