As a basic concept, different technologies and designs and parts, lead to different sonic qualities. While they all reproduce the basic musical signal, they do so with different levels of accuracy, colorations, and transparency, and also that elusive "lifelike" or "musical" quality.
There are many generalizations that are applied to certain kinds of amplifiers, but they are only generalizations, and may or may not apply as much, or at all, to a particular product being auditioned.
There are some indications that an experienced person may expect from any given amplifier design, based upon some knowledge of design/performance characteristics, but it is always better to audition the product because some designers may have done a better job than others. Also, some amps may do better with certain speakers than other amps, and the overall system environment can play a part that is generally called "synergy".
Also, individual listening tastes and preferences will play a part. This is why there is really no overall consensus about any one amp being "the best". It really amounts to what you like "best" in your system context.
I'm sure that others will offer some information on the usual characteristics that we have come to expect from certain technologies and designs. I just wanted to start the conversation out in a general kind of way.
There are many generalizations that are applied to certain kinds of amplifiers, but they are only generalizations, and may or may not apply as much, or at all, to a particular product being auditioned.
There are some indications that an experienced person may expect from any given amplifier design, based upon some knowledge of design/performance characteristics, but it is always better to audition the product because some designers may have done a better job than others. Also, some amps may do better with certain speakers than other amps, and the overall system environment can play a part that is generally called "synergy".
Also, individual listening tastes and preferences will play a part. This is why there is really no overall consensus about any one amp being "the best". It really amounts to what you like "best" in your system context.
I'm sure that others will offer some information on the usual characteristics that we have come to expect from certain technologies and designs. I just wanted to start the conversation out in a general kind of way.