If the Ayre has no negative feedback (as per Al) then it will likely have a higher output impedance and this could modulate the response you hear according to the impedance variation with frequency of the speaker. This will certainly affect timbre.
Amplifier reproduction of instrument Timbre
I have just been through 5 different amps using the same DAC, speakers and cables (Monarchy DAC24, Green Mountain Europa, anti-cables) and am struck with how differently each amp reproduces instrument timbre. The amps were Rotel, Arcam, Parasound, Simaudio and Ayre. Without a doubt, the Ayre reproduces the most natural instrument sound. I have been a classical and jazz musician (bass and cello) all my life and have heard instrument in many different settings. I am curious what properties of an amplifiers design and implementation might contribute to this quality.
This got me interested in the "timing" issue of amplifiers, ie the ability of an amp to respond and reproduce the attack portion of a note. I think that slew rate is one measure of this? Instrument timbre is primarily perceived by the attack and decay qualities of an instrument and the harmonic structure during sustain. Tests have shown that if the attack/decay portions of a note are removed (edited out), it is difficult for a listener to identify instruments based on just the sustain portion of the note (when played back at identical volumes).
Can anyone comment more technically on why one amp might be better at this than another? I am not interested in hearing amp comparisons or recommendations, I understand that other amps and speakers also sound realistic and that there are issues of "synergy".
thanks,
This got me interested in the "timing" issue of amplifiers, ie the ability of an amp to respond and reproduce the attack portion of a note. I think that slew rate is one measure of this? Instrument timbre is primarily perceived by the attack and decay qualities of an instrument and the harmonic structure during sustain. Tests have shown that if the attack/decay portions of a note are removed (edited out), it is difficult for a listener to identify instruments based on just the sustain portion of the note (when played back at identical volumes).
Can anyone comment more technically on why one amp might be better at this than another? I am not interested in hearing amp comparisons or recommendations, I understand that other amps and speakers also sound realistic and that there are issues of "synergy".
thanks,