Is this Challenge still Good?

[mtrycrafts]

... about as close to 'wire with gain' as you can get. ...).

It cannot be when all those aberrations are present. It is a minimalist approach to be sure and some do seem to enjoy them, but certainly nowhere approaching a 'wire with gain' that would imply a transparent amp which it is far from it.

 

[ski2xblack]

Ah, so the amount of phase shifting and time delays taking place causing that effect is what you are after? Certainly not present on the master tapes

I don't find that the coloration really adds false spatial info if its not already on the source, but it seems to allow those spatial cues which indeed are on the recording to come through to a greater degree than the other mainstream amps I tried. Nothing seems artificial about this, the sound is quite organic and convincing, and crystal clear. Deviation from the original source? You bet. Inaccurate? Sure. Better? Not if strict adherence to signal integrity is the goal. (Is that really what loving music is all about?)

If using a SET adds a little flesh and technicolor to the music that some find pleasant, then great for us who enjoy it, and why do you care?

Not sure why this seems to draw sanctimony from the objectivists. I'm not saying that approach is wrong, after all it's absolutely correct. Its the philosophy I followed with my home theater setup. At the same time, it is not the sole route to musical enjoyment. Why you are offended by that to the point of indignant sanctimony is beyond me.

 

[ski2xblack]

It cannot be when all those aberrations are present. It is a minimalist approach to be sure and some do seem to enjoy them, but certainly nowhere approaching a 'wire with gain' that would imply a transparent amp which it is far from it.

Ok, you got me. How about "wire with gain and euphonic signal processing". Better, no?

I was alluding to the more simple signal path of a minimalistic SET amp which uses only a handful of parts.

 

[bandphan]

Has anyone seen my horse?

 

[ski2xblack]

Has anyone seen my horse?

Yes, died 10 years ago from what I hear, but this thread did get a lot of responses.

Now I'm off to enslave my woman into cable switching duty so I can perform some quasi dbt's.

Oh, crap, she's rocking out to Modest Mouse and dancing around the living room. Looks like the dbt will have to wait.

 

[Lordoftherings]

I just get that positive feeling that I could win that challenge test.
After all, I do trust my ears; but how good are they, is another question.
Anybody else has that same feeling (about winning, not their ears; or is it vice versa?)?

 

[Robof83]

I just get that positive feeling that I could win that challenge test.
After all, I do trust my ears; but how good are they, is another question.
Anybody else has that same feeling (about winning, not their ears; or is it vice versa?)?

I'm pretty sure quite a few people have had that feeling. They wouldn't be willing to pay the $200 entry fee if they thought they were going to lose now would they

 

[Lordoftherings]

I'm pretty sure quite a few people have had that feeling. They wouldn't be willing to pay the $200 entry fee if they thought they were going to lose now would they

Exactly my point.

 

[Robof83]

Haha, I guess I didn't catch that.

 

[Lordoftherings]

Haha, I guess I didn't catch that.

It was hiding between the lines.