Amplifier questions

[huangyong 0]

Q. What is main factor that affects the sound quality of an amplifier?

 

A. The quality of the components and the circuit design.

( Amp with extremely high price tag by famous manufacturers)

 

B. The quality of components alone.

( Clone amp using high quality components by DIYer )

 

C. The circuit design alone.

( Commercial amp using normal components base on high-end design )

 

I am asking this to know that how the folks here think about "how the quality of an amp affects the sound". Whether you are an audiophiles listen or bias by judging the components used in the amp.

 

Thanks a lot.

Edited August 13, 2003 by huangyong

[N@Z 0]

Moved this to the main forum as this is not a Sale or Want ad.

[Naimed 0]

Q. What is main factor that affects the sound quality of an amplifier?

The sum of all parts. Good implementation of the circuit designs with the 'right' parts. Sonically(SQ), output from that amp is then subjective to the individual listener.

[Mackie 0]

Option A.

 

Say if U were to be blind folded and subject to various sessions with different amps, can U tell a difference or decide which one U'll favour? If U can, your ears are the best bet, CONGRATS. If U can't, then these amps are merely ornaments and U should choose the cheapest one.

[Rameish 0]

My 2¢ on this has always been:

 

1) Curcuit design (most important)

 

2) Choice of parts (next in importance) - caps, op-amp, tubes, volume pot, hook-up wire, RCAs.

 

3) Synergy of the parts in the particular design - Cerafine caps can give more weight, Solens speed and air, Black Gates - well you know this one, etc. The the type of resistors 1% metal film types tend to be cold sounding while copper pin Holco warmer, Tantalum detailed etc.

 

That's why many good amp technicians are lousy designers/modders.

 

It's like cooking I tell you :-) But the design is the overall limiting factor (ceiling if you like).

 

That is to say in a META 42 you can go crazy and put black gates and have a super regulated power supply costing S$300 or more but the sound won't improve anymore.

 

 

[WatCult 0]

So what are the good circuit designs out there right now?

How do you differentiate a good one and an average one?

[shuy 0]

noob qn... but wat exactly does an amp do? can it improve the ksc 35?

[Blues 0]

ksc-35 improves as the amp gets better

it sounds great out of sipher's cmoy(is it a cmoy?), even better out of creek, and best(right now for me) out of my corda ha-1.

 

[huangyong 0]

hey blues... discuss bout my Q, not start another topic.

[Blues 0]

no I was merely answering his question that even a cheap headphone like ksc-35 can be improved alot by using amp.

 

Anyway to answer your question, it's A for me.

[Barradio 0]

If you want the best audiophiles option A.

 

 

[tee 0]

I go for Option A too. But where could we find good mod expert to improve the circuitry of an average amp here in S'pore ?

[matbon0013 0]

-DITTO-

 

No brainer

[Northern Oak 0]

But where could we find good mod expert to improve the circuitry of an average amp here in S'pore?

 

TS Lim does that for CDP but I'm not too sure if he's keen with amps. Check out echoloft for his whereabouts.

 

Edited August 14, 2003 by Northern Oak

[jtfoo 0]

It's the nice looking enclosure that has the most effect on sound quality.

 

Ok seriously, imo, also think it's option A..