Mastersound PF100 PSET Amplifier

[Atmasphere]

Only above a certain level…below that level it is inaudible.

That is the same argument that the solid state measurement people like to make.

It does not work that way for them and does not work that way for you or anyone else. Distortion is a modifier. It is not a separate signal.

It does indeed color the sound, less so at lower volumes, and its always there.

Put another way, the distortion of any amplifier is its 'sonic signature' plain and simple. For that reason its best to keep whatever distortion as benign as possible. The only really 'benign' distortion is the 2nd and 3rd.

 

[morricab]

That is the same argument that the solid state measurement people like to make.

It does not work that way for them and does not work that way for you or anyone else. Distortion is a modifier. It is not a separate signal.

It does indeed color the sound, less so at lower volumes, and its always there.

Put another way, the distortion of any amplifier is its 'sonic signature' plain and simple. For that reason its best to keep whatever distortion as benign as possible. The only really 'benign' distortion is the 2nd and 3rd.

Wrong, 2nd order is heavily masked by the ear/brain….high order low level distortion harmonics are not masked effectively…big difference

 

[PYP]

thoughts on this tube alternative?

Application notes for Nutube | Nutube

Nutube, similar to a conventional vacuum tube, has an anode grid filament structure, and operates exactly as a triode vacuum tube. Also similar to a vacuum tube, it creates the same characteristic rich overtones. By applying their vacuum fluorescent display technology, Noritake Itron Corp., a...

www.korgnutube.com

 

[Atmasphere]

Wrong, 2nd order is heavily masked by the ear/brain….high order low level distortion harmonics are not masked effectively…big difference

Agree to disagree on this one. I think you missed my point though.
Edit: the more I think of it, the more I'm sure of it. I'm not talking about high order low level harmonics so much as I am pointing out that distortion in general, regardless of what kind is audible as a tonality. In just the same manner as musical instruments get their tone colors. So yes, a 2nd is audible in that manner.

 

[Republicoftexas69]

thoughts on this tube alternative?

Application notes for Nutube | Nutube

Nutube, similar to a conventional vacuum tube, has an anode grid filament structure, and operates exactly as a triode vacuum tube. Also similar to a vacuum tube, it creates the same characteristic rich overtones. By applying their vacuum fluorescent display technology, Noritake Itron Corp., a...

www.korgnutube.com

Interesting, I have seen where these are being used in some hybrid amplifiers and integrated amplifiers.

 

[morricab]

Agree to disagree on this one. I think you missed my point though.
Edit: the more I think of it, the more I'm sure of it. I'm not talking about high order low level harmonics so much as I am pointing out that distortion in general, regardless of what kind is audible as a tonality. In just the same manner as musical instruments get their tone colors. So yes, a 2nd is audible in that manner.

You can think about it how you want but most studies are clear that masking is inaudible

 

[PYP]

Interesting, I have seen where these are being used in some hybrid amplifiers and integrated amplifiers.

do you remember which ones? Might be interesting to read user reactions. Thanks.

Info on their evaluation board:
A board that can select 4 levels of Nutube harmonics

• Nutube harmonics can be selected.(4 levels of distortion: approximately [1]:0.015%, [2]: 0.1%, [3]: 0.3%, [4]: 1%)
• Equipped with a switch that allows bypassing the Nutube.(Easy switching between “with” and “without” Nutube.)
• Equipped with an output volume control Nutube VOLUME so it can be used as a Nutube buffer.

 

[Republicoftexas69]

do you remember which ones? Might be interesting to read user reactions. Thanks.

Info on their evaluation board:
A board that can select 4 levels of Nutube harmonics

• Nutube harmonics can be selected.(4 levels of distortion: approximately [1]:0.015%, [2]: 0.1%, [3]: 0.3%, [4]: 1%)
• Equipped with a switch that allows bypassing the Nutube.(Easy switching between “with” and “without” Nutube.)
• Equipped with an output volume control Nutube VOLUME so it can be used as a Nutube buffer.

Class D Power Amplifiers | High efficiency for an ideal sound

The most customizable Class D power amplifiers. Hypex and Purifi Audio technology. Specific design input buffer with very low noise voltage regulators.

atm-audio.com

 

[Atmasphere]

You can think about it how you want but most studies are clear that masking is inaudible

You misunderstand- masking does make the quieter sound inaudible. But think about it: masking is the principle where the louder sound masks the presence of the quieter sound; in this case the 2nd as opposed to the higher ordered harmonics.

 

[morricab]

You misunderstand- masking does make the quieter sound inaudible. But think about it: masking is the principle where the louder sound masks the presence of the quieter sound; in this case the 2nd as opposed to the higher ordered harmonics.

No, the fundamental masks the 2nd and so on if there is a monotonic decay. The fundamental does progressively worse at masking higher harmonics and if there is no 2nd higher than 3rd and no 3rd higher than fourth…then higher orders are exposed and highly audible.

 

[Atmasphere]

No, the fundamental masks the 2nd and so on if there is a monotonic decay. The fundamental does progressively worse at masking higher harmonics and if there is no 2nd higher than 3rd and no 3rd higher than fourth…then higher orders are exposed and highly audible.

There isn't a facepalm emoji on this site and right here I need one; lacking that I'm going with 'sheesh!' You are forgetting that distortion modifies the sound, so the result is the tone color of the instrument(s) being reproduced is altered accordingly. Ask any luthier about this: tone colors are caused by harmonics.