• WANTED: Happy members who like to discuss audio and other topics related to our interest. Desire to learn and share knowledge of science required. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!

How amplifiers affect how speakers sound?

35 years ago, I had multiple "gimme" conditions of blatantly obvious conditions (not including clipping) which manifested in audible differences.
I enjoyed "breaking" the test.
That sounds great! Could you describe these situations and conditions?
 
That is the premise of McIntosh's power guard. How well it operates, I do not now.
The Power Guard works very well. More amps should have it. The sound will get compressed if you continue increasing the level and the lights are flashing, but it doesn't sound distorted. The lights indicating its action can be on half the time and the sound isn't distorted.
 
That sounds great! Could you describe these situations and conditions?
The best were those who claimed there was absolutely zero difference between interconnects. They'll bring some cheap CD player with RCA's and be upset when they saw they were being compared to one with balanced outputs (usually XLRs).
 
Hmm.. On second thought, I think the best was where it was claimed with absolute certainty that a radio-shack type 3ft RCA was perfect. Pity him when he realized the test involved a CD player and Pre-Amp which were 1 meter apart.
THAT was by far, the best "gimme".
 
You see, back then you had pompous and clueless idiots claiming before god that there were absolutely zero conditions there were any possible audible differences. In their arrogance, they rules out many very common sense scenarios where the result were, well, "duh... ".
Maybe times haven't changed.
 
You see, back then you had pompous and clueless idiots claiming before god that there were absolutely zero conditions there were any possible audible differences. In their arrogance, they rules out many very common sense scenarios where the result were, well, "duh... ".
Maybe times haven't changed.
How were these tests conducted? Blind?
 
The best were those who claimed there was absolutely zero difference between interconnects. They'll bring some cheap CD player with RCA's and be upset when they saw they were being compared to one with balanced outputs (usually XLRs).

When the volume is matched, there should be no noticeable audible difference between the two, unless electromagnetic interference (EMI) is a factor.

Hmm.. On second thought, I think the best was where it was claimed with absolute certainty that a radio-shack type 3ft RCA was perfect. Pity him when he realized the test involved a CD player and Pre-Amp which were 1 meter apart.
THAT was by far, the best "gimme".

Why would a 1-meter RCA cable be problematic, assuming interference is not a factor?

Am I overlooking something important in these "gotcha" scenarios?
 
When the volume is matched, there should be no noticeable audible difference between the two, unless electromagnetic interference (EMI) is a factor.



Why would a 1-meter RCA cable be problematic, assuming interference is not a factor?

Am I overlooking something important in these "gotcha" scenarios?

3 foot cable when the cd player and pre-amp were 1m apart, meaning the cable wasn't quite long enough to reach.

He seems to find these anecdotes amusing.
 
You see, back then you had pompous and clueless idiots claiming before god that there were absolutely zero conditions there were any possible audible differences. In their arrogance, they rules out many very common sense scenarios where the result were, well, "duh... ".
Maybe times haven't changed.

Now, we've got pompous, clueless idiots who don't understand the basics of psychoacoustics and/or sensory testing making endless proclamations and claims which are completely unfounded and unsupported.

Trying to explain that uncontrolled listening comparisons are just anecdotal claims that can be safely ignored seems to frustrate many, as they consider it actual evidence.
 
When the volume is matched, there should be no noticeable audible difference between the two, unless electromagnetic interference (EMI) is a factor.



Why would a 1-meter RCA cable be problematic, assuming interference is not a factor?

Am I overlooking something important in these "gotcha" scenarios?
How were these tests conducted? Blind?
The best is when their rules were so shoddy, one didn't even have to engage one's ears at all.
But yes, variations on ABx style testing.
 
3 foot cable when the cd player and pre-amp were 1m apart, meaning the cable wasn't quite long enough to reach.

He seems to find these anecdotes amusing.
No. I found it amusing at the time to exploit their own arrogance when they claim there is absolutely never any audible differences between different lengths in RCAs. In most cases, I allowed the other to stipulate as many rules they thought was sufficient to have a controlled test.
But as I said, those were 'gimmes' to break the ice.
Of course I pushed the two close enough together.
There was still an audible difference of very large magnitude.
I'm not sure he ever figured that one out.
 
Now, we've got pompous, clueless idiots who don't understand the basics of psychoacoustics and/or sensory testing making endless proclamations and claims which are completely unfounded and unsupported.

Trying to explain that uncontrolled listening comparisons are just anecdotal claims that can be safely ignored seems to frustrate many, as they consider it actual evidence.
Conducted many double blind tests young in my career.

While using relays to live switch subwoofers/amps at decent power levels have their own complications; never did encounter a full solution for real time switching between complete tower loudspeakers. Due to the localization of their different physical locations that is. That's quite a mechanical engineering challenge.

I personally thought the subject's a priori information about the test could skew it. Loved the gag of setting up two esoteric amplifiers they thought they were listening to, but in reality there was a 3rd amp.
 
With amplifier power so cheap these days why use an amp pushed to or over its limits? If you are hearing your amp when pushed too far, don't, get a properly sized amp. We've had this idea for at least 50 years that we hear differences when amps get into the non-linear region. Yet why waste time on that, the fix is easy. Get a bigger amp.
Exactly! Go big or go home. You only have to buy that one good powerful amp once for like at least 10 years. Buying low powered amps to me (IMHO) is just wasting good money.
 
If there are any differences between different length RCA line level interconnect cables, it will be due to noise/interference problems.
It will be very situation specific.
Absolutely. But edge or niche cases are often the interesting ones.
In this case, it was a very specific situation where not grounding the shield of the RCA made significant and measurable change. IIRC, it did not matter which 'end'.
 
Exactly! Go big or go home. You only have to buy that one good powerful amp once for like at least 10 years. Buying low powered amps to me (IMHO) is just wasting good money.
Seems to me that's often the problem with small desktop amplifiers expiring early. They are being expected to put out more power longterm than they are able. Sure, they are probably fine for low volume desktop/nearfield and with super sensitive speakers. Anything else, not so much.
Not helped by the slightly misleading/unregulated power claims and the ongoing obsession and prioritisation of SINAD numbers.
ie. Ensure that you have enough (continuous) power before obsessing over higher SINAD numbers.
 
Last edited:
Seems to me that's often the problem with small desktop amplifiers expiring early. They are being expected to put out more power longterm than they are able. Sure, they are probably fine for low volume desktop/nearfield and with super sensitive speakers. Anything else, not so much.
Not helped by the slightly misleading/unregulated power claims and the ongoing obsession and prioritisation of SINAD numbers.
ie. Ensure that you have enough (continuous) power before obsessing over higher SINAD numbers.
Heh. What's the SINAD of an inop device?
 
Back
Top Bottom