Coincidentally, yesterday (14th Feb in this part of the world) -- a timely coincidence as I only read the posts today.
A friend constructed a temporary 150Hz tractrix out of hard paper -- a 12hedron. This is not about the sound etc, the horn served for an application experiment -- inconsequential here (for info, it doesn't sound good, esp upper mids, as you probably expected).
The wife does not like the white paper, so we set to colour the horn, blue, inside & out. The sound effect changed. It's either the "magical blue" colour used, or simply that there is a different consistency, or whatever -- who cares at this junction. Frankly, I'm not suggesting anything more than that and nothing scientific -- this wasn't an experiment it was a painting session.
Shades of Julian Hirsch! ("All amplifiers that measure the same, sound the same.")
Rubbish! |
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Actually, this can be quite true. Depends how you take it. In fact, the statement can be seen as a tautology (or as an attention-seeking pronunciamento).
Most different (I mean model/product) amplifiers don't measure exactly the same anyway, and mostly the same amplifiers perform differently under different loads...*
Let's look at it this way: in theory, one can have amplifiers that measure exactly the same -- i.e. they're electrically and mechanically and otherwise (is there otherwise?) identical. So, "all identical amplifiers sound the same," and I would add "when used in identical applications".*
Or, put it this way to Mr Hirsch and others: "how same do "different" (models/product) amplifiers actually measure?" if you measure inside out?
Yesterday I was advised that apparently, "identical" amplifiers are not an easy thing to construct (the R&D of a large infrastructure supplier to Telcos and the defense sector is using some such devices at audio frequencies -- I don't know why and, frankly, I don't care).
Further: Taken outside MoronicTM conceptualisations, it follows from the quoted statement that, "amplifiers that do not measure the same may, or may not, sound different". Fascinating, groundbreaking observation!*
{BTW, this reminds me: aren't some people playing with "double triodes" in order to approach "identity" between two amplification channels?}
* "Disclaimer": admittedly and quite openly that I wish I could do away with the damn amplifiers and all the bs surrounding them. Likewise with the "de-amplifiers" (phono equalisers) which range from the miserable to the "not bad, really, hmmm"...
At least, with a speaker there is some ground for creative speculation and problems enough; but, no, we have to worry about that stupid amplification as well, and become rocket scientists regarding the applicability of each & every such stupid device in order to listen to some audio.
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