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Always nit picking, unless it is Wilson, of course...
Always nit picking, unless it is Wilson, of course...
If you considered for a moment the interaction between an amplifier with a relativity high output impedance (typical of most tube amps) and the non-linear input impedance of most speakers and the resultant variations it causes upon the system's frequency response, you wouldn't even need to ask the question.
A different speaker with a different impedance characteristic will result in a different overall frequency response - hence the "chameleon-like" effect, which is being attributed erroneously to the amplifier itself. Likewise, if you try the same speaker with a different amplifier with a significantly different output impedance.
As an example of the effect, see Figure 1:
https://www.stereophile.com/content/primaluna-prologue-premium-power-amplifier-measurements
'They made too many wrong mistakes matching all those different components' :-) ........
We don't know what the measurements are for this particular VAC amp, but Stereophile reviewed VAC Avatar integrated-amp before, which shows high output impedance ........ So, very little, if any, damping factor ....... These Nola speakers have multiple different drivers and most likely will present a complex load for the partnering amp ........ They could have chosen Audio Research reference amps, which usually have lower output impedance (for a tube amp), and hence better damping factor :-) ........
Wagner would be disappointed to hear his 'Ride of the Valkyries', on this system :-) ........
Also, Mussorgsky would be disappointed to hear the 'Night on the Bare Mountain' on this system :-) .......