*) E.g. the scientific paper: Damping factor: effects on system response, a technical analysis by Dick Pierce (link no longer available).
So, who is right? What value is desirable? To find out we are discussing both points of view.
From our point of view there is an additional aspect that needs to be considered: measuring the damping factor of a transistor amp is usually done at high outputs (that's a least how Peter Strassacker always used to do it). At low outputs, however, most amplifiers (i.e. low quiescent current transistor amps with push-pull circuit) have a factor that is 5 to 10 time lower.
When buying a conventional amplifier with damping factor of 100, it has to be expected that this value may drop to 20 at low outputs.
The values indicated in the table above take this into consideration.
When using a push-pull circuitry amp with high quiescent current or an amp without push-pull circuit (like many valve amps), then from a scientific point of view a value around 20 is excellent, like proven by Dick Pierce.
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