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Transcendent Philosophy

Every designer has a philosophy that influences his work. This is a double edged sword. It can save a lot of time by channeling you in the right direction or it can prohibit you from finding the best solution if followed too closely. Here's my "Top Ten."

1. Fully 99% of the sonic characteristics reside in the design. Circuit topology controls everything. The designer manipulates inter stage impedances, time constants, signal headroom, feedback and many other parameters to achieve a desired result.

2. I totally reject all generally accepted audio convention, both past and present, regarding what should or should not be done. I care nothing of widespread beliefs governing feedback, class of amplifier operation, variety of tube, type of parts, arrangement of parts, circuit topology etc. I use whatever works best, period. All combinations are possible. Good results are solely the result of good implementation and that emanates from good design. You wouldn't tell a master chef he can't use oregano in a recipe. If he knows what he's doing, a delicious dish will result. Audio is the same. You just have to know what you're doing.

3.  The primary function of audio equipment is to express all of the information present in the program material to create as faithful, accurate, and realistic listening experience as possible with two channel stereo.  This includes all the excitement and emotion of the recording artist.  Coloration of any kind should not be tolerated.  

4. Reliability is everything.

5. Simplicity is the keynote of design. If it's not there, it can't break.

6. All audiophiles come equipped with the most important piece of test equipment there is, a pair of ears. The only person that the component has to please is the person using it. It's your system.

7. Audio gear should be designed to share space with human beings. It has to fit in a room and have space left over for people.

8. The less waste heat produced, the better. Most people don't live in Antarctica.

9. Mechanical transformer/chassis hum is just as undesirable as hum from the speaker if not more so.

10. Cost does not directly relate to performance. A superior design is one that achieves outstanding results at reasonable cost.

The best designs achieve extremely high performance at the lowest possible cost.  

That's how I feel about it!

Bruce Rozenblit