Richard Clark's $10,000 amplifier challenge..?

[rwnano]

https://web.archive.org/web/20130716171611/http://tom-morrow-land.com/tests/ampchall
Richard Clark has an open amplifier challenge.

Richard Clark $10,000 Amplifier Challenge FAQ​

by Tom Morrow​

Written 6/2006

The Richard Clark Amp Challenge is a listening test intended to show that as long as a modern audio amplifier is operated within its linear range (below clipping), the differences between amps are inaudible to the human ear. Because thousands of people have taken the test, the test is significant to the audiophile debate over audibility of amplifier differences. This document was written to summarize what the test is, and answer common questions about the test. Richard Clark was not involved in writing this document.

 

[reignofchaos]

I call this a whole load of BS

 

[Yelamanchili manohar]

https://web.archive.org/web/20130716171611/http://tom-morrow-land.com/tests/ampchall
Richard Clark has an open amplifier challenge.

Richard Clark $10,000 Amplifier Challenge FAQ​

by Tom Morrow​

Written 6/2006

The Richard Clark Amp Challenge is a listening test intended to show that as long as a modern audio amplifier is operated within its linear range (below clipping), the differences between amps are inaudible to the human ear. Because thousands of people have taken the test, the test is significant to the audiophile debate over audibility of amplifier differences. This document was written to summarize what the test is, and answer common questions about the test. Richard Clark was not involved in writing this document.

All amps sound the same, like all well designed dacs sound the same. Do all speakers sound the same too .

 

[keith_correa]

All amps sound the same, like all well designed dacs sound the same. Do all speakers sound the same too .

From the article:​

Does this mean that there is no audible difference between sources, or between speakers?​

No. There are listening tests that show small but significant differences among some sources (for instance early CD players versus modern CD players). And speakers typically have 25% or more harmonic distortion. Most everyone agrees that differences among speakers are audible.

 

[Passive_audio_enthusiast]

All amps sound the same, like all well designed dacs sound the same. Do all speakers sound the same too .

Actually if they measure the same they all would sound the same. If not, they all will sound different. If it measures the same and sounds different, then it’s simply placebo, playing games with the mind.

But in many occasions when people claim a difference, they are right probably right because if we deep dive we would still see some parameters not similar between their individual measurements. With speakers, even small variations in directivity would end up having an easily perceivable difference at a far away listening spot even though they sound similar on axis at near field. With electronics, we need a larger difference in parameters to perceive a audible difference

 

[hifimaddy]

https://web.archive.org/web/20130716171611/http://tom-morrow-land.com/tests/ampchall
Richard Clark has an open amplifier challenge.

Richard Clark $10,000 Amplifier Challenge FAQ​

by Tom Morrow​

Written 6/2006

The Richard Clark Amp Challenge is a listening test intended to show that as long as a modern audio amplifier is operated within its linear range (below clipping), the differences between amps are inaudible to the human ear. Because thousands of people have taken the test, the test is significant to the audiophile debate over audibility of amplifier differences. This document was written to summarize what the test is, and answer common questions about the test. Richard Clark was not involved in writing this document.

 

[Yelamanchili manohar]

Actually if they measure the same they all would sound the same. If not, they all will sound different. If it measures the same and sounds different, then it’s simply placebo, playing games with the mind.

I dont want to spend my precious little time debating. But here is my take on this. Why do we use sniffer dogs in airports and in key covert operations....... because their smelling ability is beyond the measuring gear we can manufacture.

In my book, same applies to audio gear. There is more to what our ears are hearing and the brain interpreting than we can currently measure. I hear differences, very very clearly between amps, speakers and recently cables as well. And i would like to stick with my opinion that everything that matters, cannot presently be measured. And only what matters is my hearing experience. Audio is like a religion, and we all have our own beliefs. So Iam not trying to convince others, but i find blaming placebo to the differences in gear, rather than admitting to the limitations of our measurements, rather funny.

 

[Passive_audio_enthusiast]

I dont want to spend my precious little time debating. But here is my take on this. Why do we use sniffer dogs in airports and in key covert operations....... because their smelling ability is beyond the measuring gear we can manufacture.

In my book, same applies to audio gear. There is more to what our ears are hearing and the brain interpreting than we can currently measure. I hear differences, very very clearly between amps, speakers and recently cables as well. And i would like to stick with my opinion that everything that matters, cannot presently be measured. And only what matters is my hearing experience. Audio is like a religion, and we all have our own beliefs. So Iam not trying to convince others, but i find blaming placebo to the differences in gear, rather than admitting to the limitations of our measurements, rather funny.

I did not say you cannot hear the differences. I said you hear the differences because they measure differently. And when you swap amps which do not measure identical in all parameters you hear a difference. Simple

 

[Nagaraj S]

And… one more!

Matrix HiFi --> Blind testing high end full equipments

 

[reignofchaos]

I did not say you cannot hear the differences. I said you hear the differences because they measure differently. And when you swap amps which do not measure identical in all parameters you hear a difference. Simple

You measure test signals. It will only tell what the amp does with test signals. IMHO, there is very little correlation between how an amp measures with test signals vs how the amp measures with real music which is way more complex. Measurements are only to confirm that the amp is wired properly and has no obvious issues.

Two similar measuring devices can sound entirely different - that is my experience.

 

[arj]

https://web.archive.org/web/20130716171611/http://tom-morrow-land.com/tests/ampchall
Richard Clark has an open amplifier challenge.

Richard Clark $10,000 Amplifier Challenge FAQ​

by Tom Morrow​

Written 6/2006

The Richard Clark Amp Challenge is a listening test intended to show that as long as a modern audio amplifier is operated within its linear range (below clipping), the differences between amps are inaudible to the human ear. Because thousands of people have taken the test, the test is significant to the audiophile debate over audibility of amplifier differences. This document was written to summarize what the test is, and answer common questions about the test. Richard Clark was not involved in writing this document.

Who is this Richard Clark ? never heard of him before.

 

[AJAX]

You measure test signals. It will only tell what the amp does with test signals. IMHO, there is very little correlation between how an amp measures with test signals vs how the amp measures with real music which is way more complex. Measurements are only to confirm that the amp is wired properly and has no obvious issues.

Two similar measuring devices can sound entirely different - that is my experience.

Oh, you should definitely pass the test then, lol. I mean, no way did you just read that on the internet.

 

[arj]

Very funnily this is the exact Opposite of Bob Carvers challenge where he says one amp can be voiced as another ergo they sound different

The Carver Challenge

Is it possible to make a $700 "mainstream-audio" power amplifier sound exactly like a high-priced perfectionist amplifier? Bob Carver, of Carver Corporation, seemed to think he could, so we challenged him to prove it.

www.stereophile.com

This challenge was in 2006. I hope no one takes this too far and tries to identify a speeding truck and car on an expressway blindfolded...