Jim Lesurf wrote:

>> The adoption of power FETS with much better frequency responses,
>> negative temperature coefficients and low switch on delays made that
>> almost a non problem.
>
> Must admit I never liked power FETs for audio as the ones I tried years ago
> all liked to hoot at HF, had a habit of current limiting, and shoved
> capacitance where I didn't want it. But again this was in the 1980s so I
> imagine they rapidly improved and have been fine for some years.
>

That was merely a question of adapting your driving circuits.

A bit of gate resistance cured the hoot, and you just ended a lot of
gate current to wake them up..

The 80's was when I gave up the whole game as not paying a decent wage,
and turned to computers for income...

> Overall, I'd be happy to use amplifiers that employ either bipolar or fet
> if the designer has produced a decent result.
>

Well.. yes.

As with most things 'Hi-Fi' turned from being a high value specialist
product sold to at least the semblance of a discerning public, to a mass
market price sensitive product, where bullshit sold more amps than quality,.

Personally I blame socialism. Too much disposable income in the hands of
people with no taste and even less discretion ;-)

Its the same with cars..until you actually drive a car that has any sort
of handling at all, you cant work out what the fuss is about.

Having said that, I no longer do, nor do I really care much about the
quality of the audio equipment I have.

In the end, I want to listen to the music, not the equipment. Being 'in
the business' ruined the experience of a live rock concert for many years..