Comparing a Yamaha s301bl to a rega elicit mk5 - a/b on some paradigm 800fs and they sound the exact same. Looking at the specs it makes sense - I don’t know why I’d ever use the full wattage of even the Yamaha without getting hearing damage and the THD being 0.019% vs 0.004% makes no functional difference. Are high end amps the new snake oil? What exactly are you getting for 10x the price here (besides the rega having less features and the rega brand name?)
This is true with most things in audio, but people that are $20k+ deep usually struggle to admit this truth.
If you can’t hear the difference, don’t worry about it and count your blessings. That $300 Yamaha amp is all you’ll ever need.
Me, I’ll just continue to enjoy my PrimaLuna, Krell, and McIntosh amps.
Everybody happy!
I have a Technics su-z5 qnd a Cambridge azur 650a and they sound completely different
The new shiny sounds AMAZING until you volume match and A/B test it against the old one, then it sounds exactly the same.
That settles it, amps don’t matter! I will report your findings to the world. :)
Lol
Not gonna touch this one.
I was gonna say that you probably get better LEDs with the more expensive amp but the Elicit mk5 is pretty ugly, not sure why anyone would buy that.
Here’s an interesting read: https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Audio/Archive-HiFI-Stereo/80s/HiFi-Stereo-Review-1987-01.pdf (Starting on page 80)
It suggests that there’s almost no audible difference between amps which I believe is mostly the truth. Not saying there’s no difference but more often than not the difference is either so small it doesn’t really make a difference or the difference is simply in the imagination of the listener.
Yes, for well engineered amps with no load dependency and low distortion, they’re all going to sound the same driving the same speaker until they clip.
You’re a lucky person…and your wallet is lucky too.
It’s the lack of a dedicated listening room! Mine is the den which has a giant sectional on one wall and full of toddler toys. Those really help with the resonances.
This.
The room make a lot of difference to the sound and how you experience it.
At home. The difference between the Argon Audio SA1 and the Cambridge Audio CXA81 are small.
In a dedicated listening room in a hifi store. The difference between the Cambridge Audio CXA81 and the Hegel H95 are much bigger and more noticeable.
Your mind is playing tricks on you. If it costs more, it sounds better.
Please continue your audiophile training learning phrases such as: air, soundstage, spaciousness, dynamics, punch, clarity, and warmness.
I’ve had the same experience but basically don’t talk about it because people say I’m an idiot.
Pay for what you can hear and what you like.
I hear differences and I have preferences. Also synergy is needed for the pre and power amps.
Enjoy your journey to better music.
Yes it is ! And the whole hi-fi industry is a mockery ! Plot-twist: it is not.