In Reply to: Hence the use of the term "minimum" posted by E-Stat on February 14, 2024 at 13:28:59:
I don't think there really are any audio circuits with zero feedback - those without global feedback probably have local degeneration. The closest I can think of is a single-ended triode, which hardly qualifies for the moniker 'linear'. And is there really anything wrong with global negative feedback? Not AFAIK, providing it is properly designed. We know feedback suppresses errors added in the amplification process yet I am not aware of any well reasoned argument why it is a bad thing. If you haven't read Bruno Putzey's 'F-Word' I have linked it below. He hypothesizes why feedback has such a low approval rating in the audiophile world. If the technical stuff is not of interest I recommend everyone to read the 'Backlash' section commentary.The conundrum, to me, is 'does low/no feedback sound preferable' because of something bad that global feedback does or is it because it does not fully suppress errors that are perceived as 'character' and give the audiophile something to fixate upon? Is a true distortion-less sound just bland?
Another thought, Putzeys is adamant that as much feedback be used as possible. This, IMHO, is not trivial any may be beyond the abilities of many/most audio(phile) designers who add 'just enough' feedback - that may be worse than adding none.
Edits: 02/14/24 02/14/24 02/14/24
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Follow Ups
- Feedback conundrum - 13th Duke of Wymbourne 16:29:31 02/14/24 (10)
- Hence the use of the term "applied" - E-Stat 06:21:15 02/15/24 (0)
- RE: Feedback - Part 4 - tketcham 04:35:09 02/15/24 (7)
- A nice summary and exemplary non-guruship - 13th Duke of Wymbourne 11:45:33 02/15/24 (0)
- RE: Feedback - Part 4 - Story 06:09:53 02/15/24 (5)
- RE: Feedback - Part 4 - 13th Duke of Wymbourne 11:56:24 02/15/24 (4)
- RE: Feedback - Part 4 - morricab 07:24:38 02/16/24 (3)
- Sort of-ish - 13th Duke of Wymbourne 14:52:23 02/16/24 (2)
- RE: Sort of-ish - morricab 13:14:23 02/18/24 (1)
- RE: Sort of-ish - 13th Duke of Wymbourne 00:01:37 02/19/24 (0)
- RE: Feedback conundrum - AbeCollins 22:25:53 02/14/24 (0)