![Michael Beeny](/img/default-banner.jpg)
- Видео 195
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Michael Beeny
Новая Зеландия
Добавлен 26 ноя 2009
MY CHANNEL has now largely CLOSED. I may upload the occasional video from time to time, however.
Videos will remain live for as long as people still view.
Thank you to everyone that has watched and contributed.
Videos will remain live for as long as people still view.
Thank you to everyone that has watched and contributed.
HYBRID AMPLIFIERS. Adding one of these, is not a good idea. WHY?
So many low-cost amplifiers these days, mostly class D are now using a valve as part of the pre-amp circuit. I talk about why this is not a good idea on so many levels.
Просмотров: 3 862
Видео
Was this the best pre-amp kit ever. Follow up with Audiophile parts. Different transistors & chips.
Просмотров 5 тыс.День назад
This is a follow up video from IS THIS THE BEST PRE-AMP KIT? I use Audiophile components and different transistors and chips. DOES IT SOUND BETTER??
Is this the best Preamp kit EVER?
Просмотров 28 тыс.14 дней назад
I take a look at a preamp, VERY loosely based on part of the Accuphase C-3850. Available as a blank PCB, full kit or a finished assembled unit. Lots of tests, lots of details and of course, lots of chat. NOTE THIS IS NOT SPONSERED OR SUPPLIED FREE. I PAID FOR THIS WITH MY OWN MONEY. Well, it is now back in stock even from the store I purchased it. However, it WAS in stock at- www.ebay.com/itm/1...
Buying New Specs from OPSM. You Won't Believe it!!
Просмотров 6222 месяца назад
You simply will not believe the problems I had simply trying to buy new lens for my specs.
Watch this video before you buy one of these. A handheld vacuum cleaner, of course.
Просмотров 6164 месяца назад
This is NOT a review. I'm not selling anything; I don't make a penny if you buy one or not. It's more the type of cleaner you SHOULD buy.
Experiences with my GP and Waikato Hospital NZ. PART 2
Просмотров 5006 месяцев назад
I continue my experiences with the Waikato Hospital in New Zealand and my GP following an Ablation procedure on my heart. Problems with medications. Not seen Part One? see it here. ruclips.net/video/Aj12wXPZsuA/видео.html
Experiences with My GP and Waikato Hospital NZ. Part 1 of 2
Просмотров 6856 месяцев назад
I take a look at my health issues and my procedure for a Cardiac Ablation in some detail. This is part 1, with the lead up to and after the procedure. Part 2 will deal with ongoing problems after the procedure. PART 2. SEE IT NOW HERE ruclips.net/video/mGYFKYRuqKI/видео.html
Wharfedale E90 Vintage Loudspeaker Repair (re uploaded from 2017)
Просмотров 1,4 тыс.6 месяцев назад
One of my Wharfedale E90 loudspeakers sounded lacking in midrange detail. I diagnose the fault and show the repair in detail. This video was made in 2017 but after 7 years, RUclips has hit me with a copyright claim. I have re-edited the video and removed the music clip. It's a good video (in my humble opinion) and well worth a viewing. Note, I no longer own these loudspeakers. They were sold ap...
This Pot Can Make Your Amplifier Sound BAD!
Просмотров 4,3 тыс.9 месяцев назад
I look at the effect of a standard pot can make to the sound of an amplifier when connected directly to the input.
More Mods & Tests on the Dual TDA7293
Просмотров 3,4 тыс.9 месяцев назад
I show more modifications with software performance simulations followed by real test results. I prove that this amplifier is possibly the best you can buy. In both listening tests and real bench tests.
Dual TDA7293. Full circuit diagram, modifications.
Просмотров 3,2 тыс.10 месяцев назад
We look at the full circuit diagram and a few easy modifications to make the already great amplifier, that little bit better. With easy-to-follow instructions.
More Adventures of Quackers the Duck.
Просмотров 44211 месяцев назад
More Adventures of Quackers the Duck. Not made for children specifically, but quite suitable for any age.
Dual TDA7293 Pt 2. The Complete Amplifier
Просмотров 4,8 тыс.11 месяцев назад
I show the complete amplifier, with transformer, rectifier/smoothing board, speaker protection and details of suppliers. Not sponsored, not supplied free. All item purchased at full price by me. An unbiased, trustworthy, video.
Dual TDA 7293 Amplifier.
Просмотров 7 тыс.Год назад
I take a look at a Dual TDA 7293 amplifier. Will it be any better than a single chip amplifier? Will it offer any power and sound improvements? Note, I paid for these amplifiers with my own money. Not sponsored or supplied free in any way. A completely unbiased review and opinions.
TDA7293 Pt 2
Просмотров 4,4 тыс.Год назад
I take a look at the second TDA7293 amplifier. Which of the 2 designs will be best?
TDA7293. Part 1 of 2 Amplifier ICs.Test and review of 2 different boards.
Просмотров 4,8 тыс.Год назад
TDA7293. Part 1 of 2 Amplifier ICs.Test and review of 2 different boards.
EDIFIER D12 Stereo Bluetooth Speaker.
Просмотров 9 тыс.Год назад
EDIFIER D12 Stereo Bluetooth Speaker.
WESTFIELD SHOPPING CENTRE. How they care for your kids!!
Просмотров 700Год назад
WESTFIELD SHOPPING CENTRE. How they care for your kids!!
My Channel is closing down. This is my last video. TDA7293 kit
Просмотров 5 тыс.Год назад
My Channel is closing down. This is my last video. TDA7293 kit
TDA7498E Class D amplifier. Test & Review.
Просмотров 9 тыс.Год назад
TDA7498E Class D amplifier. Test & Review.
MDcubes, Heart Health Monitor ECG recorder inc AI-ECG Analysis System.
Просмотров 565Год назад
MDcubes, Heart Health Monitor ECG recorder inc AI-ECG Analysis System.
Complete Real HiFi Preamp, with Tone Controls
Просмотров 7 тыс.Год назад
Complete Real HiFi Preamp, with Tone Controls
NE5532 Tone Control Preamp Kit MODIFIED
Просмотров 7 тыс.Год назад
NE5532 Tone Control Preamp Kit MODIFIED
MORE TESTS on this class D Amplifier (after some mods)
Просмотров 2,5 тыс.2 года назад
MORE TESTS on this class D Amplifier (after some mods)
Is this why some of the low cost TPA3255 board can blow up??
Просмотров 3,4 тыс.2 года назад
Is this why some of the low cost TPA3255 board can blow up??
So you are saying that all the hybrid amplifiers that exist on the market today, even those that are designed and built at the highest level by serious audio companies, are not good, inaccurate and do not give an audiophile sound? Listen, this is a serious statement
Any thoughts on experimenting with default negative gain and either a gain pot(as well as a volume)(lin or log...?) or a gain switch - say -3db and +6db. Might make an interesting and flexible unit. My partner likes music very low at times and I'm always scrabbling round the 7 o-clock position! N.B. Fback resistor say 1.5k - then parallel pot(wired as variable resistor) with a series resistor to set minimum resistance(and max gain)?
$500,000,000,000? - mmm, 'midfi'😄 Thanks for vid👍 - have picked up one of these really cheap for a play! I wonder if up-rating+grading the power caps/transformer will make an improvement.
So I'm back looking at your feedback resistor chart and thinking it would be nice to be able to adjust the gain in different applications. Why not use a double gang rotary switch with some daisy chained resistors to be able to adjust it. Start with your 100 ohm for the roughly 15 db gain and place a 56 ohm in series for the 12 db add another 100 ohm in series with that for a 9 db gain. Add a 220 ohm in series for the 6 db setting Next series an 820 ohm to give you around a 3 db gain setting. (Off the cuff estimates) As you switch to the next gain setting it just adds or subtracts from the total gain resistance. I would think if you used 1% tolerance resistors the gain of both channels should be very close I would also think you would need to use a switch that has make before break contacts or it might have issues if you switch ranges while it's operating. Just a thought, but someone might find it useful or worth experimenting.
Hi Samuel, you could indeed do just that if you often needed to change the gain. An easy way to adjust the gain could be to retain the 100 ohm resistor but add a 1K duel linear pot in series. Possibly not as accurate but probably OK. This would give an infinitely adjustable gain from about 3.45dB to 14.89dB.
There's nothing more a music producer likes than to be able to market the music as "remastered" as if there's an improvement on the result. This usually means digitizing the original analog recording and making them sound bright. Too bright in my opinion, to the point that they are unlistenable. One of the reasons why all original analog recordings cost so much. Even finding a mildly worn original analog release sounds way better than anything you can get today. And by the way, very few new vinyl recording are completely analog (designated by the AAA designation). What you are really getting is a CD on vinyl with all the limitations of vinyl.
With the cheap hybrid valve (pre) amps I wonder if the valve is even in the circuit. Might only have the heaters powered, eh? Interested to see @SkunkieDesignsElectronics review of some of those devices. I'm confident she'll look into the circuits and measure distortion levels.
I have heard of at least one where the valve was not in circuit. I don't know if that is true or not. Everyone I have seen, at least the valve was in circuit. The ironic thing is that the alleged one where the valve is not in circuit, probably sounds better. lol
Michael, you are so right about many of the issues you mentioned in this episode. I see products similar to what you described advertised on many websites. Valves or vacuum tubes seem to be added just as an advertising "gimmick". To critical listeners, much of what is broadcast on FM radio these days is to badly compressed and distorted that it is unlistenable. Only a few FM stations (in major cities typically) seem to provide a mostly low distortion signal if they broadcast classical music, jazz, big band music etc. Most of the rest is just garbage or rubbish. I personally have both solid state and vacuum tube audio equipment. With a well designed vacuum tube amplifier or a well designed solid state amplifier there is very little that can be discerned to be different between the two. Some early solid state amplifiers were not good to listen too for extended periods of time as they had their own distortion characteristics that exhibited higher odd order harmonics than was originally in the music to be reproduced. Much of the public today does not realize how distorted the audio is from today's sources. As you said, good audio amplifiers will allow the listener to hear the difference between a really excellently recorded music performance and one that is poorly recorded. Engineers test new equipment designs and the best strive for lowest total harmonic distortion and lowest intermodulation distortion. Keep up the good testing and reports! As always, you get what you pay for along with a good deal of education about the items desired.
Great test report, thanks ! Which is the C8 100pF capacitor you are suggesting should be adjusted down to 27pF ? Is it the one in parallel with the 47k input resistor or the one which is in parallel with the 1M resistor ?
It's the one in parallel with the 47K resistor. These details are clearly shown within the 2 videos as well as board layout and full circuit diagrams.
I am so happy to see your return and you in good health. Thank you for your insightful videos always.
Thank you for your kind thoughts, good to see YOU here also.
Valve preamps are probably just to achieve the magical valve sound. Accuracy was never the object.
I think they might have just met their goal then David. Not sure about being MAGICAL lol
Maybe I'll get one of those boxes, but I'll add a switch, labelled 'HiFi', & 'Distort', rather than the more normal labelling of 'bypass', & 'active' I don't have any valve design & building experience (other than melting a grid in a 6CM5), I obviously cannot do any worse than what's out there.
Sounds good idea Paul. You can use HiFi mode for good recordings and crap mode (woops, valve mode) for poor recordings.
The best pre-amp is a passive pre-amp. no active components necessary. The only pre-amp you usually need is for a MM or MC cartridge and this amplifier cannot do either.
No such thing as a passive preamp. An amplifier or a preamp has to have gain, or it is not a preamp. If it has no gain, it has a loss, its then an attenuator. Of course, a phono preamp needs gain, quite a lot due to the losses of the RIAA filter, and to raise the input of 3mV or so up to line level, between 100mV and 500mV depending on what it's driving. A moving coil cartridge needs even more gain, often a transformer. A power amplifier always needs a preamp, if not for gain, then impedance matching. If it does not need a preamp, it usually contains one. It's then a integrated amplifier.
Impressive flat line there. Do you have its schematic, Or have you come across it in any platform? I'd really like to see.
The circuit diagram is shown in the video, many hours were spent reverse engineering it. Could it be someone did not watch the complete video? lol
Oh Blimey!. My bad.Had thought that the schematic is exclusively for the AccuPhase and not for the kit. Thanks for your reply
Hello, I didn't understand the video because I don't know English. Why is there both an opamp and a transistor in this circuit? Aren't opamps a good preamplifier element on their own? For example, Muses02
An IC is just a group of components and many transistors. The circuit could be built with all discrete components. Even in the 40s and 50s such simple circuits existed, called couplets. This combination just works and works well.
Great great❤
Howdy, great video of the house build. The build looks a lot like the way we build up here in the cold arctic part of the world too, but i am sure you also had the same type of construction, back in the UK. Really interesting to look at all the options you have selected and how they have been implemented. Great video and a great house. I envy you a lot the climate you got down there, enjoy the warm weather and stay safe. Regards to you and your loved ones.
Hi Ole, I have replied privately via e mail.
Great video. I plan to buy premade although I have the components in stock. The extra cost is nominal. RUclips suggested the video!
Very good video!
Thanks Eric, good to see you here also, always welcome. See, I remember you!!
Thank you again for a great and educational video, i think i will have to build this PreAmp some time this coming winter. Will order it from ebay or AliExpress and see when i get around to solder it together and start using it. As always, great and really understandable content from you. Take care and stay safe. Best regards from Norway .
Thank you for your kind words. I'm sure you will enjoy building this little kit. But mostly enjoy hearing it. Good luck.
Hi friends, ... seems to be an interesting preamp-kit. really? to achieve a gain of a few dB I consider this circuit is absolute rubbish! adding a bunch of bipolar transistors after an audio-grade op-amp (NE5532 or LM4562) only for 300kHz bandwith is absolutely senseless an a waiste of components. high bandwith makes more RF-problems than giving a better sound quality. a bandwith of 50kHz (more than twice the bandwith of a cd-player) at very low !!! distortion can be easily achieved with a LM4562/LM49720 (ref. to datasheet) at an output impedance of around 1kOhm. if you really need lower output impedance add a buffer-stage after the IC and include it in the negative feedback path. this 'accuphase' circuit is nothing more than a component mass grave! the only sound determing components are the IC and C2 (100u) capacitors for dc-decoupling; NOT the two 100n capacitors in the DC-rails which are usually keramic caps.
I did not design this circuit. I simply built it and reported my findings. It measures extremely well and sounds equally as good is it measures. It really is as simple as that. As for the very wide bandwidth. I have explained why I think this is a good result but clearly you don't agree. I respect your opinion. I leave that question for my viewers to make up their own minds.
What a terrible experience you have had there with multiple optometrists in your area. Really sad that those new "Optometrists Franshicse Stores" do often have way to much unqualified personell, or younger staff, that is not too interested in actually learning the trade of the business. Fitting different sized pads on is horrible service (sounds like the person doing that should probably invest in some new specs to be able to do their job properly...) Lenses refitted to old frames should always be cut and grinded to the correct fit for the frames, no need to use longer screws at all, if the job is done propely... My old frames have new lenses in and the whole thing took only 20-30 minutes at the shop, while i waited with a coffee... Costed way less than buying new frames when i needed new strength on my lenses. Well stay on track OM, and see you later, when you have some time and feel for posting new content. Just love your videos. Make sure to enjoy good quality time with your loved ones, and stay safe. Best regards
Thank you, kind Sir, your comments are really appreciated, I will do my best to keep, hopefully interesting videos coming.
Really great to see you have a somewhat better health situation, and also spare energy to now make videos and post. Hopefully you also get to spend good quality time with your family. Todays "modern world" is sadly become way too much "use it and bin it" , so manufacturers do not want to build most things as quality products, but rather enjoy the gained revenue from us, have to purchase the items over and over again. But anyway, it is really nice to see you on your feet again, and your videos are really great. Take care, and stay safe, and enjoy the warm kiwi climate. Best regards from the cold areas of Norway :D
Blimey I've missed these videos. Thank you Michael.
Thank you for returning again, your most welcome.
I have bought several of these and the are kit, unassembled, and they go very well, and the price is ridiculous, I have tried changing operational and some change is noticeable, but it is almost better that brings (less distortion), although the sound in audio is something special, and not always sounds better which has better measures.🤗
I have one of the preamps you are talking about, and I understand everything you are saying. I have swapped out the valves for Mullards though, and the opamps for Muses 02. Howver, I'm sure all it is doing is adding distortion and colour, exactly as you say... Still, I am able to switch easily between the pure signal and the preamp signal to compare on the fly, and the preamp signal simply sounds richer and more pleasant to my ears. It adds what I can only describe as "sparkle" to the sound, a more 3D sound stage, which I really like.
The main thing is that if you like the results, nothing wrong with that. It's easy that it makes most recording sound OK. But you will lose out on the few very good recordings where you will lose that extra detail. I'm still not sure if it could make sense that most recording are OK but not great. Then I find a spectacular recording, then I know why I chose a none valve preamp, like the one on my last video.
@@MichaelBeeny As you have explained, distortion and colouration should logically make recordings sound worse and less like the music was intended to be. An oscilloscope will confirm it. I get it. However, in my experience, some loss of detail at certain frequencies allows other details to shine through. With my setup, the preamp really allows solo instruments, female voices, saxophones, pianos etc to elevate out of the mix. And since the frequencies are being manipulated by random emmissions of electrons, quantum mechanics essentially, it's infusing the music with an almost magical quality. We know that quanum behaviour is affected by presence of an observer... or, perhaps, listener ;)
If computer can do it sure audio system can be same
Hope they make next up 32 bits audio system up to 40 bits
Thank you very much. I am just your subscriber now from watching this video.
Thank you, you are very welcome.
Different
I think the Fever 6J1 is the only cheap tube preamp that actually uses the tubes for amplification, without chip amps. There's a review on RUclips about it, and the review isn't too positive.
I'm pleased I'm not the only one lol.
Makes perfect sense to me
This is one of the best amplifier channels on YT.
Good tubes with 2nd order even harmonics can add back the impression of an original recording, in my humble experienced opinion... For example, a Douk ST-01 Pro TUBE tip: If your amp came with Chinese 6k4 tubes (has a red star printed on the glass), mine caused distortion. I upgraded to much better sound for $17 with GE JAN 5654W matched pair tubes. 6k4 tubes can be replaced by 6J1, 6J2, 6J3, 6J4, 6J5, 6"1N, 64N, 65N, 5654/5654W, 5725, 6AK5, EF95, 6BA6, 403B, etc. Your tubes may be ok. Just an FYI free tip. Quality of each audio component matters. But money alone guarantees nothing. Good video.
You are correct Michael, tubes deform the waveform into an unnatural shape, producing a gently clipped sound that people like. But if you want accurate sound, a solid-state design is best.
I had a Vincent SV-226 integrated in my system for 5 years, and I thought it was quite nice. But I've used other hybrid integrateds, and they weren't anything special. But now I very much enjoy my tube preamp and Class AB mosfet power amp.
Um, thanks? I found out that the pre-amp I bought that proudly states that it uses an NE5532 has a counterfeit installed. Now my OCD won't let me leave it be (even though it sounds just fine). Parts and tools are now on order to replace it with a genuine device. Grrrrr...
There's this, using your favorite search engine: "Motherboard with integrated Vacuum Tube audio stage" That one didn't last long, and I doubt it sold many. I've never seen one in the flesh. One might ask why don't any of these USB audio interfaces have any tubes in them? For one thing they'd cost twice as much just for the extra circuitry to support and power the tube, but those interfaces only sell if they have REALLY GOOD SPECS and they won't if the signal is going through a tube/valve.
What's even worse than clipped? Bass drum cranked up 10dB above everything else through a compressor so it "ducks" everything at each kick. For some insane reason, younguns like it.
Yes, that does drive me mad also.
New Subscriber.
Welcome, good to see you here.
Thank you for Answering this Important Question. Low Voltage Valve Amplifiers are a complete Joke.
Some People confuse Detail with Edge/Surface Diffraction. So I Tame this apparent detectable Brightness. I attach an 8mm thick FELT RING around the Speakers Tweeter, so to help Attenuate HF Surface Diffraction. This can be a hidden Detail Killer or Color that makes some Speakers Tiring to listen to. Could you Please TEST this Idea so I know my Ear's are OK.
Actually, RUclips recommended me this video. Don't think that your videos are not recommended. Btw. I was looking to some preamps for phono.
Welcome, yes after my comment, RUclips has recommended my channel. Did take 7 years however lol I'm sorry I do not make videos on Phono preamps, simply because I no longer have any records or anything to play them on, so listening tests are out of the question.
Your videos very interesting! I am a valve fan because I like the soft clipping 2nd harmonic distortion ! I think it boosts the presence and makes the music sound almost live! I have also tried valves in the early stages feeding in solid stage F.E.T. Output and the results are very good! Matched pair Output valves like KT88, KT66 etc. As you rightly say are now very expensive (£ 130- 160 ) and I can’t afford to run them any more as I am now a pensonier! Some triode early pre amp valves are affordable but you have to watch Chinese cheapo types. If you buy through companies like Farnell you always get well made types that have been tested well! Companies like Farnell can’t afford to sell rubbish because it would damage their reputation! btw I have a question regarding valve equipment in general! Why can valve indirectly heated not use DC 6volt or 12 volt supply from a regulated linear smoothed psu to reduce hum? I know smpsu’s are noisy, unreliable, and no use for quality audio equipment! I have a GPO 48volt 10Amp DC linear Reg psu more than 50 years old and it still work’s perfectly today! What do you think? Fraser😊
Hi Fraser, it's been probably 50 years since I've worked with valves, apart from a kit I made for this channel about 4 years ago. I think one of the main reasons AC is used for heaters is that it's readily available directly from the mains transformer. For most applications, hum is not really an issue. Center taps across the 6.3 volts or even a 100 ohm pot with the tap going to ground, work quite well. In the 40s plus years ago, getting a stabilized 6.3 volts at maybe 10 amps would have been a very large and expensive thing to do, out of the question really. I have seen up market preamps with DC supplies, but these only need maybe about an amp, quite easy and cheap these days. To be honest, I cannot remember if there is/was any other technical reason for not using DC. I'm sure someone will know the answer. I'm just sorry it's not me!! Thank you for an interesting comment. Just a thought on clipping. The type of clipping should not be even thought about!! If you ARE clipping, then your amplifier is under powered. Common with valve amplifiers as they tend to be relatively low powered, unless you are rich, lol. Dose that not make sense??
I cant speak for mixing tubes w/Class D, my rig has a tube buffer on a Class AB amp and I prefer the sound with than without.
I have doge 8 clarity valve preamp and a Hagerman labs MC trumpet phono stage into a Nord 2 600wpc classD power amp. That is my combo for keeps if the preamp or phono are upgraded they will be valves. If the power amp is updated it will be class D. To my ears a match made in heaven
@@sbwlearning1372 Very nice pairing of components there! They all seem to be at equal level price point speaking. I must ask, how often are you replacing tubes? Im on year 4 with the GE 5654W's in my buffer kit with no signs of quitting yet.
@@AllboroLCD I've had the doge 8 and the hagerman trumpet MC for 2 years the preamp is used 6/7 hours everyday and the phono gets used about 15 hours a week. The lifespan of my valves ( all 12ax7 variants) is around 10,000 hours depending on manufacturer and if military grade or not. I have a mix of old and new valves ready for replacement. I bought them when I got the hagerman and the doge clarity . The hagerman came with a full complement of mullards from Mr hagerman himself. He said the tubes supplied would last at least 5 years even if the stage was used 6 hours a day every day !!! I have been so impressed with the sound of both I haven't bothered replacing any of the valves.😁😁 I also have a xiang sheng DA -OB5II DAC which has a 12ax7 valve output. This is around 5 years old and is used for my CD T.V. music streaming from Bluetooth Xbox etc etc . This gets as heavily used as the preamp and is still sounding lovely. I think for amplification purposes valves burn out far far quicker I have read on forums that when driven hard everyday will need replacing in months instead of years. 🎧🎸🎵
@@AllboroLCD I've had the doge 8 and the hagerman trumpet MC for 2 years the preamp is used 6/7 hours everyday and the phono gets used about 15 hours a week. The lifespan of my valves ( all 12ax7 variants) is around 10,000 hours depending on manufacturer and if military grade or not. I have a mix of old and new valves ready for replacement. I bought them when I got the hagerman and the doge clarity . The hagerman came with a full complement of mullards from Mr hagerman himself. He said the tubes supplied would last at least 5 years even if the stage was used 6 hours a day every day !!! I have been so impressed with the sound of both I haven't bothered replacing any of the valves.😁😁 🎵🎸🎧
Great numbers on the bench. How does it perform at the output if the source has a small amount of DC-offset?
Well, you must be sure you have no DC, even 1 mV. If there is any doubt you must fit a capacitor to the input and for safety, the output. Many amplifiers have cap in its input but if you have any doubt put one. I suggest a Bi Polar audio grade 47mfd. Any other type would be very large and expensive. Any lower value will reduce the LF performance, partially the output because of its low impedance.
I'd switch the word "ever" for the word "yet".
You are probably right Paul. It would be a dreadful thought if things could not be better in the future.
Thank you for your lovely Channel Michael.
Thankyou David for your kind words most appreciated.
Well this is right at the heart of HiFi BS. Hifi isn't True Fidelity. It's about the consumerisation of audio. True Fidrlity Audio is about the asbscence of artefacts and so well designed components are not going to: Do this, And sound like this, And make your Pink Floyd sound different/better. HiFi can literally mean anything , anyone wants it to mean - it"s post-modern audio 😁. BUT the HiFi Rabbit Holes run very deep and wide and there are aways nerw ones being dug to catch the OCD types. Really well designed components simply don't have any sound at all - they are inaudible in the signal path. Find out what REAL unamplified music sounds like, no mics, amps , or spealers in the chain. It sounds very clear, clean and tonally accurate. It doesn't have depth, or layering or exagerated bass or anything similiar because it doesn't have the artefacts which produce these effects.
So if well designed components add no sound does that mean technically/ theoretically a full high end valve system from the 60s/70s will sound identical to a full high end solid state from the 70s/80s and a full high end classD / 32 bit digital system from today ???? High end doesn't mean Megabucks car/ house prices but well made well designed gear. After 40 years of listening and buying I've settled on full valve phono stage valve preamp and 32 bit DAC and classD 600wpc power amp. To these ears far better than the class A pre and power amp they replaced
I've wrestled back and forth with this. It is accuracy vs what's sounds pleasing. Music is entertainment for most people, so I can understand wanting that harmonically pleasing distortion to make it more enjoyable. Assuming a digital source file is the same, and your amp stages (pre and power) are just passing on the truth, the two other major spots in the signal path where you will get differences would be the DAC and of course the speakers. Their deficiencies are sometimes fixed by the coloration amps may have.
You can have all the best fastest most accurate and expensive gear on the planet including the most expensive speaker system on the planet, your still listening to a turntable or tape deck or cd. Weakest links! Try and find anyghing good that isn't accoustic strings or wood wind! Iv'e heard somepretty amazing sounding tube amps. Aren't they still making those? Also want to add, i have a quad 44 pre amp and it sounds like a pile of crapp. Not sure what Quad was thinking there. Too bad they aren't still around to try and redeem themselves. Keep up the great work Mike, love your videos input and opinions😊
I would have to agree with your comments on Quad preamps. Quad was forced to bring out transistor stuff because sale of the QUAD 2 and 22 preamps was falling fast. The 405 amplifier was one of the better ones of its day but slow by today's standards. In fact, quite valve like sound. The 33 amplifier was just dreadful into coils but worked well with the electrostatic. Current valve amplifiers are very expensive, giving the illusion they are wonderful. They are expensive because the valves are almost handmade and in small quantities. The transformers are full of expensive copper wire. Again, made in very small quantities, heavy, chassis made out of expensive materials, use of exotic timbers. They look good but it's the same valves, same circuits from 1950 check it out. When these were first made, they were very mass produced as so many people had HiFi in those days. Now few people have ANY interest in sound, it's all phones and sound bars. So, these same amplifiers are produced in expensive disguises for the rich that fool themselves that they are driving an expensive car. Afterall, if it cost a fortune and looks expensive, it's got to sound great.