fpitas
Master Contributor
Yes, and good amps reached that level. We're going backwards.Didn't 0.1% (-60 dB) use to be the "gold standard" for amps in 50s/60s? If so, this one would fail such a test, and obviously so in the bass.
Yes, and good amps reached that level. We're going backwards.Didn't 0.1% (-60 dB) use to be the "gold standard" for amps in 50s/60s? If so, this one would fail such a test, and obviously so in the bass.
I think something else has been going on. For decades now, designers have known how to produce well performing amps, but some audiophiles consider them "sterile", "boring", and "all the same" and want something with "colour", "warmth", and "texture". If they look impressive, in a steam punk sort of way, so much the better. IMO amps like the DUT are designed for that market deliberately, not through incompetence.Yes, and good amps reached that level. We're going backwards.
I really hope you're right.IMO amps like the DUT are designed for that market deliberately, not through incompetence.
Being a dumb redneck some part of me knew it sounded "like" distortion" but instead of going with my gut I decided to spell-check you. Sorry. I like the Italian version as it rolls off the tongue.Nah... It is distortion in Italian. Read it as: "dis tor tino!"
SIY - If amir measured your Red Light amp, what would you expect?I will state with 99% certainty that more feedback won't help (the response curves show that stability is already questionable), the problem is in the open loop performance as well as grounding. And included in that 99% is my confidence that they made design errors stemming from a cut and paste approach. As Morgan Jones would say, "Heavily designed, lightly engineered."
It seems to make sense, as long as you don't use some cheap class D amp to drive the tweeters because many of them are plagued with load dependencies that affect the FR.I took that advice and went a step further with SS for the horn section. I leave all the glowing to the room lights.
So far the J2 does just fine. No First Watt amp has broken yet, so I might have it a long time.It seems to make sense, as long as you don't use some cheap class D amp to drive the tweeters
Pretty similar results to the measurements I took many years ago using a soundcard. I compromised a bit on distortion to make it easier to build, but the distortion was still low enough to stay below the audibility waterline. With a bit more circuit complexity (I only have one tube as input amp and phase splitter), I could probably drop the distortion another 10-15dB.SIY - If amir measured your Red Light amp, what would you expect?
But you do have to respect him--he had to have known how it would turn out.I feel bad for the member that owns it.
Yeah, over there they'll pay more just because Amir panned it.But you do have to respect him--he had to have known how it would turn out.
Rick "he can probably list it on Audiogon and make money on it" Denney
all the valve equipment I have posted for sale over the years (not on ebay, just on a couple of forums) has flown out, mostly within hours. Some people can't get enough of it.Yeah, over there they'll pay more just because Amir panned it.
I wish I was more sensible in the mid ‘90’s. The shear weight of my giant tube amp makes it difficult to rid myself of it.There's no sensible reason in 2023 to have a tube powered hi-fi power amplifier, nor was there in the 2000s or even much after about 1970.
That said, having five different DACs, 4 headphone amplifiers and a pile of headphones for a desktop 'rig' is hardly sensible either, is it?
At some stage, all audiophiles/HiFi nuts decide they want 'to give tubes a go', just for fun. My time with tubes was short lived in the early-mid 2000s. No desire to return to them, even though I've had some nice tube gear across my lab bench.
I... guess...I guess I was lucky I never had the masochistic streak to want tubes..
That leaves more of them for you!I... guess...
Price is for each so it will indeed set you back over 5000 for a pair.Amir, you don't make it clear if the price is for one or a pair. Are we talking >$5k for adding so much distortion to a system?