Oh how I wish Class D amps ...

class D amps with tube-like sound - I read and read. I think the best comment on it is on Spectron web site:

" The published measurements of many class D amplifiers reveal that while their THD is primarily second-harmonic in nature, there are also some higher-order harmonics present. This pattern of distortion is very similar to the pattern of distortion in poorly designed tube amplifiers. Thus, sonically, this euphonic coloration is confused by some with the warmth of tube amplifiers. In reality this deviation acts as both an annoyance and murky veil. In exchange for euphonic, overly rich harmonic texture (of absolutely artificial origin) the listener gets no transparency and a lower level of true detail."

As I understand, Spectron goal is ulta low distortion levels particularly of odd-order harmonics.

"Dob, I'm confused. I thought that warmth of tubes IS euphonic coloration since tubes enhance even harmonics (artificially added warmth). "

I don't think that BEST tube amplifiers shows artificially added warmth but life-like presentation. What role of even harmonics there I don;t know. I believe that their THD are very, very low and even may be near zero. I repeat, I don;t know why Joule-Electra and Athmasphere, for example, show very realistic sound.... I may not undertsand "why" but I know "what" I hear. Sorry, this is beyond my knowledge.

"Must have been put together by the marketing guys...... "

It could be posted by Satan himself but what its said is "BASED ON PUBLISHED MEASURMENTS...". For more facts, check John Atkinson measurments in Stereophile of different class D amplifiers. If its marketing lie then its marketing lie.

If one likes what one hears then it should be good enough and no defense needed.

Athmasphere,

Thank you, thank, thank you for explanation !!!

This is EXACTLY the same philosophy of use Spectron in fully balanced configuration: cancelation of all distortions: even, odd, blue and read !!!

Per Simon Thacher of Spectron the KEY lies in the part quality - pure and simple.

Simon also is saying, and I am not sure if you will agree with him, that if we cancel distortions or actually greatly diminish them then the SOURCE of distortion is immaterial: it could be tube amp or transistor amp or class A or class WYZ - whatever; distortions are gone and so specific sonic characteristics of these amps also greatly diminished... and indeed, balanced monoblock Spectrons sound almost as good as Joule-Electra, I am in love with..

Incidently, Joule-Electra pre- and power amps may or may not have balanced input and/or output but internal processing is balanced ALSO (they use phase splitter).

Thank you again - I saw different pieces but could not put them together....

"... they don't hold a candle to the clarity my ICE amps have. "

I am sure you are absolutely correct. No one in his right mind would challange your assessment of your own amplifiers.

Athmasphere was just helping me understand why the best tube amps have near zero distortions level. The same philosophy (approach), he described is that of many other companies. I mentioned Spectron statement that based on PUBLISHED measurments distortions are...distortion are...distortions and bad for you...even pleasant for ears as even-order harmonics or ear-piercing odd-order ones.

It has nothing to do with fantastic qulaity of yours and everybody else amplifiers. Somebody mentioned above that sound quality is a function of many parameters and distortions (type and amount) is only one of them. Nothing more.

Peace.

"I thought Atmasphere was suggesting that balanced amps have near zero distortion levels. "

yes, but in comparison to the same amplifier configured in the single ended mode...

Also Atmasphere, in other posts, postulated that good sounding amplifier should have no or minimum of odd order harmonics as compared that to the even order ones in the same amplifier, of course.