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Amplifier Opinion Poll

Two amplifiers with the same wpc output and comparably low distortion will sound alike.

  • Yes, watts are watts.

  • No, not unless they are identical.

  • Need more information.

  • All amplifiers of decent quality sound alike.

  • All amps should sound alike, but don't.

Results are only viewable after voting.
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musichal

musichal

poet emeritus
Do all amplifiers sound alike? While they don't to me, various remarks from different threads recently seem to indicate that I may be out of step with that belief. Some apparently equate power and sound quality. Made me wonder what you folks really think.

Invariably, the options offered won't adequately express all viewpoints, so choose Need More Information, and explain your opinion, if you like. Thanks for participating.
 
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All I can offer is that professionally, scientifically administered & controlled laboratory listening tests have found - with a high degree of consistency - the vast majority of the population have a very difficult time differentiating between various typically low-distortion, low-noise amplifiers - assuming each are used within operational limits for which they have been designed.
 
Not enough choices in the poll, but if they all sounded the same, I would be willing to bet there would not be so many different options.

I would assume that if you compared 2 amps of same design and exact quality of parts, they would sound close. But where will you find 2 MFGs that utilize the exact same design and parts other than re-badged gear?
 
Hyfi said:
Not enough choices in the poll, but if they all sounded the same, I would be willing to bet there would not be so many different options.
Click to expand...


:idea: That automobiles arguably perform the same basic function hasn't seemed to have stopped manufacturers from offering of dozens of different makes & models of say, just subcompact 4 cyl, 4 door sedans alone...
 
So we are comparing Fully Complementary, Quasi Complementary, MOSFET, Class A, Class G, H, With/Without Transformer output etc, and moving on to Tubes (Valves) SET, Push Pull, etc etc ?

And we are expected to vote for one of the above choices - now you know why I voted 'need more information'
 
if you read Audio Magazine in the 70s you know that all amps do NOT sound alike even tho each one may sound outstanding on its own.
Differences are usually quite subtle and require much A/B switching to judge fairly.
 
i voted need more information...i think "sound alike" could use a bit more definition. I think if you want two amps to sound truly identical, then they'd need to have very similar construction. Personally, I'm trying out various kinds of amps, the idea being, that, if i'm laying out cash for an upgrade, i want to hear it. currently have my eyes fixed on a Benchmark AHB2 - and if their 30-day trial program applied to Canadians, i'd be offering my opinions on that. I'm also curious to hear a few other things....of course, i'm not limiting my options to models that have the same power output and THD as my current gear.

anyway, alike and identical are not the same, and TBH, i think if i put the $4000 benchmark wants for the AHB2 ($cdn) into a new set of speakers, i think i'd realise a much greater difference in sound....but amps are cool, and i like them....have to agree with '62caddy - there not a whole ton of difference from one amp to the next, providing it's operating within design parameters and has very similar specs....maybe damping factor and bass response would be something to keep an eye on too - but i hear that's disputable too.....guess i really do need more information.
 
62caddy said:
:idea: That automobiles arguably perform the same basic function hasn't seemed to have stopped manufacturers from offering of dozens of different makes & models of say, just subcompact 4 cyl, 4 door sedans alone...
Click to expand...
Perform the "Same Basic Function" is far from "Performing Exactly The Same"

They don't have the same seats, spark plugs, oil, belts or ANY other part unless they are a GM product or crossover like Lexus 350 and Toyota Avalon, which are almost the same.

ALL Amps perform the same basic function, they amplify the signal.
 
Hyfi said:
Perform the "Same Basic Function" is far from "Performing Exactly The Same"

They don't have the same seats, spark plugs, oil, belts or ANY other part unless they are a GM product or crossover like Lexus 350 and Toyota Avalon, which are almost the same.

ALL Amps perform the same basic function, they amplify the signal.
Click to expand...

Yes, and some amplifiers have meters; others do not. Some amplifiers have gain controls; others do not. Some are designed with robust output stages; others are not. Some are black, others are silver...etc etc etc...
 
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There is a difference between " measuring the same" and "sounding the same" (or at least distinguishable to the human ear).

In any case, the question is really far too general. Needs some qualifications built in - IMO.
 
No, I'm not. And, actually I'm going to retract that non-participation thing. Still not going to take the poll but I'm giving my 2 cents...

There are really a couple different questions in your poll.

Do all amps (or all watts, or all distortions, or whatever) sound the same? No, of course not, because distortion is too broad. There are many types of distortion. Arguably an amp that's voiced a certain way is distorted if the output is intentionally tailored to be different than the input. That's a different thing than the proverbial "straight wire with gain" design philosophy.

Are watts important to sound quality? Yes and no.

As I said in the other thread I believe prompted this, watts in and of themselves are not an indicator of quality, but trying to achieve certain goals without sufficient/necessary watts absolutely results in non-quality sound.
 
All electronics have very different coloration's, if connected to different types of speakers with different loading, you get another bunch of variables. I agree that if you put their output into an inexpensive speaker you will not be able to tell. As you move to better quality speaker the differences of the electronics is discernible without much effort. The problem is that after you hear the difference, which is closer to live to you?
 
whoaru99 said:
No, I'm not. And, actually I'm going to retract that non-participation thing. Still not going to take the poll but I'm giving my 2 cents...

There are really a couple different questions in your poll.

Do all amps (or all watts, or all distortions, or whatever) sound the same? No, of course not, because distortion is too broad. There are many types of distortion. Arguably an amp that's voiced a certain way is distorted if the output is intentionally tailored to be different than the input. That's a different thing than the proverbial "straight wire with gain" design philosophy.

And, as I said in the other thread I believe prompted this, watts in and of themselves are not an indicator of quality, but trying to achieve certain goals without sufficient/necessary watts absolutely results in non-quality sound.
Click to expand...

There is no one thread, nor one participant that prompted me to offer this subject, but several. Thank you for your retraction of not participating.
 
Freddymac2 said:
All electronics have very different coloration's, if connected to different types of speakers with different loading, you get another bunch of variables. I agree that if you put their output into an inexpensive speaker you will not be able to tell. As you move to better quality speaker the differences of the electronics is discernible without much effort. The problem is that after you hear the difference, which is closer to live to you?
Click to expand...

Needless to say, unless the identical loudspeaker is used in all subjective listening tests among various amplifiers, it is not a valid experiment.
 
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