5% THD to .000 THD SOUND


I was searching the amplifiers available and noticed quite a big difference in THD specs from model to model. Example.. One of the best amplifiers Kondo Audio Note $150k Kagura has 5% THD and by reviewers definition sounds like an amazing amplifier. Now compare $ 30k  Devialet with the lowest 0.000% THD on the planet. Both at the opposite end of design yet both sound amazing.. according to reviewers, I havn t heard either. SN/R  133 by Devialet and a lot less by Kagura. I realize an amplifiers sound can t be based by Specs alone.  If the specifications are not that important to the sound, why list them? They must be a way of determining sound, quality, and system synergy of an amplifier? A whole lot of amplifiers purchased on the net haven t been heard before and I believe the decision to purchase is made by reviewers point of view, specifications and word of mouth of other owners and buyers pocket book. By looking at specs of Devialet and NOT knowing the prices of Kagura and Devialet I would of gone with the Devialet just based on specs alone for the impression of it being a  great sounding amplifier.  Ive read other discussions on forum and cant quite get a handle on why BOTH amplifiers sound great. I thought High THD was a bad thing..
derrickengineer
One of the best amplifiers Kondo Audio Note $150k Kagura has 5% THD
I'm on the same track as erik_squires & when Almarg & Atmasphere see this thread I believe he will also be on this track. In fact all 3 of us have written very similar things in the past. Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) in an amplifier is a function how much global negative feedback you apply in the amplifier circuit. The more heavy handed you are with GNFB, the better the amplifier measures on the bench but the worse it sounds sonically because vanishing low THD creates other issues, for example, Transient Intermodulation Distortion (TIM).
So, what I can conclude for the Kondo AN Japan amp spec is that very little GNFB has been applied to this amplifier & to make this amp sound very its best one would need a heavily damped speaker that would put less stringent requirements on the amp itself to control the woofer's back EMF. I get this info by reading the Kagura spec.

SN/R  133 by Devialet and a lot less by Kagura.
this is again an effect of the high GNFB applied in the Devialet. The higher distortion in the Kagura creates a higher overall noise floor thereby degrading the SNR (vs. the Devialet). Having written this, in home 2-ch systems, unless one has taken extreme measures to keep distortion from AC power, foot falls, feedback from equipment racks, rumble from TTs to a very low magnitude, the typical SNR are 90dB or less. So, having 133dB is great by the Devialet but most home 2-ch systems are unable to avail of this. In fact, the SNR of a typical turntable is in the 55-65dB range & most vinyl/analog Audiogon members are in heaven spinning vinyl (over spinning CDs).

If the specifications are not that important to the sound, why list them?
listing specifications is a great way to ELIMINATE equipment from your short-list. It basically tells you what you should not bother investigating further.
With the Kondo AN Japan Kagura that might be a bad decision simply because of their stellar sonic reputation over the years. But Kondo AN Japan is an exception. There are other exceptions to this rul-of-thumb such as AirTight  & FM Acoustics. There must be more...

By looking at specs of Devialet and NOT knowing the prices of Kagura and Devialet I would of gone with the Devialet just based on specs alone for the impression of it being a  great sounding amplifier.  Ive read other discussions on forum and cant quite get a handle on why BOTH amplifiers sound great.
"sound great" is a nebulous term. It's been said to "sound great" by the press. Do you personally know these people in the audio press? Do they share the same listening habits with you? Do they listen to the same music as you? Do they have a similar room as you? If you answered "no" to any of these questions then you do not know these people hence you cannot trust their word. Very similar to my telling you that Chevy Cruz is an excellent car & that you should buy one. Would you go out & buy one? Why not? For the same reason you would not bank on these 2 amps sounding great. You would need to get around some (friends, dealers in your vicinity, dealers when you travel for business, audio shows, audio clubs,etc) & see if you can hear one or both to make up your own mind. Meanwhile you short list these 2 amps as "investigate further".


derrickengineer OP
25 posts
07-30-2016 3:21pm
jeffkait..My point is they BOTH sound great in my two examples of amplifiers having the opposite end of THD specs.. Arnet you the guy ( asstrophysisist )
selling those wacky trinkets to fool the mind into thinking the sound is better? Yeah I remember buying that fucking clock with a round magnet on it. and you banging your finger on the phone to activate the sonic bullshit.. lol. If not you disregard.

I'm getting a bad feeling...


derrickengineer OP25 posts07-30-2016 3:21pm My point is they BOTH sound great in my two examples of amplifiers having the opposite end of THD specs.. Arnet you the guy ( asstrophysisist )
selling those wacky trinkets to fool the mind into thinking the sound is better? Yeah I remember buying that fucking clock with a round magnet on it. and you banging your finger on the phone to activate the sonic bullshit.. lol. If not you disregard.
you seem to be an a$$hole! :(
keep you language civil here & if you cannot then don’t post here.
Plus, you seem to be very new (with 25 posts). If you dont know this already then, most of the time, we have a congenial attitude & mutual respect towards each other unlike other aggressive audio forums. No need for you come here & mouth of. If you absolutely must then go elsewhere. While i might not be the moderator, I resent the fact that you're upsetting the congenial atttitude of this forum....
if you are going to fix your attitude, disregard.....
Bombaywalla. you just put the whole audio review business out of business.lol.  If it wasn t for the tons of audio mags I read as a kid growing up, now 54, I might have not been interested in high performance audio.. I appreciate their point of view and take it as research about an item , not the bible on that item reviewed. Two different reviewers might have two different opinions on the same audio piece of gear. Me as well. Some information is better than no information. lol.


Your right bombaywalla, this is a new account that replaced an older one on Agon.and have had little time to post and learn from others experience and knowledge. I dont get what you mean by investigate further,, and short list.. They were just examples that I saw today and thought Id ask about the two extreme THD specs on two great amps.My edit clock ran out..