Here is a summary of the potential effects of using a cheap amplifier on sound quality:
Key Points
- Cheap amps can lack power, current, and headroom to properly drive speakers, resulting in distortion or weak bass.
- Inferior components lead to higher noise, hum, and interference compared to quality amps.
- Cheap amps often have higher distortion and poorer frequency response linearity.
- Underpowered amps clip more easily at high volumes, damaging speakers over time.
- Quality amps better control speaker behavior and damping for improved transient response.
- High-end amps may have lower noise floors, better channel separation, and other subtle benefits.
- However, cheap amps can still sound decent for casual listening if matched well to efficient speakers played at moderate volumes.
Considerations
- The speakers, source material, and room acoustics also greatly affect overall sound quality.
- Cheap amps may be sufficient for secondary systems or background music applications.
- Prioritize spending on speakers first, then allocate budget for the best amp you can afford.
- Any amp weak points can be more apparent on revealing, audiophile-grade speaker systems.
In summary, while premium amps offer concrete performance advantages, cheaper amps can still provide enjoyable sound if used wisely. Focus first on speakers, then get the best amp your budget allows.
Citations:
[1] https://youtube.com/watch?v=8g626WzxSgI
[2] https://www.reddit.com/r/audiophile/comments/ki30th/general_discussion_amplifierreceiver_impact_on/
[3] https://www.reddit.com/r/audiophile/comments/16edcbl/do_cheaper_amps_really_outperform_more_expensive/
[4] https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php
[5] https://www.avforums.com/threads/how-much-of-an-influence-is-made-to-the-sound-by-power-amps.2162073/
[6] https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/sound-quality-impact-preamp-vs-power-amp