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Bandwidth question?

I am interested in the qualitative difference in sound betw amplifiers that have -3db roll off at 100khz vs -3db at 300khz. Thru the amps I have tried, I suspect increased bandwidth has more openness and transparency and hence a better sense of space sharing. At the same time, it is easier to screw up the sound due to noise (from components/AC/RF) or improper cartridge loading. I am not very certain of the correlation and interested in what you guys think?

In reviewing the measurement sections of stereophile, many amps with -3db at 100khz demonstrate subtle rounding of the edges when reproducing 10khz square waves. I don't listen to square wave so I don't know what that translate into.

I realize that some amps (Spectral or Soulutions) has very high bandwidth (MegaHz) to implement negative feedabck. I am not refering to that.
128x128glai
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
Let's start with audible frequency bandwidth = 20Hz...20KHz.
Than take any full range speaker that would be less-likely designed to cover the whole audible bandwidth.
Than take onto consideration that vast majority of people wouldn't hear anything bellow 28Hz or above 16kHz.
Than let's see where 100 or 300KHz???

A square waves are usually considered as samples in digital carying or encoding frequencies that are absolutely unaudible just like DC. A sound is a continuous signal in general. As far as "rounding of the edges..." looks like heresy to me so don't listen and don't translate unlistenable.

Many amplifiers can go way beyond audible bandwidth, but last would less-likely dictate performance difference.
hifihvn
943 posts
 
Some people hear more air with vinyl than CDs. CDs usually cut off at 20kHz due to filters, for the noise we may hear. Vinyl is capable of going to over 30kHz, if the cartridge and system allows it. I seem to hear more air with vinyl too. If I was given a hearing test, I'd probably not hear above 16kHz at the extreme. Maybe it is harder to identify a continuous steady test tone, than a variety of them, warbled tone, or music. I do hear some metal dome tweeters that resonate at 22kHz. This causes extreme an irritable fatigue that leaves me no choice of either shutting it off, or leaving the room quickly. So, I think we are aware of sounds up to this 22kHz (at least in my case) sound that may be there. When it comes to amps, I don't seem to hear any more air with an amp that may be down 3 decibels at 20kHz, in comparison to one that goes to over 100kHz.I have several audiophile friend that don't hear the upper end air from an amp that has a high bandwidth like that. Two are sensitive to that 22kHz noise like myself. Ultrasonic alarms also irritate us.
hifihvn
943 posts
 
I don't seem to hear any more air with an amp that may be down 3 decibels at 20kHz
Let me clarify. I mean may be down 3 decibels at over 20kHz. In other words down 3 db at 22kHz for example.
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ngjockey
1,042 posts
 
Bandwidth is directly related to other factors, including feedback.
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