CHANGSTAR: Audiophile Headphone Reviews and Early 90s Style BBS

Lobby => Headphone Measurements => Topic started by: raif on March 14, 2012, 05:42:02 PM

Title: Amplifier Measurements?
Post by: raif on March 14, 2012, 05:42:02 PM
First off, love the site.  I have already wasted hours reading through everything.
Second, my apologies if this has been broached before elsewhere.

Have you guys considered doing some amplifier measurements?

I have always had issues discerning the difference between 2 well implemented amplifiers, most likely due to the low levels at which I tend to listen.  Despite that, claims seem to abound about how much Amp A improves Headphone X over Amp B.

I was thinking that if this indeed true, shouldn't it be able to be measured?  Is the problem that the difference might be audible to a listener but below the threshold of the standard error when measuring the headphone's response?

Anyways I would assume that with the same source and headphones, one could do a set of measurements with 2 different amplifiers and then compare the resultant frequency response, thd, etc.  Maybe also do it at different volume levels.

What do you guys think?  Am I missing something obvious?


Title: Re: Amplifier Measurements?
Post by: Marvey on March 14, 2012, 06:13:33 PM
In time. Headphones themselves are a big task!
Title: Re: Amplifier Measurements?
Post by: Anaxilus. on March 14, 2012, 08:58:47 PM
This is a big deal and we've discussed it immensely.  Too much on the plate atm but rest assured we are just as interested as anyone else in delving deeper into the matter.
Title: Re: Amplifier Measurements?
Post by: raif on March 15, 2012, 05:21:53 AM
Ah, it is good to know that you have it on your radar.

I have the sinking sensation that at my normal listening levels, the measured differences between properly designed amplifiers are going to be comparable in magnitude to the results of Tyll's burn-in experiment.  I am still not sure though which direction I am hoping it goes.

On the one hand I would love an excuse to buy something like the Electra that Craig is cooking up(love the EC aesthetic!) on the other, the $3 - $6k it takes to get one of the beast Stax amps is a boatload of cash.