New MSB S500 and M500 Amplifiers

Alpinist

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I am looking forward to the arrival of the new MSB S500 Stereo Amplifier and M500 Mono Amplifiers scheduled for this Spring. So I am starting a thread where new information can be posted as it trickles in.

Ken
 
Details available so far:

- 500 watts per channel
- Class A Input Stage
- Class A/B Output Stage
- 136 dB dynamic range
- 1,000,000 uF of Capacitance
- Fully balanced design
- Gain switch with 3 fixed gain levels
 
Will these new amps continue with MSB's industrial design used on their previous amps?

Jim,

No, they will have an entirely new industrial design. A very stylish looking rectangular box.

Ken
 
No more Class A...interesting.

Keith,

The MSB M204 monoblocks also have a Class A Input Stage and a Class A/B Output Stage, so this is not a change. The key question would be how many watts each amplifier operates in Class A. I don’t have the answer to this question yet.

Ken
 
Keith,

The MSB M204 monoblocks also have a Class A Input Stage and a Class A/B Output Stage, so this is not a change. The key question would be how many watts each amplifier operates in Class A. I don’t have the answer to this question yet.

Ken

Got it. I guess I just always think of them as Class A amps I guess, but really just biased really heavily into Class A. They run hotter than tube amps as well. My friend has a set of the 203s and loves them.
 
From reviews I've read about their previous generation of "Class A" power amps, in testing they were determined to not maintain their Class A operation at full power but were heavily biased into Class A.
 
Jim,

No, they will have an entirely new industrial design. A very stylish looking rectangular box.

Ken

This is the only picture I could find.

5abf0f62356edc0c6a80451435e6314f.jpg
 
Here is a photo of the prototype of the S500 Stereo Amp. The final version could look different.
 
I like the looks, although the lack of cooling surface means it will work in much lesser degree in Class A (I reckon 10W is max what can be dessipated) than their previous designs. Which, of course, doesn't mean much as it still may sound better.

I'm affraid the redesign will jack up the price considerably - I'm affraid the monos will be in $60k range. This is sth MSB has been doing in the recent years. Not many of you remember, but M202 used to cost $18k, then when M203 come out (with minimal changes), the price went up +50%, to $28k, then again to $40k or so with M204. So the next stop is probably $60k+ ... which is sad.
 
I like the looks, although the lack of cooling surface means it will work in much lesser degree in Class A (I reckon 10W is max what can be dessipated) than their previous designs. Which, of course, doesn't mean much as it still may sound better.

I'm affraid the redesign will jack up the price considerably - I'm affraid the monos will be in $60k range. This is sth MSB has been doing in the recent years. Not many of you remember, but M202 used to cost $18k, then when M203 come out (with minimal changes), the price went up +50%, to $28k, then again to $40k or so with M204. So the next stop is probably $60k+ ... which is sad.

Hi Adam,

The photo was a prototype and the final version will have much larger heat sinks. So I would expect it to be much more heavily biased into Class A than what you’re describing. As for the price, I also would expect it to be heading upwards as the amps are designed to be mated with the Reference and Select DACs.

Ken
 
the circular VU meter looks similar.

Ah, I see. They originally had a meter on the prototype but they removed it when they realized through their measurements that it raised the noise floor. They are fanatical about noise suppression. On the photo I had posted of the prototype, all that remained was the circle from the meter. In the circle, was a power and standby button. The final version will have substantially larger heat sinks and the circle from the meter may or may not remain. There could be other changes to the design as well.

Ken
 
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