Meh, the cost differences are negligible. They might change some but overall, meh. Props to them though for doing more specific tuning, BUT it'd be neater if they were modular
(...) It's not a tube vs. solid state thing as there are a number of solid state amps with surprisingly high output impedances (and vice versa with tubes).
I know about SS amps from Ayre, DartZeel, a Lamm and D'Agostino's - but all around 0.3 ohm. Do you know of any SS amplifier having 0.5 ohm? I am looking for such amplifiers.
I can't answer your amp question off of the top of my head.
However, having seen Transparent's Lab in action first hand, I would suggest a couple of things about their cables:
- What manufacturers claim their output impedance to be and what it actually is can be very different.
- Transparent works to keep their database complete. Often times when a new amp comes out from a known manufacturer, Transparent borrows it for documentation.
- A stated impedance for example "about 0.3ohms" will get you in the ballpark for the lower line cables. There is much more measured precision than that on custom calibrations.
While cables are often used by audiophiles as tone controls, that has nothing to do with Transparent's goals.
Yes, I have measured a few and normally use the Stereophile or Soundstage measurements - IMHO one the every few useful amplifier measurements, as well as idle power, that tells me wow much I will suffer during hot summer days. For curious people the other nice measurement IMHO is input impedance.
BTW, there are different techniques for measuring output impedance that will result in different values.
Yes, I usually email them to ask or confirm. They are very helpful and friendly concerning in this aspect.
Most SS amplifiers have high damping factor - output impedance less than or around 0.1 ohm. A few have around 0.3 ohm. My cables are still tuned for the ARC REF 750 - a tube amplifier with exceptional low impedance for tubes at 0.5 ohm.
No, IMHO they are "energy" controls, but properly used do not affect tone. On the contrary, comparisons show that some other cables are real "tone controls".
There is a significate price jump for the same wire but a different tune on it. I was expecting more for ~2x the price.
Reference Level Pricing
1M Balanced Interconnect - $5,600
10ft. Speaker Cable - $8,070
XL Level Pricing
1M Balanced Interconnect - $11,000
10ft. Speaker Cable - $17,400
No doubt the more precise tune makes it sound better, but still. It's almost like they have a master tune (I.e Magnum Opus) , then created de-tuned / less accurate versions of it as you move down the stack.
There is a significate price jump for the same wire but a different tune on it. I was expecting more for ~2x the price.
(...)
No doubt the more precise tune makes it sound better, but still. It's almost like they have a master tune (I.e Magnum Opus) , then created de-tuned / less accurate versions of it as you move down the stack.
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