Which gives the system it's particular sound, the pre amp or the amp?

[fmw]

my only point is that from my own experience at times different components can sound different from one another, and at other times they do not, & the only reliable way i have found is to demo components before i made a purchase.

There you go. Placebo effect at work. I have no idea how you would "demo" a component and expect it to behave the same in your system and in your room as it does wherever you "demo" it if, in fact, it is not transparent and has a characteristic sound.

 

[speaker man]

The quality of the capactiors affects the percived quality of the sound. In the past I held to the belief that if there was little distortion, and low noise floor, all amps would sound the same. Then I listened to an Onkyo,and my ears told me otherwise. I still can't believe it. As for the pre/ power question. I would lean toward the power amp.

 

[no. 5]

In the past I held to the belief that if there was little distortion, and low noise floor, all amps would sound the same.

But that's not sufficient specifications to adequately determine a measurable difference in sound quality, it would be like using a one octave RTA to do a frequency response measurement.

It's not that distortion and noise floor are unless measurements, it is that they are not detailed enough, and are not measuring the right phenomenon to be used as the only measurement; as example, with "program" material, 3% THD is very close to being inaudible.

 

[mtrycrafts]

The quality of the capactiors affects the percived quality of the sound. In the past I held to the belief that if there was little distortion, and low noise floor, all amps would sound the same. Then I listened to an Onkyo,and my ears told me otherwise. I still can't believe it. As for the pre/ power question. I would lean toward the power amp.

Interesting anecdote, indeed. Cap quality where?
How did you do the comparisons? Were you by chance biased by chance?

Actually, there is more to amps sounding the same than those two qualifiers you posted. But, that is for another post or a previously post as that too have been posted a few times