Are all amps being built wrong?


The power amplifiers that drive our loudspeakers are mostly built as a low impedance voltage source. They have always been ... but why?

Loudspeakers have a (greatly) varying impedance over the frequency range. A current drive amplifier would eliminate the issues that stem from this varying impedance, and at the same time make discussions about esoteric speaker cables that strive for optimal R, C, L superfluous. Although there still would be these un-measurable ’this (very expensive) cable sounds better’ debates and opinions ... and that’s OK, that’s part of the fun. :)

So ... why are amplifiers not built as a high impedance current source?

This is an interesting read: https://www.current-drive.info/
rudyb
... why are amplifiers not built as a high impedance current source?
Mainly because speakers are designed to be driven by a low impedance voltage source. When amps and speakers are co-designed though there exists the possibility to use current drive - I believe Bruno Putzeys has done this on his actives (Kiis) over at least part of the frequency band.
Mainly because speakers are designed to be driven by a low impedance voltage source.
Aside from what i already wrote, here's also the practical issue.  A low impedance, hgih current amp will drive anything.  Others might (might) sing with speaker A and suck with speaker B. You know, like lots of high end :-)
I'm always fascinated by this. I cam plug my amp into about anything and it will work very well and sound very good. Will it produce some synergistic, euphonic magic effect? Nope.

Aside from what i already wrote, here's also the practical issue. A low impedance, hgih current amp will drive anything.
This isn't quite correct, just so you know. Try putting your amp on a Sound Lab ESL sometime. That speaker is 32 Ohms in the bass and maybe about 2 Ohms at 20KHz (depending on the position of the Brilliance control). Most voltage source amps tend to sound too bright on this speaker; they struggle to make power at bass frequencies. Its MO isn't based on the Voltage Paradigm. Anytime you mix the two paradigms (Voltage and Power) you are at risk of a tonal anomaly.


SETs and other zero feedback tube amps are not meant to be used with difficult speakers (and I argue that no amp should be used with such speakers since the last thing you want to do is make any amp work hard for a living- it will make more distortion which is audible). So no amp can really work with all speakers.
Because a current drive amp is only useful with a speaker that has a flat impedance. Otherwise the amp will act as a tone control and follow the dips and peaks of the speaker's impedance curve. This can hardly be called "accurate"!