Most resolving, transparent amps.

Got a dumb question. How can I tell (without actually listening and evaluating synergy, especially with speakers) if an amp is in fact going to be 'transparent'? Are amps universal in application? If, when I hear a system, I judge to be less than transparent how do I know it's the amp as opposed to the IC's, cables, line stage, etc, that I'm using with it. Is there an absolute reference?

Please help me understand. To the benefit of a lot of merchants I've never been able to figure this out. :-)

"How do any of us judge...."

Marco, I simply use one of those old forked sticks used to find water wells. Amazing devices! :-)

Don't take my post personal, it had more to do with the premise of the thread than anything else. In your system that amp that lets you hear the sound you want to hear IS, IMHO, the most transparent. If it reminds you of live music more than anything else its more transparent. Notice I didn't say detailed in the sense of an increase in high frequency information used enhance a feeling of expanded sound stage or sonic minutia you would never hear unless you were sitting next to the instrumentalist.

Personally I think Tvad has taken the right path at the fork in this road. Now I'm just curious about the amp he is getting to replace his Moscode. :-)

BTW, I've read quite a bit about both D amps and OTL's. I would love to hear the OTL's on some good electrostats.......

Marco, I think that is a fair definition of 'transparency' in fact it is probably the most appropriate one. I always get confused about the difference between transparency to the recorded sound and transparency to the sound live, except when I've just gone to a concert. I need to get out more! :-)

Tvad, FWIW, "The ultimate resolving maching" means different things to different folks. All depends on what your goal actually is, I think.

For in my home, example using a Wadia direct into my old SF monos into my Silverlines and playing a Shirly Horn recording "Here's To Life" I got an absolutely focused and hugh sound stage. I could hear every room resonance in the recording. I'm sure some folks would have considered this high frequency reproduction and soundstaging outstanding. Personally I just found it totally an unrealistic reproduction of information on the disc which should have remained in the subliminal noise field. Same recording, same speakers, thru a pre-amp and I lost a bit of the "highs" but now the recording was warm and very engaging. Now that, for me anyway, is the 'ultimate'. Something that resembles music.

I'm not so sure I would feel that way if I were focused on listening to recordings of train whistles! :-)