Amp/Preamp Asylum: The basic issue is the audibility of distortion by Feanor Looking for a new Amp or Preamp? If you're after tubes, post over here.

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Posted by Feanor ( A ) on July 5, 2012 at 07:26:45

In Reply to: RE: Pass makes a good case for ZERO negative feedback ... posted by morricab on July 4, 2012 at 01:13:22:

Ultimately it is whether a person can hear certain types distortion AND whether that person prefers one type over another.

There is just as much evidence that the "tonally rich" sound of tube or zero-feedback class A designs caused by 2nd order HD as there is that the "sterile" sound of feedback s/s designs is caused by higher order HD.

You assert that 2% of 2nd order HD is inaudible but that .01% of 4th or higher is, (even if only as noise floor). It's acknowledged that some level of 2nd order adds an agreeable "warmth" or "tonal richness" to the sound. Your own argument that a level of distortion might be undetectable in a sine wave but apparent with complex signals might apply as much to 2nd order HD as it does to higher order.

Designers willing to use liberal feedback don't argue that it is a panacea; linear devices and a reasonable number of gain stages are everyone's ideal. However it's doubtful that low, local feedback is better than more, global feedback.

I'm skeptical that the Monarchy's short-fall can be entirely attributed to its use of opamps. In fact I think opamps get a worse rap than they deserve. My DAC uses OPA2314's and an OPA2604 and is very transparent and free of grain and etch.

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Kimber Kable

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