Bruce, this is indeed part of the additional studies that I'd love to see to solve the curious riddle of both the subjective and objective assessments that have been done to date. If I may summarize these succinctly:
1) Subjective: Both Steve and I found similar differences the preamp volume settings that yielded similar SPL levels with and without the Typhons in his system. We believe that a volume setting of 10 on his Lamm preamp with the Typhons in the system, provided a similar SPL to a volume setting of about 13 without the Typhons. This is with ordinary music and two listeners. It is an approximation but appears consistent.
2) Objective: When we ran a pink noise signal into the system, the difference in SPL between a "10" setting and a "13" setting was about 4dB. That is not surprising. However, when we simply left the volume control at 1 setting and connected and disconnected the Typhons, the difference in SPL was about 1db. (This seems to be confirmed by at least one other member. About the only thing you can say about an n=2 in both cases, is that its probably better than an n=1, but let's not get get carried away about accuracy and reproducibility. Like the subjective findings with 2 listeners, all we can say is that the objective results were similar between 2 totally different systems).
Therefore, we have some nominal data that suggests something other than the simple addition of the Typhons accounts for a perceptual change of about 4dB which cannot be accounted for by a 1dB objective SPL change between the presence or absence of the Typhons. As you suggest, further studies are required. To begin, I'd like to see not only amplifier output measured, but gain and sensitivity as well. The same would be true for the pre-amp and for the combined system as a whole. These are not difficult studies to do but Steve does not have resources to do them. Other members might. Caelin surely does but apparently does not wish to comment at this time (perhaps due to ongoing lab studies of his own). Suffice it to say, it is a great mystery to me and I believe the answer is probably straight forward once the proper studies are performed. What I'm pretty certain of, and to which I think we would all agree, is that I doubt the addition of the Typhons causes the pre-amp or amplifier to more than slightly double its voltage output for the same voltage input (which would be required to get a 4dB increase in the system). That would sort of be the equivalent of discovering a perpetual motion machine which simply means don't bet the ranch on this option- the answer surely lies elsewhere. But as to what the hell exactly accounts for these curious observations, I presently have no idea! I'd love to see some solid voltage measurements to get more clarity.
. I'm left handed and Marty is right handed. On the count of 3 with my left and his right hand we simultaneously unplugged the left and right channels from the AC duplex in which each amp was plugged without turning off the amps
