2. amps-preamps
  3. 1282267538

Is the color in the amp , the preamp, the souce?

I'm sure I have seen this discussed at different points in time, but seeing that I just bought a new for me 5 channel ATI 1505, it got me wondering again, especially when I read this can be a "Cool" sounding amp.

Sorry in advance if I am ignorant on this subject, I am trying to learn. If I don't ask, how will I know???

My interpretation was that power amps were supposed to simply amplify the sound, with the better amps having lower distortion and higher actual power. I also understood the more neutral the amp the better. Now I realize tube amps are a different animal altogether, so my focus is on solid state only here.

Would it not be preferable to add any coloration (if one so chooses), warm, cool, what have you via the source and/or the preamp? This being said, and if true... what makes say a Bryston, Krell, Mac, or any multitude of expensive amps better, all things being equal? Let's say all the amps we are considering all put the same #'s up, same wattage, same low distortion, and they all use a large torroidal transformer, so they all have plenty off juice. Would you get seriously different sound if all the other components were the same, and if so Why? Obviously differing the power changes things, but lets go hypothetical here for comparison sake.
I have a hard time understanding (all specifications being equal) how an amplifier can sound different. Isn't all the signal processing done in the pre, the source, or both?

Again, sorry for my ignorance. Sometimes a little knowledge is more dangerous than none :)
baxter178

Showing 1 response by newbee

newbee
4,751 posts
 
I like Almargs explanation - clear, concise, and responsive. But, for a broader view, I really like Bob Bundus comments. For me, they represent a seasoned view on the subject of system synergy, i.e. getting it to sound as you would like it.

FWIW I hung out with the spec's crowd when I used SS stuff. But it was clear (and frustrating) that all similar spec'd amps don't sound the same when you put them in use, if for no reason other than how it interfaced with your speakers and how they interfaced with your room. Eventually I learned that the best starting point in selecting an amp was to contact the speaker manufacturer and ID the amp he used in the speaker design process. I figured that was as close to 'neutral' as I could expect to get, assuming the speaker designer had neutrality in mind when the speakers were created.

Once that level of neutrality was obtained I got my color upstream. Then I found tubes ......:-)
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