Dismayed
Senior Member
Nice review, Amir. Thank you.
That's my plan. Now that I have a decent set of tests, I can do a better job on that.Magni 3 needs to be compared vs JDSLabs Objective2.
What’s the point of distortions in the first place? The AHB2 is a close to zero distortion box. Why not try and improve those AHB2 specs incl. size and heat, instead of taking comfort from mediocrity?
It is a big puzzle. I opened the Magni and there is no sign of that! Maybe was my imagination!Nice test! What do you think caused the smoke to come out?
I just put the cursor on it and there is only one deviation >0.1 db (at 0.15) which occurs at -115 dB. It goes back to -0.09 after that so it is remarkably good. I plan to get the same result on their latest box to see if it does better.P.S. by the 0.1 db criteria it looks like your AP fails perfect linearity somewhere between 105 and 115 db.
He has and does design many different topologies of amplifiers. He found if I understand him correctly that a superbly well done triode with these characteristics was the gold standard in his opinion.That's what I'd say, too, if I found that my amplifier did that.
I wouldn't!If one wished for the sound of 300B's
Sure.Amir, if you still have the lyr, can you check DC offset? There has been some controversy with that and schiit amps in the past.
I don't know yet. Will try to tease out its architecture once I tear it down. I see four power transistors mounted to the chassis so that may be the case.Also, schiit states that this is a hybrid tube amplifier. Does that mean the tubes are only used for gain?
I think Dr. Lamm's idea is the sound of a triode well designed is subjectively more pleasing than straight wire with gain. If you accept that premise, then the question is what parameters within what limits maximize the pleasing quality. Some designs have frequency regions where distortion is different than others leading to chameleon that satisfies on some music and interferes with others. Some have distortion that acts sort of tube like before eventually rocketing upward much like SS does. Some transformers have deficiencies that interact with these. His determination was you need even distortion at a given power level across the audible band and gently progressively rising THD up to some modest level of distortion at max output. Manage this and you'll be rewarded with the pleasing seemingly clear, clean, enjoyable result. Something artfully colored in a way you can't notice, and something that has the hardly noticed color to enhance reality. So the point of the right distortion done in the right way is he (many or at least some) find it more pleasure than pure high fidelity distortionless reproduction.
Or in more modern cynical parlance, the right distortion is a feature and not a bug.
Sure.
I don't know yet. Will try to tease out its architecture once I tear it down. I see four power transistors mounted to the chassis so that may be the case.
I guess I don’t buy the premise of euphonic distortion.
That is, however, more of an intellectual stand. In reality, I suppose I would like many an intentionally distorted setup!
That's a good suggestion. I do have a thermal imager but changed phones and the new one has USB-C which doesn't mate with it. I thought I ordered an adapter cable but don't remember for sure. Will check.