Amplifier design and quality parts, does it matter?

Posted by astrostar59 (A) on February 19, 2007 at 00:36:40

I have had a few interesting discussions with fellow audiophiles recently on the limitations of SET amplifiers with regards to the design of a specific unit. is the sound quality (not power as assuming 1 x 300b is 9 watts) you can get out of the amp ultimately limited primarily by the design, and secondly by the parts?

Does it even improve sound quality at all by upgrading from standard say Elna caps to Black gates, resisitors to tantalums, or are we missing the point?

I am thinking if you/we buy a SET amp that was designed and voiced with high quality parts (BGs, best transformers, Tants, silver wire everywhere) and manufactured and sold at 3 levels and 3 price points, would it be like this?:

I want a fast coupe but don't have the money, so instead of buying the GT version,
I get the L version. Then I replace the tires, upgrade the suspension and then
soup up the engine. Then I have the GT version, because it was designed to take the power and stresses in the chassis. If I buy a saloon say, and do the same to that, the chassis will never handle as good, and the engine will never be as powerful as the coupe. See what I am thinking?

I used to have a 'de-commissioned' rally car, made legal for the road, and it smoked just about everything out there. It's a thought.....

And if we bought a 'well designed' SET amp, can it be economically and logically taken to a higher level by buying better quality parts?

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Topic - Amplifier design and quality parts, does it matter? - astrostar59 00:36:40 02/19/07 (20)

Re: Amplifier design and quality parts, does it matter? - RGA 22:39:38 02/20/07 (1)

Re: Amplifier design and quality parts, does it matter? - astrostar59 15:11:40 02/21/07 (0)

No way, just the measurements...... - Rod M 21:02:14 02/20/07 (3)

"Just the measurements" -Surely you jest! - Thomas Martens 16:05:02 02/21/07 (2)

Re: "Just the measurements" -Surely you jest! - Rod M 20:39:11 02/21/07 (1)

Re: True... - Dave-A 19:18:25 03/01/07 (0)

Transformers? Re: Amplifier design and quality parts, does it matter? - Dr Deville 01:23:54 02/20/07 (4)

Good sounding SET is easy... - Thomas Martens 15:48:15 02/21/07 (0)

Assuming we're starting at some quality level we all would call high-end, I think the powersupply... - jeffreybehr 01:54:31 02/20/07 (2)

is that testable? - njjohn 18:50:28 02/22/07 (1)

Not IMO. By improving the quality of the PS, I mean using the best-sounding, 'rightest'-sized parts. - jeffreybehr 23:33:02 03/01/07 (0)

Even a 5" hookup cable makes huge difference, not to mention quality parts - stewcle 18:30:50 02/19/07 (0)

Re: Amplifier design and quality parts, does it matter? - Michael Samra 16:16:33 02/19/07 (0)

Oh, yeah. - elektron 12:49:53 02/19/07 (0)

Everything matters - njjohn 07:47:01 02/19/07 (0)

One part design, one parts, one implementation - Gordon Rankin 06:23:10 02/19/07 (1)

Amen! (nt) - Naz 20:36:07 02/20/07 (0)

Re: Amplifier design and quality parts, does it matter? - Vinnie 03:27:27 02/19/07 (2)

Re: Amplifier design and quality parts, does it matter? - Tre' 09:56:55 02/19/07 (1)

That was a joke. Nobody got it. - Tre' 14:04:38 02/21/07 (0)

You can not post to an archived thread.