My first tube integrated amp max $500 new/used

This emphasis on harmonic distortion is completely unfounded. Of all types of currently measured distortion, harmonic distortion is the most consonant with the musical signal. Why, because the distortion products are harmonically related to the fundamental, just as a given instruments unique sound is related to the harmonics that it produces along with the fundamental tone. Is this distortion good? Hell no, but it is in unison with the music itself. Most other amplifier distortions are not musically related such as intermodulation distortion, transient intermodulation distortion, crossover, or notch distortion (only found in push pull amps of course), slewing induced distortion, typical clipping, etc. and this, by definition, makes these distortions amusical. So why the focus on harmonic distortion? Because in the dark days, it was the first measureable distortion in amps. Here is a great case of the measurement technique defining the importance of the distortion rather than the actual audible effect defining the hirearchy. Harmonic distortion specs are, at best, a one dimensional look at amp performanance and, at worst, a crutch for not looking deeper into the causes of psychoacoustic effects. A great proof of this can be found on Stereophile's Test CD2 which demonstates the effects of added harmonic distortion of the second, third and seventh harmonics. As I point out above, one quickly sees that an amp with .02% harmonic distortion of the seventh harmonic will sound much steelier than an amp with .02% harmonic distortion of the second harmonic, and that all harmonic distortion is more tolerable than IM or other distortions. Most people have not even tried to personally correlate the measurements with audible phenomena, much less understand the science.

Boy, has this thread gotten sidetracked. For once though, it's not my fault : )

All i will say is that if Didactically wants low distortion measurements, we'll give him a system with 100 dB's of negative feedback that is extremely bandwidth limited. The "typical" spec's over that bandwidth will look phenomenal but it will sound like hell.

There's a LOT more to spec's than just "distortion". How and why the distortions are occuring are just as important as the type and quantities of distortions that are measurable. Without having a full bevy of properly conducted test results at one's disposal, a limited quantity of the spec's that most manufacturers typically provide is near useless. Low distortion and all. Sean
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Those who deny the obvious indication of the measured degree of distortion to the source signal by amplifying it sufficiently to operate a specific speaker driver, also claim that more important is how a component, or the system in total sound's to you, and usually use the term 'good', whatever that means. No one of them has been willing to define 'good'.

I have rather adopted the notion, 'true to the original', and evaluate components, and speaker setup, by the degree of realism in playback.

For instance, you can listen to the sourse material with reference earphones (Shure ER2, $100) and compare to what you hear in your room. It can be disappointing, but like Dr Phil says, 'you cannot change what you do not acknowledge'.

'Regrettably, much misinformation and outright nonsense have been spread to promote certain "high-end audio" products. The power of suggestion works exceedingly well, when listeners cannot trust their own hearing. I recommend to re-calibrate yourself frequently. Listen closely to all sorts of un-amplified sounds in order to recognize and remember natural aural patterns. It becomes an endless and futile pursuit to listen for and try to evaluate differences between speakers, equipment and accessories without a reality based mental reference.'

Like a mirrior is to Dracula, so the double blind test is to the 'connoisser of coloration'.

That is my position, and I am sticking to it.

Hey your Dida. you said you weren't reading my posts any more, your a troll of the highest order.

Didactically,
You have made your position clear in every thread that you have taken off course. But what exactly is your objective? To convert people to your way of thinking? To have your voice be heard in this chaotic and bustling world? What are you ultimately trying to accomplish by taking every thread in which you respond into a realm that has nothing to do with the question being posed? Could you possibly just answer the actual question being asked? For once? Maybe?