The Ridley Effect™

Tubes vs. Solid-State: The debate has raged for decades. Ever since the first transistor amplifiers appeared on the audio scene, promising to eliminate the big, hot and unreliable vacuum tube, audiophiles have passionately taken sides.

Numerous papers have appeared with scholarly treatises on the nature of distortion with different amplifiers, looking at large signal effects, odd and even harmonics, and trying to explain the differences in what was heard. None of it ever reached a satisfactory conclusion with a technical explanation.

Amazingly, we discovered an effect that had never been adequately researched until we took it on six years ago in our quest to better understand tubes and solid-state. And what we found was surprising. The improved sound that resulted from our research was nothing short of phenomenal. Scientists from the semiconductor and aerospace industries, musicians, and psychologists have worked with us to understand the real cause of the improved sound.

How it Works . . .
There is a fundamental change in semiconductor devices with rising temperatures that affects the way audio signals are processed.

We recognized this phenomenon as crucial to sound quality, and named it the Ridley Effect™. Never before has it been researched as a fundamental property of semiconductors.

The full effect of this phenomenon is realized at temperatures far in excess of those used in conventional design.

We have patented the intentional heating, and the method of heating, of all audio devices in the amplifying chain. Patents are pending on further methodology.