Per request, the lowdown on amp DBTs. We don=92t need a lengthy list this t=
ime, because old RAHE friend Tom Nousaine did us the favor of summarizing t=
hem for an AES conference paper some years ago:
http://www.aes.org/e-lib/browse.cfm?elib=3D5426
From his conclusion:
=93In summary, there has been no evidence to support the conclusion that fa=
ctors other than linear response and output capability contribute to the so=
und of well designed power amplifiers...
=93This does not suggest that amplifiers are perfect and they will never be=
found to sound different. It does suggest to purchasers of today's audio a=
mplifiers that as long as the product in question meets basic traditional m=
easured performance standards, has enough output capability, and adequate q=
uality of construction, it will be sonically indistinguishable from all oth=
ers meeting those criteria.=94
Once again, Brian Moore=92s textbook, An Introduction to the Psychology of =
Hearing, concurs:
=93The basic performance of even a moderately priced hi-fi amplifier is lik=
ely to be so good that improvements in technical specification would make l=
ittle audible difference. For example, a moderately good amplifier will hav=
e a frequency response from 20 to 20,000 Hz +/=96 1 dB, distortion less tha=
n 1% and a signal-to-noise ratio greater than 90 dB (for input signals with=
a reasonably high level, such as from a CD player). These values are bette=
r than the limits required by the ear.=94
And just for fun, here=92s a DBT from the Matrix HiFi guys that involves mo=
re than just amplifiers, this time in handy English:
http://www.matrixhifi.com/ENG_marco.htm
(Click on Blind Tests, and then on the subsequent link.)
Perhaps the inferior high-end cables masked the superiority of the high-end=
amplification?
Once again, no empirically plausible evidence has ever been presented on th=
e other side.
bob