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Subjective Criteria

The criteria for subjective design of an amplifier is not how an amplifier measures on a scope, or distortion equipment, but rather, subjectively, how it plays back all the musical instruments....... to the listener's ears.

For example, when listening to a drum solo, do the various drum heads maintain their own distinct sound, such that you can sense the drum head's size, and after-reverberation, as IF you were hearing it the room , live?

Do the cymbals sound real - have a metallic sound, with proper high-frequency extension, detail and harmonic structures ? Very important, are the dynamic shadings, of each and every instrument, portrayed in a life-like manner?

Does the music's timing both thrill and fool you, at the same time?? OR, does the music's playback timing seem to be slightly out-of-synch with hearing the " real thing " ( feedback amps ). Does music come to you as though you were hearing multiple music / acoustic events, happening distinctly, and IN both the instrument's and musician's own time frame? NOT in the time frame of ANY sort of audio amplifier ??

If it measures bad, and sounds good, no worry at all - you are " there " !!!

If it measures good, and sounds bad, you are measuring the wrong thing !!

DT667 is correct, having good high efficiency speakers, with large radiating surfaces, goes a long way in designing amplifiers on a subjective basis. After a lifetime of inefficient speakers, both dynamic dynamic and electrostatic, I now run very mildly modded ALTEC Voice of the Theater A7-8s ( 515Bs and 802Ds ). I love what both driver's horn loads do during music playback. The amplifier you pair with such speakers has to be good - or you will notice minor anomalies in the electronics - easily.

All of this post refers to subjective testing. After all is said and done, while test equipment can be partially helpful, we have to listen to an amplifier and how it plays back music. Can it play back all of the musical instruments convincingly ???.

Jeff

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