I don't know about electronics but I know it is done with speaker production. There's what is often called the 'golden unit' which is according to the spec sheet, and is used as a reference for the product line.
It used to be the same for tube production, the tube that conforms to the data sheet is called a bogey tube and was used to verify production regularly. Not sure they still do that though.
Jan
When I worked for a chip foundry, one of our markets was consumer microelectronics. We would produce, what I call, a ‘design reference’. This was a system level product example (a reference) which exhibited the best objective PERFORMANCE, showcasing what the underlying chip-set could enable in terms of finished product performance.
Our customers, however, would produced what I call, a ‘production reference’. This was a product model (a reference) designed by their engineers, which delivered the minimum required objective performance, but at the minimum production COST.
Our customers, however, would produced what I call, a ‘production reference’. This was a product model (a reference) designed by their engineers, which delivered the minimum required objective performance, but at the minimum production COST.
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In personal or industry terms one can claim an amplifier as ‘reference’ for a variety reasons, in general terms a ‘reference’ amplifier is one your trying to sell as in…’it sounds honest and amazing, it is my reference amplifier’
Suppose everybody had the same headphones, the same music source, and the same volume setting of a reference amplifier, there would still be subjective differences unless the testing was done by "reference humans", IMO.
A reference amplifier for me is an amp that achieves the required voltage and current gain with the least amount of gain stages, while still providing a reasonably good specification. I also appreciate short & DC-coupled signal paths, optimised power supply impedance & current delivery to the output stage, correct decoupling of VAS and input stage, balanced design (at least an input stage), correct grounding, nice PCB design....good quality hook-up wiring inside.... in other words, I judge an amp by its looks - what's inside first and foremost... and then I look at the specifications (phase response and distortion harmonics structure in particular). I have a soft spot for 2-gain-stages single-ended designs and class-A mode of operation.... however, I do feel bad when I burn 200-300W of power at all times just to be listening to music - my kids are giving me hard time... so I may have to consider class AB/B or D in near future.
In Canada Benchmark branded tools are sold buy the national retailer Home Hardware.
I guess they are a reference to compare to other brands.
But no amplifiers. 😀
Any amplifier is a reference amplifier.
Assuming possible opinion, a reference amplifier
should have no additional coloration/distortion.
Can also be applied to likely millions of songs or music works.
When refereed to as a reference material/ source material
If I was reviewing 4 different speakers.
you simply identify the reference amplifier being used.
Regardless if the amplifier might, or might not add coloration/distortion
It was identified as the reference amplifier.
So comparing 4 different preamps or 4 different speaker systems.
Any subjective coloration or no coloration is equal to all the compared
systems.
Same with reference material.
There is no such thing as a song or music work
that is suitable to be defined as the standard reference/source material.
A recording might have artifacts or distortion in the original recording.
But when comparing again 2 or more different speakers, preamps, amplifiers
etc etc. Your simply stating what the reference material was. AKA the same song, music, movie
was used to compare all the systems.
Assuming possible opinion, a reference amplifier
should have no additional coloration/distortion.
Can also be applied to likely millions of songs or music works.
When refereed to as a reference material/ source material
If I was reviewing 4 different speakers.
you simply identify the reference amplifier being used.
Regardless if the amplifier might, or might not add coloration/distortion
It was identified as the reference amplifier.
So comparing 4 different preamps or 4 different speaker systems.
Any subjective coloration or no coloration is equal to all the compared
systems.
Same with reference material.
There is no such thing as a song or music work
that is suitable to be defined as the standard reference/source material.
A recording might have artifacts or distortion in the original recording.
But when comparing again 2 or more different speakers, preamps, amplifiers
etc etc. Your simply stating what the reference material was. AKA the same song, music, movie
was used to compare all the systems.
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"Reference *****" as a term was used for flat response equipment for decades in the audio production industry before I ever heard it used anywhere else in audio just as Db is a "reference" value. Seems it's a good audiophile buzz word for marketing of subjective & undefinable properties now too though ... 🙂
Well if the cult of the SINAD says it’s reference it must be? I personally welcome our audio analyzer overloads….
Indigent Audio, I don't quite understand your post. Which cult? And what is our "audio analyzer overload"?
I may be mistaken, but I suspect that it's a bit of subjectivist oriented humor.
