solderdude
Grand Contributor
The 'feeling of being more dynamic' is caused by the higher gain.
In fact... amps like this cannot possibly be 'more or less dynamic' as these amps both are equally linear in amplification. This is evident by the very low distortion.
Amps like this do not 'compress' at all so the dynamics cannot possibly be affected.
L30-II high gain = 16.5dB, L50 = 13.9dB so L30-II should have higher gain, L30 has much lower gain.
L50 has 4V out on balanced and 2V out on SE so there is 6dB level difference right there.
When comparing these amps you should lower the volume of the amp with the highest gain a little so that they have the same gain and then use digital volume control to adjust volume when you want to compare amps.
Or... use both in medium gain setting (L30-II 0dB gain and L50 -0.2dB gain) as the difference should be smaller.
Also there cannot possibly be any audible difference between RCA and balanced connections. The only real difference that can occur is that the balanced connection may have less 'unwanted' noise/hum when a ground loop exists.
It is quite logical you hear (perceive) all of this but that is not due to 'balanced' connections nor 1 amp being 'less dynamic' somehow but level differences.
When you would be talking about completely different designs (one being tube amp or having unusually high output R) then there might have been some merit in your observations. However, the L50 is the same circuit using the same components just balanced.
Perceived difference in dynamics is level determined, actual (electrical) dynamics is amplification linearity (not FR linearity) dependent and can be measured/shown.
In fact... amps like this cannot possibly be 'more or less dynamic' as these amps both are equally linear in amplification. This is evident by the very low distortion.
Amps like this do not 'compress' at all so the dynamics cannot possibly be affected.
L30-II high gain = 16.5dB, L50 = 13.9dB so L30-II should have higher gain, L30 has much lower gain.
L50 has 4V out on balanced and 2V out on SE so there is 6dB level difference right there.
When comparing these amps you should lower the volume of the amp with the highest gain a little so that they have the same gain and then use digital volume control to adjust volume when you want to compare amps.
Or... use both in medium gain setting (L30-II 0dB gain and L50 -0.2dB gain) as the difference should be smaller.
Also there cannot possibly be any audible difference between RCA and balanced connections. The only real difference that can occur is that the balanced connection may have less 'unwanted' noise/hum when a ground loop exists.
It is quite logical you hear (perceive) all of this but that is not due to 'balanced' connections nor 1 amp being 'less dynamic' somehow but level differences.
When you would be talking about completely different designs (one being tube amp or having unusually high output R) then there might have been some merit in your observations. However, the L50 is the same circuit using the same components just balanced.
Perceived difference in dynamics is level determined, actual (electrical) dynamics is amplification linearity (not FR linearity) dependent and can be measured/shown.
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