Silky and soft highs: product of coloration?

To be honest, I think the amplifier is the least important component in the chain. If I had to cut costs somewhere...thats where it would be.

BTW, I have that recording, and agree...a very well recorded violin.

Dave

Chris

Maybe in his system. But after 35 years....my ears tell "me" different. The hobby is pretty much all opinions anyway Chris, so I won't put up to much of an argument, in favor of mine.

At least we agree on the violin recording (-:

Dave

Chris said:
"they have never heard how world's best power amplifiers sound! 90% of the amplifiers sound the same, that's why it will never become obvious with 90% of all audiophiles that the power amplifier is in fact a major determinant for the final sound quality. In this regards I would like to address to some of the world's best amplifiers, like FM Acoustics, Soulution, Boulder, Rey Audio, DartZeel(?), LAMM, Cello Performance, Audio Research REF600, etc"

Chris


Who says those are the worlds best amplifiers?...the owners (10% of audiophiles...your figure), the sellers?...the manufacturer?...GOOGLE?...do you have a link? Thank goodness we have an (ect.), which could add hundreds more to that list?

Are you aware, that a good percentage of that 10% of audiophiles (golden ears?), who can afford those components, don't even know how to set them up? It's true...check the system pic's, and the forum postings. "Audiophile" is a learning experience...you can't buy experience.

I'll stick with my experience, which tells me that there is no absolute answer. However, "all things being equal", and If I had to cut costs somewhere in the audio chain... source, preamp, amp...the amplifier is where I would do it.

Dave

I'm not impressed with most violin recordings...to far away sounding, or...to strident, in mass. I do have some good solo violin recordings.

I'll guess, that it must be very hard to capture that instrument correctly on a recording.

Silky is fine, when intended, "soft highs" is not (unless the intent was to place you at 50ft away).

Dave

Violins can sound "silky" and smooth, or edgy and sharp, or plucked...it's all in the intent of the player.

None of that sounds bad, when played back on a good system.

Unintended artifacts are caused by many other things...bad recordings, poor acoustics, playback source component, and speakers systems are at the top of the list, as....the most likely cause.

Violins are "not" hard for an amplifier to reproduce...it doesn't take a mega priced amp....even an Onkyo can do it, and with out the unintended artifacts of shrillness.

The biggest difference, between an outstanding amplifier, and a good amplifier is "tone". The best amplifiers get it nearly perfect, and that makes them a pleasure to use, because they are so much more musical sounding...the rest just do the best they can.

Dave

Hi Atmasphere, you said:

"I do not agree that an Onkyo is in the same league with anything we are talking about here"

Very true....The Onkyo (or other budget priced amps) are not in the same class, as the others mentioned. That wasn't my intent to say they were...although it may have read that way?

Dave

Atmasphere

Well...I have two Onkyo M-504 amps that drive my hometheater speakers and subs.

A while back, when one of my tube amps went down, and needed to go in for repair I was forced to pull the Onkyo amps from the hometheater system to drive my Apogee panel speakers for around a month...and they did a very good job.

Violins sounded fine...with not even a hint of shrill, on good violin recordings.

That said....they didn't sound as good as my tube amps. (but then...no SS amps I've used, have sounded as good as my tube amps)....Krell, Pass, BAT

Which kind of makes my point: I don't consider an amp to be as important as a preamp, or source component. As I said above...if forced to give up, a little.... in the larger picture...the amp would be my choice.

Dave

Reb1208, and Dcstep

Do you guys have $25,000-$50,000 amplifiers?...(" best of the megabuck power amps").....if not, and it looks like, you do not?

You are degrading your violins....yes?... And you have just found your "weakest link".

The logic is easy to follow..........(-:

Dave