Take a look at the distortion plot around post 35. A carbon composition resistor used at 1/2 power as say a cathode resistor will add .01% by itself. These distortion percentages add and the harmonics multiply. So as the OP has mentioned he changed all the resistors.
He has not provided enough information about the schematic to determine the distortion contribution of each part.
There is good correlation between measurements of the parts and performance. It is what is perceived as an improvement that varies.
If you look at some of the well reviewed components and the measurements you will find some that "sound great" and have quite high distortion. Some like more second others third. Virtually all agree 7th and higher don't sound good.
Look, this stuff is way easier to explain then most seem to think or accept.
Allen Bradley resistors sound great in tube amplifiers. Its a known fact by audiophiles and ampbuilders alike. Understanding why is really simple.
The perfect hifi amp is not a tube amp. If you measure up any tubeamp against a high end solid state amp the figures will all favour the solid state amp. So why do we still build/buy/enjoy tube amps so much?
Its a about whats pleasing to listen to. Since our hearing isnt perfect, instruments arent perfect, our voices arent perfect, the list goes on, we are used to hearing imperfect sounds all day.
If you build an amp using the priciples many of you have stated here, where all parts measure perfectly you would end up with the best amp ever as you can prove by charts and readings. Would it sound pleasing? No, it would be sterile and unforfilling. Its been done many times. Its all the little inperfections that makes an amp sound lifelike and a joy to listen to.
A tubeamp by nature is flaw. And thats a good thing. Many high end builders have found using carbon comp resistors something pleasing happend to the sound. Carbon comp resistors arent nearly as close to spec as others, they change with heat etc.
Its a cumulated effect and it works. Same with other parts. Variations in spec will make an amp sound interesting and pleasing.
Allen Bradley resistors sound great in tube amplifiers. Its a known fact by audiophiles and ampbuilders alike. Understanding why is really simple.
The perfect hifi amp is not a tube amp. If you measure up any tubeamp against a high end solid state amp the figures will all favour the solid state amp. So why do we still build/buy/enjoy tube amps so much?
Its a about whats pleasing to listen to. Since our hearing isnt perfect, instruments arent perfect, our voices arent perfect, the list goes on, we are used to hearing imperfect sounds all day.
If you build an amp using the priciples many of you have stated here, where all parts measure perfectly you would end up with the best amp ever as you can prove by charts and readings. Would it sound pleasing? No, it would be sterile and unforfilling. Its been done many times. Its all the little inperfections that makes an amp sound lifelike and a joy to listen to.
A tubeamp by nature is flaw. And thats a good thing. Many high end builders have found using carbon comp resistors something pleasing happend to the sound. Carbon comp resistors arent nearly as close to spec as others, they change with heat etc.
Its a cumulated effect and it works. Same with other parts. Variations in spec will make an amp sound interesting and pleasing.
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Without a clear statement of what the experimental conditions were for the two plots in post #37, it is hard to read too much into them.
And the plot in #259 seems to have rather peculiar unexplained features, like IM products seemingly occurring at impossible frequencies. Is that really a genuine signal, or is it just in among the noise?
I don't in principle disagree that there could be circumstances where some component or components could be so bad that they produce a genuinely audible distortion. And I also agree that some people may positively prefer the distortion that results.
I tend to be highly sceptical, though, of people who report huge audible differences resulting from some minor tweak of a component or a connecting wire.
Chris
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Just in case anyone is confused, remember that as the harmonics multiply so do their distortion fractions.simon7000 said:
For example, if a resistor generates 0.01% 2nd then the next (similar) resistor (with the same signal level across it) will produce something like 0.01% more 2nd (so 0.0 to 0.02% 2nd in total) but also 0.000001% 3rd order. This will obviously completely ruin any musical performance - even your wife in the kitchen will notice.
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