2. amps-preamps
  3. 1205057895

Why do amps sound different?

Hi folks, can anyone tell me why amps sound different? I know this is a very trivial question, but it isn't so trivial as I previously thought. For example: an amp can sound "warm", while the other can sound "lean" and a bit "cooler". These amps measure the same on the test bench, but why do they sound different? What causes the "warm" characteristic if the amp has pretty good measurements and frequency characteristics? It is certainly not measurable high frequency roll off, otherwise the amp sucks. Maybe one of the experts among us can elucidate this issue a bit. Thank you.

Chris
dazzdax

Showing 1 response by nickword

nickword
49 posts
 
We need to bring back Julian Hirsch from the grave to recite all his articles in High Fidelity magazine that covered that subject. Do you remember Julian? He was of the test bench school.

Nah, leave him there. It's threads like this one that demonstrate how few people understand what the test bench tells us and doesn't tell us.
More to discover