Low Level Listening and Distortion
Would some amps sound better at lower levels due to distortion being produced at a lower sound level than another? In other words, a "clean" sounding amp (think stereotypical class D) sounds better to me at higher volumes while another amp sounds much louder than the class D at higher levels but great at lower levels, which I assume is our ears translating distortion into "louder" in our heads. Is it the job of a preamp to be sure the amp sounds the same at all levels or is this just impossible to make the sound that linear? I have one of the newest GaNFET amps from a well-respected designer/manufacturer playing at the moment and it sounds boring at low levels but good at higher levels. Not surprisingly it also sounds quieter at the same matched volume levels (using white noise) than the tube amps I also have. I hope I explained my question so it can be understood. Thanks.
+2 ghdprentice That has been my experience. The better my system got, the less I needed to crank it to get the same sensation and dynamic contrasts. Even at low levels now, the system still has a good soundstage, excellent presence and inner detail, and is still very pleasant. At low levels the bass output isn’t as strong, but still sounds full. Distortion levels are likely not the whole answer. |
I had an Ayre AX-5 using it as an amp with their KX-R (non-Twenty version) and Salk Encore speakers that excelled at low level listening like nothing I've heard before. I don't think distortion came into play at all but the "blackness" of the Ayre really helped. The Salk's are a more "modern" sound than the Devore's. Maybe that helps delineate the sound from the quiet passages better. Sort of an added sharpness to the bass that more traditional speakers don't necessarily do that allows for more quiet space between notes so to speak. 🤷♂️ |
@bhvf That's not exactly right. What I've often said is that its the mark of a good system that it can play at high volume without sounding loud. IOW you can't tell that its playing loud until you find you have to shout to be heard by someone sitting next to you. But it should also be engaging at low volume- for that matter at any volume. So you need a good first watt too! Of course the amp has to have its ducks in a row, so does the preamp; there should be good vibration control for the CDP and turntable, so the the front end of your system is unassailable by the volume in the room. |
