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What makes an amp sound more direct ?

In our hifi journey we have probably all heard amps with different topologies and implementation. Most of these amps would have an implementation which is a combination of one of these:

1. Single Ended
2. Push-pull
3. Balanced
4. Differentially Balanced
5. Class A, A/B, D
6. High/Low Damping factor
7. Zero Negative Feedback (global & local)
8. Low/Medium/High Negative feedback
9. 2/3/4/multiple gain stages

There will be more such items that can be added to the list. My curiosity arises from the fact that some amplifiers (or even preamplifiers) sound much more direct than others. The ones that does this trick generally seems to do the "they are here" trick very well. While the components which sound relatively indirect cast a sound scape which gives the perspective of "we are there".

Just from my observation, single ended and zero feedback designs sound much more direct than balanced designs especially ones with high negative feedback. Is this a coincidence or is there a valid reason behind this ? 
pani

Showing 1 response by tubegroover

tubegroover
2,320 posts
 
"You will not get consensus on this"

In our attempts to distinguish between live vs. reproduced and everything in between the two I would only say, "Ain't that the truth".

The issue of direct sound IME I would generally attribute to SET designs with little to zero feedback running VERY highly efficiency speakers, IMMOSTHO and certainly not with all music all the time. 
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