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The Sensible Sound
I have a question about this magazine. Is there disagreement among its
contributors about the sonic differences among amplifiers? Looking over back issues (http://sensiblesound.com/backissues.htm) I see a tube amp described on the cover as "silky smoooth with unparalleled transparency" (June/July '03 #96). Is it noncontroversial that such tube amps sound different from solid state amps? Can a solid state amp be "equalized" to sound like a given tube amp? Are differences measurable here? I'm a little confused, because I know some who post here write for SS and also claim there are no audible differences among amplifiers satisfying X, where X is some minimal criterion I've never properly understood. Does this mean the Atma-Sphere S-30 MH II on the cover of SS doesn't satisfy X? If this amp satisfies X, then I would guess some here would say the reviewer is lost in tweako land? I'm just tring to get a handle on what SS is all about. |
#3
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"Billy Shears" wrote in message
... I have a question about this magazine. Is there disagreement among its contributors about the sonic differences among amplifiers? I don't beleive there is disagreement, since it is a known fact that some amplifiers sound different than other amplifiers, just not as much as some manufacturers would like us to believe. Looking over back issues (http://sensiblesound.com/backissues.htm) I see a tube amp described on the cover as "silky smoooth with unparalleled transparency" No doubt, that was his opinion. (June/July '03 #96). Is it noncontroversial that such tube amps sound different from solid state amps? They can. To get similar sound to SS amps tube amps generally need to be much more expensive than typical SS amps IIRC. Can a solid state amp be "equalized" to sound like a given tube amp? No, since what makes tube amps sound different is the way they react when driven to clipping. A SS amp will chop off part of the sine wave and if you saw it on a scope there would be no question that it was clipped. A tube amp driven to clipping will still show what looks like a sine wave, but will be smaller. That is at least part of the reason some people prefer tubes, due to the fact that their clipping is not so obvious. Are differences measurable here? Absolutely. I'm a little confused, because I know some who post here write for SS and also claim there are no audible differences among amplifiers satisfying X, where X is some minimal criterion I've never properly understood. Primarily frequency response and distortion. Once distortion is below a certain level it is no longer audible. With frequency response, if it is sufficiently flat in comparison to another amp, not driven to clipping it will sound like another amp which falls within the same limits. Does this mean the Atma-Sphere S-30 MH II on the cover of SS doesn't satisfy X? If this amp satisfies X, then I would guess some here would say the reviewer is lost in tweako land? Only someone misstating things. Nobody I know of thinks there anything wrong with a particular preference be it tubes, SS or whatever. If you want to talk about value for the money, linear performance, and reliabilty, then there are differences for sure. I'm just tring to get a handle on what SS is all about. |
#4
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Nousaine wrote:
Billy Shears wrote: I have a question about this magazine. Is there disagreement among its contributors about the sonic differences among amplifiers? Sure that appears to be so. But remember I am 'only' a contributor. In the trade they call people like me "stringers." I do see stuff published that appears to me to be dubious.Some of it appears to be extremely dubious. In their way T$S is like a bi-sexual Stereophile. They will print opinions that haven't been verified; but they'll also print stuff that doesn't follow the high-end code ('If you won't call my bs bs I won't call your bs bs!") such as things from me and Howard. They do have some advocates from both camps. As elsewhere, I filter out the burblings of the 'burn-in' advocates. *And* the damn Mahler reviews (enough already!). -- -S Your a boring little troll. How does it feel? Go blow your bad breath elsewhere. |
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