Is it 2nd Harmonics?

[_thelaughingman]

Hey all,

Basic setup to understand my question:
Source: Mac OS, Amazon Music
Amp: JDS Labs Atom (Primary), Fosi Audio Tube Amp (Secondary)
Headphones: Hifiman HE4xx (EQ'd with Sound Source)

I have been playing around with a vacuum tube amp lately for casual listening and seemed to have stumbled upon something that, I am unable to understand and would like the more knowledgeable individuals in our community to help me. I have noticed that when listening to instrumental tracks with emphasis on guitar's with the Hifiman paired to tube amp, i hear instrument separation and clarity that is not there when listening to the same track with Atom amp. Is it just 2nd harmonics that i am hearing from the tube amp or is my mind playing tricks? One particular album that i was listening to is Harry Style' Fine Line that has various tracks that have great instrument arrangments and harmonics.

 

[roskodan]

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Vaj9z0g50D0poPh790MJZ1R1VcPbw1BU/view?usp=sharing

 

[_thelaughingman]

@roskodan greatly appreciate that article. Good read and a lot of learning opportunities for me.

 

[solderdude]

What specific Fosi amp do you mean ?
There is quite a few of them using tubes.

 

[_thelaughingman]

@solderdude I'm using the Fosi Audio Tube P2. this is just a temporary solution until my Xduoo MT-602 Tube amp arrives.

 

[solderdude]

It looks like a tube hybrid.
The specs do not reveal needed info like output power or output resistance nor have I seen measurements.
It would be fair to think output power will be very low and output resistance could be anything between 1 and 50 Ohm.

I don't output resistance is not an issue with the HE4XX so Tyll's explanation and NwAvGuy's 1/8th rule are not applicable in this case.

 

[roskodan]

Even with hybrid amps, when rolling tubes, the differences are quite noticeable. Of course it's distortion. EQ is distortion too, in a way, but one has complete control over it, unlike with tube rolling. Which is one of the reasons I don't really miss tube amps.

 

[solderdude]

EQ is distortion too, in a way,

It is very easy to undo EQ by applying the opposite FR. This is not the case with distortion.