Amplifiers and Superlatives

An Examination of American Claims for Improving Linearity and Efficiency

By D. T. N. WILLIAMSON and P. J. WALKER

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Recent articles, particularly in the United States, have shown that some confusion of thought exists about the "goodness" of an amplifier for reproducing sound. This has been accompanied by a debasement of the terms used to describe the properties of an amplifier; words that have a precise meaning when standing alone become meaningless when qualified by superlatives. This article, which starts with a discussion of what constitutes a good amplifier, attempts to clear up some misconceptions and generally to clarify the position.