"David Houpt" wrote in message
...
Hi

I haven't posted for a while, but seeing an amplifier get a rave
review when it has a distortion level of 2.3% rising to 4% at full
output provoked me. Its the Graaf GM20 reviewed in the November issue
of Hi Fi World. Yours for a mere £3,300. Is the world going mad? I
though that the idea was that amplifiers had as little distortion as
possible. 0.1% as Harold Leak used to claim.


Sounds OK for a guitar amp.

Oh and if your test material for a £3k amp is Christina Aguilera (see the
review at http://www.ukd.co.uk/scms/news-detail.asp?PKID=24) you're probably
not a full shilling anyway.

Roy.




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David Houpt wrote:

Hi

I haven't posted for a while, but seeing an amplifier get a rave
review when it has a distortion level of 2.3% rising to 4% at full
output provoked me. Its the Graaf GM20 reviewed in the November issue
of Hi Fi World. Yours for a mere £3,300. Is the world going mad? I
though that the idea was that amplifiers had as little distortion as
possible. 0.1% as Harold Leak used to claim.


Well if it is predominantly 2nd harmonic it might sound quite nice but not
what you would call accurate.

Ian

On Tue, 23 Dec 2003 13:49:04 +0000, Ian Bell
wrote:

Well if it is predominantly 2nd harmonic it might sound quite nice but not
what you would call accurate.

Yes, 2nd harmonic primarily as I recall.

David

David Houpt wrote:

On Tue, 23 Dec 2003 13:49:04 +0000, Ian Bell
wrote:

Well if it is predominantly 2nd harmonic it might sound quite nice but not
what you would call accurate.

Yes, 2nd harmonic primarily as I recall.

David

That probably explains it then and they are in very good company. neve, who
made/make the best recording mixers in the world used a simple three BJT
circuit which produces predominantly 2nd harmonic distortion in their
classic consoles of the 70's. Many people now pay lots of money for tha
'classic neve sound'.

Ian

In article , Ian Bell
writes
David Houpt wrote:

On Tue, 23 Dec 2003 13:49:04 +0000, Ian Bell
wrote:

Well if it is predominantly 2nd harmonic it might sound quite nice but not
what you would call accurate.

Yes, 2nd harmonic primarily as I recall.

David

That probably explains it then and they are in very good company. neve, who
made/make the best recording mixers in the world used a simple three BJT
circuit which produces predominantly 2nd harmonic distortion in their
classic consoles of the 70's. Many people now pay lots of money for tha
'classic neve sound'.

Ian



Yes indeed they do. I used to work there back in the 70's but fell fowl
of the Christian ethos which was prevalent at the time. But apart from
that Neve was the name in sound, remember the marketing slogan "the
sound of Neve is world-wide" and indeed narrowly missed a job as field
sales ENG due to personal reasons. Great fun, of to Sydney first thing
in the morning, they have a problem in Monseratt, or so and so in
Burbank cant lay down the tracks he wants, so get on the plane this
evening and just be there!...

Pity one of me few life regrets:-()

Interesting history Rupert has his own website with a comprehensive
history in fact some of the old amp designs were around on the web but
I'm dammed if I can find the links!.

http://www.rupertneve.com
--
Tony Sayer

tony sayer wrote:

snip


Yes indeed they do. I used to work there back in the 70's but fell fowl
of the Christian ethos which was prevalent at the time. But apart from
that Neve was the name in sound, remember the marketing slogan "the
sound of Neve is world-wide" and indeed narrowly missed a job as field
sales ENG due to personal reasons. Great fun, of to Sydney first thing
in the morning, they have a problem in Monseratt, or so and so in
Burbank cant lay down the tracks he wants, so get on the plane this
evening and just be there!...

Pity one of me few life regrets:-()

Interesting history Rupert has his own website with a comprehensive
history in fact some of the old amp designs were around on the web but
I'm dammed if I can find the links!.

http://www.rupertneve.com

What a coincidence. I worked there from '74 to '76 in sales engineering up
in the tree hut with Tony Cornwell and Betty Harmar Smith. I think I was
the first atheist they took on. I certianly had to moderate my engineering
languge - good lord was the strongest expletive I ever used - and they
stiall said prayers before each board meeting. Despite that is was one of
the best companies I ever worked for - fantastic 'can do' culture and
family spirit. Do you ever go to the annual reunions at the Cambrodge Motel
in October? Robin Ireland maintains a list of ex neve people's email
addresses and I do not see your name their so maybe you don't know about
it. If you are intersted I can give you his email off list.

I still have copies of the circuit diagrams of many of the Neve circuits and
yes some do appear on the net - I have seen them but like you I cannot
remember where. I will have a look at Rupert's site - did not know about
it.

Marry Xmas

Ian

tony sayer wrote:

snip


Yes indeed they do. I used to work there back in the 70's but fell fowl
of the Christian ethos which was prevalent at the time. But apart from
that Neve was the name in sound, remember the marketing slogan "the
sound of Neve is world-wide" and indeed narrowly missed a job as field
sales ENG due to personal reasons. Great fun, of to Sydney first thing
in the morning, they have a problem in Monseratt, or so and so in
Burbank cant lay down the tracks he wants, so get on the plane this
evening and just be there!...

Pity one of me few life regrets:-()

Interesting history Rupert has his own website with a comprehensive
history in fact some of the old amp designs were around on the web but
I'm dammed if I can find the links!.

http://www.rupertneve.com

What a coincidence. I worked there from '74 to '76 in sales engineering up
in the tree hut with Tony Cornwell and Betty Harmar Smith. I think I was
the first atheist they took on. I certianly had to moderate my engineering
languge - good lord was the strongest expletive I ever used - and they
stiall said prayers before each board meeting. Despite that is was one of
the best companies I ever worked for - fantastic 'can do' culture and
family spirit. Do you ever go to the annual reunions at the Cambrodge Motel
in October? Robin Ireland maintains a list of ex neve people's email
addresses and I do not see your name their so maybe you don't know about
it. If you are intersted I can give you his email off list.

I still have copies of the circuit diagrams of many of the Neve circuits and
yes some do appear on the net - I have seen them but like you I cannot
remember where. I will have a look at Rupert's site - did not know about
it.

Marry Xmas

Ian

On Wed, 24 Dec 2003 13:05:37 +0000, tony sayer
wrote:

But apart from
that Neve was the name in sound, remember the marketing slogan "the
sound of Neve is world-wide" and indeed narrowly missed a job as field
sales ENG due to personal reasons. Great fun, of to Sydney first thing
in the morning, they have a problem in Monseratt, or so and so in
Burbank cant lay down the tracks he wants, so get on the plane this
evening and just be there!...

Pity one of me few life regrets:-()

It's fun and glam for the first dozen trips, then it's just a pain in
the arse. Trust me..................
--

Stewart Pinkerton | Music is Art - Audio is Engineering

On Wed, 24 Dec 2003 13:05:37 +0000, tony sayer
wrote:

But apart from
that Neve was the name in sound, remember the marketing slogan "the
sound of Neve is world-wide" and indeed narrowly missed a job as field
sales ENG due to personal reasons. Great fun, of to Sydney first thing
in the morning, they have a problem in Monseratt, or so and so in
Burbank cant lay down the tracks he wants, so get on the plane this
evening and just be there!...

Pity one of me few life regrets:-()

It's fun and glam for the first dozen trips, then it's just a pain in
the arse. Trust me..................
--

Stewart Pinkerton | Music is Art - Audio is Engineering

In article , Ian Bell
writes
David Houpt wrote:

On Tue, 23 Dec 2003 13:49:04 +0000, Ian Bell
wrote:

Well if it is predominantly 2nd harmonic it might sound quite nice but not
what you would call accurate.

Yes, 2nd harmonic primarily as I recall.

David

That probably explains it then and they are in very good company. neve, who
made/make the best recording mixers in the world used a simple three BJT
circuit which produces predominantly 2nd harmonic distortion in their
classic consoles of the 70's. Many people now pay lots of money for tha
'classic neve sound'.

Ian



Yes indeed they do. I used to work there back in the 70's but fell fowl
of the Christian ethos which was prevalent at the time. But apart from
that Neve was the name in sound, remember the marketing slogan "the
sound of Neve is world-wide" and indeed narrowly missed a job as field
sales ENG due to personal reasons. Great fun, of to Sydney first thing
in the morning, they have a problem in Monseratt, or so and so in
Burbank cant lay down the tracks he wants, so get on the plane this
evening and just be there!...

Pity one of me few life regrets:-()

Interesting history Rupert has his own website with a comprehensive
history in fact some of the old amp designs were around on the web but
I'm dammed if I can find the links!.

http://www.rupertneve.com
--
Tony Sayer