Serge Auckland wrote:
"Trevor Wilson" wrote in message
.. .
"Keith G" wrote in message
...
"Trevor Wilson" wrote in message
.. .
"Keith G" wrote in message
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"Trevor Wilson" wrote


I own a Marantz Model 18 Receiver, dating from 1968. It originally
cost US$1,200.00 and was the most power receiver on the planet, back
then. For it's time, it was quite a sophisticated product, employing
full complementary silicon outputs, relay protection system and other
nifty stuff. It was critically appraised by reviewers at the time and
when I purchased mine (ca: 1977) I was stunned at how much better it
sounded than many contemporary amplifiers of similar (60 Watts) or
even more power. Just for yuks, I recently compared it to a more
modern Marantz amplifier (cost around AUS$1,000.00). No comparison.
The modern amp was somewhat better sounding. And, allowing for
inflation, the modern amp was MUCH less expensive. Don't even get me
started on loudspeakers. The technology for designing speakers has
improved in leaps and bounds over the last 40 years.


S'funny, we keep getting told how 'good amps' don't have a sound....???
**Because that is a fact. The ideal amplifier has no 'sound' of it's
own. No amplifier is ideal.

Therefore no amplifier has no 'sound' of its own then?
**Nope. That's not what I said.


--
Trevor Wilson
www.rageaudio.com.au

The *ideal* amplifier has no sound of its own, and no amplifier is ideal.
However, for many years now, amplifiers come awfully close to the ideal, and
consequently, except for the nittiest of nit-pickers, I subscribe to the
view that no (half-decent) amplifier has a sound of its own, and
consequently all sound the same.

Certain conditions apply, like operation below clipping into loads for which
the amplifier was designed, using music signals.

S.



I simply don't get this. I've been using 5 SS amps of late (Quad 405,
Rose power amp, Cambridge AV, Behringer A500, and that within a Pure
mini system), as well as others on and off over the years, and I feel
each has 'a sound of its own'.

But this has been done-to-death in this NG. One thing I was never clear
on is the definition of 'half-decent'. One definition (Stewart Pinkerton
IIRC) was double power into half impedance, down to 2 Ohms (50/8; 100/4,
200/2 or something, plus some other stuff), but I've never seen a
sensible money amp that could come close.

Could you name the cheapest available new amplifier that sounds the same
as (say) your own at medium-high volume?

Just curious!

Rob