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In the Forum: Melquiades Amplifier
In the Thread: To drive the 6C33C...
Post Subject: Distortions sound goodPosted by hagtech on: 3/21/2006
I think there is a definate trend here regarding distortions that cannot be ignored. Guy, you pointed out some excessive 2nd order harmonics with the Melq bias point. Hey, maybe so. I haven't really looked into this tube - but I just might. Been wondering how to make a decent SET, didn't want to get into 2000V region.
Anyway, the trend here is the same as for the phonostage (corrector, whatever). The EAR834 input tube has similar distortion characteristic at its bias point. After many years, Romy has come to enjoy this style of amplification. If I read his words correctly, the sound of these machines brings him more emotion and connection with the music and musicians. An admiral goal. Who the heck cares about distortion numbers when you have this?
The question in my mind is how best to implement this. My preference is to put the 'character' in the power amplifier. It should be synergistic with the speaker/crossover in delivering power with the appropriate sound and emotion. That leaves the sources and linestage to act as clean and pure machines that do not add anything to this characteristic - lest is add too much or erase some. My point is thus: you have to be careful about polarity or the 'goodness' can be erased. Two gain stages (lets call them phono and power) in series must work together. If one of them inverts polarity, then 2nd order distortion turns into 3rd, etc.
Romy, a simple test. You obviously have it correct as it is. If there is a way to invert polarity between the phono and power stages, I predict your ears will bleed from the harshness. Easy with balanced interconnects. But anyway, this is a thought experiment. I certainly don't expect anyone to modify their gear to satisfy my curiosity.
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