2. amps-preamps
  3. 1202829429

A 9 watts beats Passlabs, EAR and YBA ?

Over the weekend, I have listened extensively to the following four different amplifiers and I have decided once and for all that the SET 300B, no negative feedback is the way to go.
The four amplifiers are as follows:
Passlabs X150: very neutral, powerful yet the sound almost very sterile.
EAR 834: very musical, tube mid-range yet sound the least like live music.
YBA 2 High current, Double Transformers: very musical, soft and sound very enjoyable; yet again not like live music.
Audio Note kit one: This is a killer and provided the music is limited to vocals and chamber music. Very good mid-range with good attack and the best like live music; but not very much bass.
However, this listening session made me to want more bass with the SET.
Thinking about the Cary 805, deHavilland or Atma-sphere ?
Any comment ?
Please advice
robertwolfee

Showing 4 responses by eldartford

eldartford
4,262 posts
 
Atmasphere...Would you please explain the mechanism whereby feedback causes odd order harmonic distortion.
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
Thanks for the info. You are a font of knowledge!

I understand propogation delay and the need for compensation in the feedback loop to avoid oscillation. The part I don't get is where you say "The result is low-level odd-order harmonic generation". Why that?

Feedback is not necessarily a yes/no thing. The feedback signal can be limited to low frequencies where the propogation delay is insignificant, while the higher frequencies are "zero feedback".
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
Atmasphere...True... if the feedback signal had gain increasing with frequency reduction the overall amp would exhibit LF roll off. But that would be easily corrected by equalization of the input signal.

But the causial relationship between propagation delay and odd harmonic distortion still eludes me.
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
Atmasphere...Thanks. I still don't get it, but am willing to believe you are correct in your conclusion. Until I run a little simulation anyway :-)
More to discover