I am currently in negotiations to commission a generous member to build me a Meta 42 amp. I have all of the specs and details with the exception of choosing to have the amp with or without "crossfeed" circuitry.

I was wondering if some of the veterans could give me a better handle of not only what crossfeed is (I have a general idea), but also if it is something that you like/dislike or need/do not need within your amplification.

Thanks.

Here's a good explanation of what crossfeed does:

http://home.t-online.de/home/meier-audio/crossfeed.htm

Also worth a read on the subject of crossfeed is wordsworths review of PinkFloyds X-Feed device:
http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/showt...threadid=28040

Quick note on X-Feed. Some audiophiles scoff at the idea of adulterating the signal at all, "ruining" stereo separation by blending the 2 channels, and adding extra components to the signal path. X-feed is good if it can be completely defeated and removed from the signal path if it does not work for you.

Mark

The X-Feed device does not have a "defeat" switch. However, the obvious alternative is to unplug it if you don't like it. And in terms of risk it is certainly one of the least expensive tweaks I have tried in a while.

Quote:



welcome to head-fi, Dano
what does your audio chain contain (except the amp)?
i guess it's not top level, yet (wait a bit after, this place just follows insane upgrades)
mark has a point, but i think his point is something to consider when one has a really good gear. (he talks about degradation of quality just because of the crossfeed circuit, even when it's off)
at first, i think you will benefit from trying it and knowing what it is.
i find it easier to enjoy listening for long periods with x-feed, that's not less important then the current subtle quality loss IMO.
for some music types you might prefer it on, for others - off.

I find crossfeed useful if not essential when listening to (mostly older) recordings mastered with extreme stereo separation. The effect is not subtle on these recordings; crossfeed makes a huge difference. As markl noted, I'm sure the crossfeed circuitry in most amps has some affect on quality even when switched off, but to me the trade-off is worth it.

I believe many older recordings were mixed with the idea that they would be listened to on speakers, where "crossfeed" occurs naturally. Most recent recordings don't seem to have this problem, possibly due to the emergence and popularity of portable tape/CD/MD players and their attendant headphones.