Sample variations

[MajorFubar]

It always bugged me that I had a 'late' Cyrus 2 amp but an 'early' PSX (bought separately). So I sold the pair on eBay, and for a reason I've not yet been able to sufficiently explain to my wife, I bought a matching pair. Both late ones this time, in black. They look classier in black imo instead of easy-peel Nextel Grey, plus the black matches my late Cyrus tuner, so I'm happy with that too.

What I didn't expect was any difference in sound, but there is. The sound from this Cyrus 2 + PSX combo is warmer, more enveloping and less 'thrown at you'. I know: you don't expect to hear the words 'warm' and 'Cyrus' mentioned in the same sentence unless it's a thread from someone panicking that his amp's just gone up in flames, but there you go.

Got me wondering if these differences are because of how the equipment has aged differently or whether they would always have sounded different.

And if they've always sounded different, then obviously some of the component tolerances are a bit too free-range, leading to noticeable inconsistencies.

I wonder if this variation from sample to sample is still possible today, in an age where everything's designed on computers and/or built with microchips made to (presumably) tighter tolerances?

Food for thought, no?

 

[MajorFubar]

Food for thought, no?

Ah well, I guess not, on this occasion!

 

[tomlinscote]

Didn't Cyrus (as well as a few others) have to change some of the components they were using to become RoSH (?) compliant, this may have affected their sound on newer items?

Tommo

 

[Overdose]

Food for thought, no?

Ah well, I guess not, on this occasion!

No, it is an interesting observation and if typical, or at least common, then does the situation not make a mockery of reviews and comments regarding 'house' sound?

I very much doubt that any reviews are carried out using any more than one of a particular piece of equipment and it is likely that a 'review' piece would have been tested to be as close to spec as possible, other pieces might display some sort of deviation from the spec to a greater or lesser degree, depending on the quality control of the manufacturer in question.

 

[MajorFubar]

Didn't Cyrus (as well as a few others) have to change some of the components they were using to become RoSH (?) compliant, this may have affected their sound on newer items?

Tommo

Don't know but it wouldn't be the case here because both amps were made more or less the same time.

Maybe there would be less chance of differences on modern items. But if not, maybe it would explain why some products get sparkling reviews from one mag and so-so reviews from another, because even disregarding the fact they use different reviewers with different ears and different ideas of what sounds good and bad, they're (probably) not using the same samples either.

 

[busb]

I think it's HFN publishes speaker output variations - some are ~2dB out! Manufacturers do sometimes tinker with the sound or have to use different components due to supply issues. Some products get upgraded over their production lifespan without the model number/name changing. My plasma TV buzzes where others don't.

As for appearance, keeping even high quality finishes like anodising consistent from batch to batch is difficult, especially when viewed in bright sunlight that tends to fade many finishes over time so buying that PSU long after the amp can cause disatisfaction when the newer item looks darker. Life can be so damn imperfect!

I don't know if reviews effect production. I can remember many, many years ago a reviewer complaining that a product contained electrolytic caps with RS logos. Whether or not the maker changed supplies, I don't know.