Well I think the solid state route was the best to take anyways. But I wouldn't be surprised to see a tube hybrid pop up. In fact I'm very surprised we haven't seen one yet. It might actually get more tube guys into class D. It's a good baby step anyways 🙂
There probably still tinkering, arguing and pontificating about which particular diode layout is the best to take, on forums🙂
Considering how placebo has strongly influenced the audiophile market today, I think it's fair to ask for proper testing.
I don't know... When the first mp3 player applications came out (winamp, anyone?), one of the big things was "visualisations". I still remember thinking "I could just have left the 'scope plugged in". 🙂
Not sure I follow your logic here. OK, so the ncore output section doesn't mask differences, but changing buffer stages might or might not be a big deal - entirely dependent on how big the differences are between the different buffer stages. Ncores don't mask differences, but they don't amplify or enhance the differences either.
But you are still asking if I think I can hear a difference based on the pictures?
But sometimes test results could alter the placebo effect. Lot's of highly regarded audio products out there don't even publish any useful specs whatsoever. If they did, it would alter the perception, and how people think they sound.
Could you believe the other day on another forum, I was talking about digital being able to emulate the coloration of tube gear and vinyl. And one guy got completely bent out of shape and says he won't be able to enjoy his expensive $150000 rig anymore, because of the expectation bias that if he had digital, it could be better. Wow I thought. That low of confidence level in your own gear or what.
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The Ncores just make the input stage louder. So you are really just listening to the input stage. Connect headphones to the input buffer, then into the amp at low levels and compare the difference in sound. Identical. But swap the input buffer out and connect to the headphones, and it will sound much different because you are listening to a totally different headphone amp now. You can't tell me all headphone amps sound the same?
Or just use your favourite headphone amp as the buffer itself. It will sound like the headphone amp coming out of your speakers.
I guess that is why some people are so strongly against measurements.
What happened to "just trust your ears"? 🙂
No need to involve any headphone amps or whatever. Do you, or do you not, agree with what I wrote, "Ncores don't mask differences, but they don't amplify or enhance the differences either."?
No doubt. They only can be trusted if vinyl and tubes are in the picture. Digital and class D is like the devil to some. I'm thinking the dealers they have been dealing with for years are just brainwashing them. Why wouldn't you want a compact, cool running, reliable, efficient class D amp if it could sound as good or better than a big hot tube amp?
We all know digital is just an artificial rough approximation of the real sound 🙂
Somebody should remind the tube crowd that class D isn't digital.
Most of those people run in circles constantly changing their gear and not focusing on what really matters. While the placebo effect may last long for some, for most it doesn't and they try a new component, a new cable or somekind of nutty tweak. It's a continuing chase.
I think it would be healthy for the whole audio industry to move away from pacebo and ridiculous prices. Being lead by wrong beliefs and that price alone gives a gratification isn't beneficial for anyone in the long run IMO.
Yes I'm trying my best to shatter myth's everywhere I go as well. But it isn't very well received by many as it's to hard to convince. It's like walking into a church and talking about dinosaurs 🙂
To be honest I did not think you were replying to me but just wanted to check. You are one of the good guys as far as I am concerned.
Also agree totally with what you are saying and yes I am on board.
Like Boggit said I used to think that amplifiers did not make a difference but have realised for sometime that I am wrong.
And there are days I feel it is like walking into a church and talking *to* dinosaurs 🙂
It does seem like part of the population completely missed the scientific revolution and that whole enlightenment thing, and think Francis Bacon is a pork product. But then again, a lot of people still believe in alien abductions, ghosts and astrology... 🙂
It is beneficial to those selling way overpriced gear (especially cables, where the manufacturing costs are low and there is not very much second hand sales, so old cables just gather dust).
Unfortunately it has turned real hi-fi (as opposed to bragging-rights "high end" on one hand and "lifestyle" on the other) into a slowly dying niche market.
I've read that site. But it's not the bible for me as I have clearly heard the difference between the discrete opamps I've tested. Each one of the discrete opamps I've tested have completely different circuits, made from completely different components, and measure much differently. Which explains why they sound different from each other.
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