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Re: Tube Distortion and Bias ... a perspective

I think I agree, in that SET amps sound best....and not because the listener is inclined to accept high levels of even order distortion, but because of the inherent superiority of the devices and simplicity of circuitry involved. My experience indicates that either distortion is not absolutely inherent in triodes or SET circuits, or harmonic distortion is an invalid construct...a misdirection, if not outright bastardization of science.

This is also apparent when I listen to PP amps. Whether using triodes or pentodes, they always have a deliterious effect on the musical presentation. Although presenting what initially sounds clean and 'fast' they also sound constricted and dry by comparison to SET amps. The latter aspect seems directly proportional to degree of NFB in the circuit. The human result is a lack of involvement [loss of interest] or outright listener fatigue. But they do measure better....at least I have been lead to believe.

The other obvious variable [the elephant in the room] in any 'test' of an amp is the speaker. If you fail to utilize a sufficiently high quality, high sensitivity speaker or worse, you miss the point and your experiment fails. IMMHO.

The other, other obvious variable [flaw] in your test is your acceptance of CCS as a standard PS. If you really want to conduct the test of absolutes, you must rid your circuit of ALL compromises. I could pursue this aspect a long time.

Of course I could be wrong....but I don't think so since the ultimate test is on real subjects, with real ears. Or did I miss something? :)

Later
D

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