Buckeye 3 Channel Purifi Amp Review

[HarmonicTHD]

I've heard it said a small amount of distortion can add a nice touch of flavor to the sound. You might want to send yours back in to get the steel connectors. Who knows what you are missing?

yes some other amp peddlers would sell you that as an high end veil lifting upgrade for several k.

 

[Matias]

Maybe he can sell the different flavor now? Silver tabs are the brightest, golden tabs warmer, black tabs dark sounding. Don't forget one can mix tabs of different colors on the + and - binding posts for alternative flavors. And don't forget the polishing, done by hand of course, until it becomes mirror for the highest levels of craftsmanship.

 

[pma]

I've heard it said a small amount of distortion can add a nice touch of flavor to the sound.

In fact this is an utter nonsense.

 

[RickS]

I've heard it said a small amount of distortion can add a nice touch of flavor to the sound. You might want to send yours back in to get the steel connectors. Who knows what you are missing?

I do, and it is predominantly odd harmonics (3rd and 5th order). If you want any, they best be even order!

 

[Billy Budapest]

In fact this is an utter nonsense.

I think the person you were responding to was joking.

 

[Buckeye Amps]

Upgradeable OPA’s? Pfft.

More like upgradeable Fastons.

 

[Matias]

Yes, things are never broken or have issues: they are just new features for the users to upgrade to. Electronics marketing 101.

 

[Buckeye Amps]

Yes, things are never broken or have issues: they are just new features for the users to upgrade to. Electronics marketing 101.

There is a certain pre/pro brand I think of with this comment

 

[Fahzz]

I think you've been fantastic for a small setup. I wish the big startups would handle things as well as you guys did for a situation like this

I wish everybody would handle everything in this manner. Evaluate criticism, if it's valid, accept it, admit it, and fix it. You have to be honest even if it hurts. This is a rarity these days. Kudos.

 

[Too Many Notes]

I think the person you were responding to was joking.

I guess I should have used two winky faces

 

[Billy Budapest]

I do, and it is predominantly odd harmonics (3rd and 5th order). If you want any, they best be even order!

Don’t get me started on the audiophool myth that even-order distortion somehow magically sounds better than odd-order distortion.

The amount of distortion inflicted on the signal by the amplifier circuitry (whether it be a tube amp, Class A amp, or anything else) is almost never high enough in level to be audible, unless you are pushing an amplifier close to clipping. What the audiophile press calls the “warm” tube amp sound is largely a function of frequency roll off at the high and low extremes, which can be audible. But even-order harmonic distortion? Doubtful.

 

[pma]

Some tube amps, especially simple low power SE triode amplifiers may add distortion in audible level, however, as stated, only as a part of other effects like FR modulation.

Differences between opamps are measurable, but far below any audibility threshold, not speaking about changes due to expectation effect.

Distortion never sounds pleasing, it is always awfull, if audible. Not only harmonic components are added, but also and inevitably non-harmonic intermodulation tones are added, regardless the fact that the distortion would have even or odd character.

 

[RickS]

I guess I should have used two winky faces

Am going with three winkies!

 

[RickS]

Don’t get me started on the audiophool myth that even-order distortion somehow magically sounds better than odd-order distortion.

The amount of distortion inflicted on the signal by the amplifier circuitry (whether it be a tube amp, Class A amp, or anything else) is almost never high enough in level to be audible, unless you are pushing an amplifier close to clipping. What the audiophile press calls the “warm” tube amp sound is largely a function of frequency roll off at the high and low extremes, which can be audible. But even-order harmonic distortion? Doubtful.

Maybe you should, but my distortion comment was done in the context of the the jest that preceded it.

As I stated previously, even with the steel part, the distortion is likely inaudible.

Rock guitarists drive amps to distort all the time and is considered audibly desirable. As for the even/odd aspect, would not want to condone audiophoolery, but in speaker measurements, we often consider HD2 more desirable than HD3. In any case, is off topic and subject for another thread.

 

[DonH56]

Off-topic: This thread goes into distortion a bit, including why we might perceive IMD as more objectionable than HD. Even-order HD generates IMD at frequencies lower and higher than the tones (f1-f2 and f1+f2) whilst odd-order HD generates IMD terms very close to the fundamental frequencies. I keep looking back at these posts, some now pushing 20 years old and originally pulled from posts far earlier, and thinking I should rewrite them and clean them up, but life is short and I am too lazy.

HTH - Don

Harmonic and Intermodulation Distortion

This post provides a quick comparison of how a distortion percentage relates to dynamic range in dB. That is, if an amplifier has 1% distortion, what does that mean? How soft (or loud) is 1%? Figure 1 shows a 1 kHz voltage signal with 1% second harmonic distortion (HD2) added. The spectral...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[pma]

Off-topic: This thread goes into distortion a bit, including why we might perceive IMD as more objectionable than HD. Even-order HD generates IMD at frequencies lower and higher than the tones (f1-f2 and f1+f2) whilst

That’s correct, in case that f1 and f2 are at the upper end of the audio band. But, in case of lower frequency of f1 and f2, like 400 and 500Hz, you get not only the 100Hz difference tone, but also for example 2200Hz as a 5th order component 3f1+2f2, the odd one. Or 900Hz as a 2nd order f1+f2. Thus, assumptions on pleasing even order distortion and annoying odd order distortion are incorrect.

 

[DonH56]

That’s correct, in case that f1 and f2 are at the upper end of the audio band. But, in case of lower frequency of f1 and f2, like 400 and 500Hz, you get not only the 100Hz difference tone, but also for example 2200Hz as a 5th order component 3f1+2f2, the odd one. Or 900Hz as a 2nd order f1+f2. Thus, assumptions on pleasing even order distortion and annoying odd order distortion are incorrect.

Yes, the gist of the earlier thread was that IMD (any order) is more objectionable than HD since the distortion creates "dissonance" tones. It sort of makes sense when only harmonic distortion is considered, as a triangle wave (even order harmonics) sounds somewhat more pleasant than a square wave (odd order harmonics), but all that goes out the window when you look at IMD and realize that any time you have HD and more than one tone you also get IMD.

 

[Billy Budapest]

Maybe you should, but my distortion comment was done in the context of the the jest that preceded it.

Got it!

 

[Billy Budapest]

Yes, the gist of the earlier thread was that IMD (any order) is more objectionable than HD since the distortion creates "dissonance" tones. It sort of makes sense when only harmonic distortion is considered, as a triangle wave (even order harmonics) sounds somewhat more pleasant than a square wave (odd order harmonics)

That assumes the distortion is even audible. And that’s why the “pleasing even order distortion” of tube amps (or any other component) is a red herring.

 

[Buckeye Amps]

All Purifi orders that are fulfilled starting today will have new tabs installed (along with all other non-Purifi orders as well obviously). Just an FYI for those reading who have pending orders.