MrCurwen
100+ Head-Fier
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- Dec 26, 2015
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The Citadel retains the speed of the Formula S but with a smoother feel on top. The harder feel I would characterize on solid state amps in general. I don’t think the sound signatures are quite the same but I suppose they could be similar if you took the Formula S and inserted a tube stage in the front end.
Before I give my comments I'd like to take an opportunity to thank everybody who has made reviews or even just some comments on their listening experiences, it is very interesting for me to read personally, and everybody has been very good with their words and descriptions. So thank you for making reviews and comments.
As to my response to the quote above, I would say no. The reason is that the harder feel is produced by a high use of gNFB. This produces low distortion, but at certain costs. I won't go into more detail here, but it is directly linked.
Now if you add a tube in front of this circuit, you don't remove that gNFB loop after it, so you don't remove the feel it produces.
The only way to change that feel is to not use gNFB at all. This opens up a world of new problems for the designer, presented with the scenario I personally made the choises I made.
But in conclusion it's not about what you add, but what tool you have used to achieve your goal. In the amp you describe the designer used gNFB and SS devices in amplification roles to achieve his goal of audio amplification, with all the upsides and downsides those come with.
Does anyone own either the Oblivion or Citadel as well as the GS-X mk2?
If so, do they share a good amount of similarities? I'm asking because I find more than a few some impressions reminding me of my GS-X mk2.
I google pic searched the insides of the GS-X mk2. Looking at that I'd say that amp does not share anything with Sonic's amps besides functioning as a driver for headphones, general purpose of circuit. Nothing else.
I don't see the connection between Oblivion and GSX mk2. Maybe speed and technicalities but treble on GSX mk2 has an etched grating quality to it where there is said to be just beautiful smooth treble on Oblivion. They might share a general neutral to bright trend in sound although I bet GSX mk2 is brighter.
Yes that etched grating quality is caused, again, by high use of gNFB. Only way to avoid that signature is to design open loop, not use gNFB at all.