Do amplifiers sound different

[RoA]

Fantastic video from the ever reliable and knowledgeable Erin. It should please both camps.

View: https://youtu.be/2YqWCX5WcVg?feature=shared

 

[landco]

No.

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

Given the wide range of architectures, components, power supplies etc, I would be staggered if all amps would sound the same with all speakers under all loads. The tautness of my MF amps' bass is audibly different to the previous Arcams.

 

[Steve983]

Of course they do.

 

[abacus]

Very good video, as he provided verifiable evidence of the differences (Unlike some posters in forums), however this has been known since the first amps were produced.
He forgot mention the power supply and output stage which also plays a big part in how the amp can drive the speakers, as if the amp cannot provide enough current for lower impedance loads the sound will change.
This has been known for decades and easily measurable so fully verified, after having said that if driving a pure resistive 8 ohm load then differences will be small (Frequency response, distortion variations etc.) so those that say say amps are all the same are correct, but in the real world it is not just black and white.

Bill

 

[matthewpianist]

I have no idea whether it's the amplifier itself that sounds different or the synergy with the loudspeaker, but there certainly is a difference somewhere in there. May A5 sounds wonderful, detailed and dynamic with Dali and Dynaudio, but woolly and dead with ELAC.

 

[SteveH72]

Should amplifiers sound the same? Yes. All they should do is add gain.
Do amplifiers sound the same? I’m not sure that’s the right question. I think they present differently.

 

[RJW232]

When loaded with a pure resistance, the output should be identical for all amplifiers (assuming they are properly designed and within the amps specifications). But a loudspeaker isn't a pure resistance. A loudspeaker interacts with the amplifiers output stages. This can impact power delivery, frequency response, bass handling etc. So two amplifiers can sound different on the same loudspeaker.

 

[Gray]

I reckon the thread title can be answered with a simple question:
Have you ever changed amps and heard NO change in sound?

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

Very good video, as he provided verifiable evidence of the differences (Unlike some posters in forums)

Don't you think asking for lab-style results from Joe Public is a bit of a tall order? I do realise that this means statements so made will be opinion and not fact.

 

[abacus]

Don't you think asking for lab-style results from Joe Public is a bit of a tall order? I do realise that this means statements so made will be opinion and not fact.

I agree, however the problem comes when they present their opinion as fact, which means verifiable evidence is required.

Bill

 

[manicm]

Hifi electronics are all a compromise. And WiiM is a prime example of that. So of-course I can reasonably say that all hifi amplifiers will not sound the same without having to provide evidence.

WiiM make great products for the price. The WiiM Ultra/Vibelink amps state 100w/channel at 8 ohms, read the fine print though and it's 60w/channel if you use the analogue inputs.

I'm sure Erin's video was good, but maybe a bit redundant.

It's also why in a truly effortless home hifi system you're almost always going to be spending more on quality amplification than on the speaker. In a perfect world we'd all have amps that perform like a Linn Klimax 800 monobloc. But such near-perfection comes at a price.

 

[daytona600]

No perfect amp
solid state , valve , digital all sound different
“a straight wire with gain”Peter Walker, the founder of Quad
. It’s a poetic way of describing the ideal audio amplifier—one that simply increases the volume of a signal without altering its character in any way. No distortion, no coloration

Indeed some amps are " Tuned " Rega sweet sounding , Naim fast and forward
Audionote Pipe and slippers

 

[davidf]

I reckon the thread title can be answered with a simple question:
Have you ever changed amps and heard NO change in sound?

Even if you have, it doesn't mean they all sound the same.

 

[Gray]

Even if you have, it doesn't mean they all sound the same.

You've misunderstood.
I'm saying that most (if not all) people would say they don't sound the same.

 

[Gray]

Indeed some amps are " Tuned " Rega sweet sounding

Got to be honest and say that I'm not a fan of generalisation.

When I worked at Rega, it was the amp designer himself that instructed me on final testing.
I can only say that there was never any mention of the need to sound 'sweet'.

 

[JDl]

If amplifiers do not sound different, then let us all go out and buy the cheapest smallest amplifier from China and we will all be happy.

 

[davidf]

If amplifiers do not sound different, then let us all go out and buy the cheapest smallest amplifier from China and we will all be happy.

Until the dissatisfaction kicks in.

 

[Gray]

If amplifiers do not sound different, then let us all go out and buy the cheapest smallest amplifier from China and we will all be happy.

Some people have done just that - saved a fortune and never look back.
Meanwhile, the experts go on spending.

 

[davidf]

Some people will believe what you tell them. If some guy on YoutTube says something is true, regardless of how crazy it is, people will believe it. And that spreads.

And to some ears, saving a fortune is as good as expectation bias.

 

[Lord Tarquin Portly]

Power amplifiers definitely sound different, they also sound different in different ways depending on which loudspeakers they are driving. There are very good technical reasons why, based on power supply stability (as had been mentioned) output stage configuration and component matching (class A, class AB, class B, class D) and feedback loop stability etc.
It is quite possible to measure these differences and amplifier designers will no doubt have done so. In most cases there are compromises made based on cost and marketability. However nothing is perfect and so even cost no object amps will have done differences.
It's worth noting that an amplifier will sound different based on the load the cloudspeaker presents and it is often the more efficient speakers that can show up amplifier inadequacies as they are not only efficient at converting electrical energy to sound energy (i.e. motion) but also motion into electrical energy. The amp should sink signals sent back into its output by the speaker (damping factor) without distorting it out becoming unstable, this isn't always the case and is often why an amp that sounds fine with one system doesn't with another.

 

[Jasonovich]

Power amplifiers definitely sound different, they also sound different in different ways depending on which loudspeakers they are driving. There are very good technical reasons why, based on power supply stability (as had been mentioned) output stage configuration and component matching (class A, class AB, class B, class D) and feedback loop stability etc.
It is quite possible to measure these differences and amplifier designers will no doubt have done so. In most cases there are compromises made based on cost and marketability. However nothing is perfect and so even cost no object amps will have done differences.
It's worth noting that an amplifier will sound different based on the load the cloudspeaker presents and it is often the more efficient speakers that can show up amplifier inadequacies as they are not only efficient at converting electrical energy to sound energy (i.e. motion) but also motion into electrical energy. The amp should sink signals sent back into its output by the speaker (damping factor) without distorting it out becoming unstable, this isn't always the case and is often why an amp that sounds fine with one system doesn't with another.

You put it so succinctly, enjoyed the read. 🙂