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Do AMPs actually vary in sound signature or is that snake oil? (alien.top)

submitted 10 months ago by General-Wrap-7858@alien.top to c/headphones@hi-fi.community

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I've seen people state both that they so not influence the tuning as long as they deliver the same power and others stating that they can make headphones "sound warmer" or "brighter". I don't see how that would happen though and a lot of audiophiles just hear things that I feel aren't there, like some noise difference between the Apple DAC Dongle and a 500 EUR DAC using an off the rack chip.

Take this comment from ASR:

Amps are more likely to make an audible difference than most DACs, but that certainly doesn't mean there are audible differences between most amps

I'm talking purely about AMPs here, not a DAC combination.

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[–] AlexandraYume@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

amps do make a difference and do add their own "flavor" to it. its processing the signal after all.

even while staying on the same type of amp. (Tube Amps drastically alter the sound)

its usually minimal tho.

i recently switches my Schiit Asgard 3 for a Topping A70 Pro and noticed my music sounding different. Friends confirmed it too.

The Asgard did make it sound a bit warmer while also seemingly making low end a bit more powerful.

The Topping sounded much more "reserved" and analytical. I could hear things I didnt notice before. So I traded fun sound for super clean analytical sound in my case.

And yes. using the same DAC (schiit bifrost 2), same cables (pyst rca) and headphone (Hifiman Edition XS)