Detail, a dumbass question

I'm not sure if this is the right sub-forum for this- please shunt it if it isn't

As we're all aware, amps can be very qualitatively different. Even solid state amps can sound markedly different with specific headphones if one isn't quite up to snuff.

What I am curious about is how a specific set of very audible differences might map to the measurements of both the amp and headphones, and if I could have predicted this from the measurements.

To cut to the chase, I was amazed how much clearer and more detailed my HD650 sound, even SE, from the Jotenheim, compared to the Magni 2U. It's not an imaginary difference, I can pick it out blind without any trouble- instrument separation is much better, micro-details everywhere. Also, and possibly unrelated, the bass is also far tighter, cleaner and more defined. It's not subtle.

However, what I don't know (and this probably makes me a dumbass) is which aspects of the measurements of these two amps would show me the differences. If someone actually knows and understands this, and can explain it in insultingly simple terms, I'd be grateful.

 

Gulp.. I shall give it a read and see if I find a useful answer in that lot. Thanks!

 

The quick simple answer is that the measurements that you can find and most amp makers can do are not going to determine if the amp sounds great.

Magni 2 and Jotunheim are both good at the run of the mill measurements. I have not heard the Magni 2, so I can't comment on it's sound, but I have owned amplifiers that measure just as good or maybe even better at some things than Jotunheim and still managed to sound very poor.
There is stuff undiscovered or at least difficult to seek out about audio that makes up 50% or more meaningful information. There are many tricks to improve specs at the cost of good sound. Like too much neg feedback, excessive use of 'perfect' opamps, operating s-d dacs at radio frequencies and having 32 bits of s-d resholuuson.
Also, look how great LCD2 looks on measurements and how well some chong-fi amp-dac combos measure.

At the other extreme good measurements are a requirement to have good sound, it is just on piece of the whole (and lots of other pieces that these measurements won't show).

No need to be lower than grass in every other sentence.

 

Yes, that's exactly what's bugging me.. I assumed I was missing something. I hoped I was. Buggrit.