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#1
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Damping Factor?
When considering amplifiers, how important is the stat of the "damping factor" to the overall quality of sound and the amplifier?
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Magico M3 Mcintosh 601 monos Boulder 2110 Pre Nordost Odin 2 cabling Clearaudio Master Innovation with Goldfinger cartridge Esoteric E03 phono Esoteric D02X Esoteric P02X Aurender W20 HRS SXR-Signature 4V X 2 rack Incoming: Magico Q15 subs (2) |
#2
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Certainly not a sole criteria by which one should select an amplifier.
It's a bit much to type to go into detail but there are other factors at play such as the ultra low output impedance of an amplifier which produces high damping numbers (damping factor is amplifier output impedance to speaker impedance ratio) Such amplifiers often use tons of negative feedback which in itself is a whole other can or worms... Then there is that whole thing of what I hear and prefer vs what you hear and prefer. Some will find an accurate bass "dry"... Others will find a tuneful, analog like bass bloated... What do you have in mind more specifically? |
#3
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Well I have noticed that some manufacturers display this number and some don’t. To my understanding it is a quantitative assessment of how well the amplifier controls the driver once the signal stops. To my understanding, this basically equates to how well the amplifier controls the woofers.
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Magico M3 Mcintosh 601 monos Boulder 2110 Pre Nordost Odin 2 cabling Clearaudio Master Innovation with Goldfinger cartridge Esoteric E03 phono Esoteric D02X Esoteric P02X Aurender W20 HRS SXR-Signature 4V X 2 rack Incoming: Magico Q15 subs (2) |
#4
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Quote:
I personally never liked amplifiers with very high negative feedback, (or at least I have yet to hear one) in general and comparing to amplifiers that used zero negative feedback and not nearly the same damping factor, the later sounded much more analog and natural when it came to bass response. Of course the speaker itself plays a significant role here. The damping factor is akin to the total harmonic distortion numbers that some manufacturers tend to boast... We all know that is certainly not the most important factor. Here is a brief article that may shed some light on the topic for you. http://www.butleraudio.com/damping1.php |
#5
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From the article above:
"When I get a letter from someone who is worried about buying a certain amplifier because it has a specified damping factor of "only" 15 to 16, I can't help but remember an old, old joke. It goes like this: A scientist is giving a public lecture. During the course of his speech, he predicts that in 100 billion years human life will become extinct. A man in the audience, obviously upset, asks the lecturer to repeat the statement. "I said", quotes the professor, "that in one hundred billion years, human life will no longer exist." "Oh, thank goodness", replies the man, much relieved, "I thought you said one-hundred million!". |
#6
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Well stated Serge! Mostly damping factor (amplifier output impedance) isn't really relevant.
There is one sonic artifact of really low damping factor (high amplifier output impedance). Some loudspeakers have very large impedance swings themselves. One example is electrostatic loudspeakers whose impedance at high frequencies can dip below 1 ohm. In this case an amplifier with a low damping factor (high output impedance), typically a tube amplifier, would sound dull or rolled off driving this type of speaker. Some conventional speakers have big impedance swings as well, so using a tube amplifier with these speakers can act as a sort of tone control. This is one of the reasons why amplifiers that measure the same can sound different driving real world speakers. Tom
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Main System: Amati Futura Mains Amati Homage VOX Center, Proac Response 1sc Rears, Three MC2301's for L,C,R MC 602 for the rears C 1100, MX 151, MCD 1100, MR 80 Nottingham Dais with Wave Mechanic Sumiko Palo Santos Presentation SurfacePro 3, RPi 4, ROON, WW Starlight Platinum USB, Schiit Yggdrasil, Benchmark DAC3 HGC MX 151, OppO BDP-95, JVC RS-500 DILA projector, 106" diagonal Stewart Luxus Screenwall Deluxe with Studiotek 130 G3 material. Lake House: Ohm F, MC 275V, C2300, MR 77, Rega P3 OnDeck: McIntosh MAC 4300v |
#7
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Quote:
Worse yet, making a switch only to be dissatisfied because the magic is suddenly gone but hey, it's all about being faithful to the recorded music... Sometimes being a "purist" just doesn't pay off. |
#8
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Thanks for the response guys. I was being led in the wrong way about this damping factor business.
Thanks for the clarifications!
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Magico M3 Mcintosh 601 monos Boulder 2110 Pre Nordost Odin 2 cabling Clearaudio Master Innovation with Goldfinger cartridge Esoteric E03 phono Esoteric D02X Esoteric P02X Aurender W20 HRS SXR-Signature 4V X 2 rack Incoming: Magico Q15 subs (2) |
#9
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Looking for another amp for the inbound Magico speakers?
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#10
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Serge, you got it!
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Magico M3 Mcintosh 601 monos Boulder 2110 Pre Nordost Odin 2 cabling Clearaudio Master Innovation with Goldfinger cartridge Esoteric E03 phono Esoteric D02X Esoteric P02X Aurender W20 HRS SXR-Signature 4V X 2 rack Incoming: Magico Q15 subs (2) |
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