"Jim Lesurf" wrote


Your unstated assumption is that you are able to identify any changes
caused by amplifier 'distortion' as being caused by that mechanism and
not
being from other effects.


Only in the context of this thread - I make no such 'general' claims.


Is it not possible that the sound is sometimes
being altered in an audible way by distortion, but you don't always
recognise this change as being due to amplifier distortion?


Of course that's possible....


I am not clear of your view on this point, but will also ask: Is it
possible that you simply prefer a sound that has been altered by some
specific forms of distortion?


I'm a little surprised to see you going for this 'favourite easy score' -
much more the practice of the clowns who want to trick someone into
admitting a) there *is* a 'rosy glow' and b) they *prefer* it...

Try the simple approach - works with me every time: I've no real idea why I
(or, more importantly, my partner) prefers the sound achieved with valve
amps but we clearly do - night on night, day on day, never failing, never
faltering....

What labels people wish to try an attach to that is of no real concern to
me - if it's gamma rays from the Planet Zog making, say, Ry Cooder sound
more like my/our perception of 'Ry Cooder' then I'd have to put a tick in
the box marked 'Finds Gamma Ray Distortion Preferable'.....??

shrug

Other than the obvious (but soft) signal break-up when a valve amp is wicked
up too high into the wrong speakers, I do not suffer any form of
'distortion' that I can say I notice. Nor buzzes, nor rattles, nor hum
(except when the EAR phono goes off on one...) nor sibilence, nor funny
smells (except when breaking in a new Chinese amp - my second one has just
turned up)....

Just lovely, clear music with a broad stage, tons of tinkly bits, clear as
mountain air with the tiniest details and enough bass to make the doors
rattle in their frames like machine guns (MG42s, I'd say.....)



As Trevor has indicated, a problem here is that other items - notably
speakers and vinyl LP can produce distortion of levels that tend to be
quite high compared with some other items. Hence these may be affecting
your perception of the effects.


Yes, of course - all part of the overall scheme of things. Never said it
weren't......