trying to understand about reference amplifiers - differences between each other and tech info

P

pelo911

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Dec 29, 2013
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94
Hi

i have Vitus SM-101
and Pass 350.5

i bought them because i red reviews , not because i understand anything about amps

what are the top 5 amps today? (Solid state)
what is the Pro and Con of each?
every amp have own Sonic or Sound signature or some are 100% "unflavored"?

tech terms i'm not really understand:
[FONT=&quot]microFarad storage
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]high current amps with over 1000VA [/FONT][FONT=&quot]power supply
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]negative feedback

thanks[/FONT]
 
If you ask 100 people you will get about 80 different answers at to which amps belong in a top 5 list of amps or for that matter any piece of gear. You will have those that lean towards solid state while others will prefer tubed gear. Is industrial design a factor in your decision? Is size a concern, if so something such as Boulder is a non starter. Do you want to purchase from your local dealer(s), if so that could limit the pool to select from. It would be nice if you could borrow a pair from a local dealer to auction in your home. You indicate your currently have both PASS and Vitus which many people would include in their top 5. You may just wish to move up to newer products within those brands.
 
you have one of the best !
D'Agostino Momentum Mono

i live in Houston , there is no dealers here

i'm asking in general , to understand the differences between brands/models
and amplifier tech in general.


 
still-one said:
If you ask 100 people you will get about 80 different answers at to which amps belong in a top 5 list of amps or for that matter any piece of gear. You will have those that lean towards solid state while others will prefer tubed gear. Is industrial design a factor in your decision? Is size a concern, if so something such as Boulder is a non starter. Do you want to purchase from your local dealer(s), if so that could limit the pool to select from. It would be nice if you could borrow a pair from a local dealer to auction in your home. You indicate your currently have both PASS and Vitus which many people would include in their top 5. You may just wish to move up to newer products within those brands.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately many of us do not have dealers anywhere close to listen to or "audition" at home... let alone "auction" at home.... :) sorry Jim, couldn't resist :D...

The other problem is there are so many brands out there. I am sure there are some that people consider some of the finest that many other people have never even heard of.... for example there is a thread on The Shark now comparing several amplifiers and the one that is basically taking on all comers and winning every comparison these gentlemen are doing is one that most people have not heard of, SST. The Son Of Ampzilla II in particular, which I consider an amazing amplifier and I would put on my top five list :)....
 
Randy Myers said:
Unfortunately many of us do not have dealers anywhere close to listen to or "audition" at home... let alone "auction" at home.... :) sorry Jim, couldn't resist :D...

The other problem is there are so many brands out there. I am sure there are some that people consider some of the finest that many other people have never even heard of.... for example there is a thread on The Shark now comparing several amplifiers and the one that is basically taking on all comers and winning every comparison these gentlemen are doing is one that most people have not heard of, SST. The Son Of Ampzilla II in particular, which I consider an amazing amplifier and I would put on my top five list :)....
Click to expand...

Randy, you are two to three hours from LA, that shouldn't;t be an issue for you. :D
 
Top 5? My top 5 would be:

Soulution
Vitus
CH
Ayre
Pass XS300
....and then a tie between Dartzeel, D'Ag, Boulder, and a few others.

Haven't spent enough time with Gryphon or FM acoustics to comment.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Hehe, it is more like 4 to get to LA dealers, if not more. And then at least and hour or two to get to another dealer down there. Plus of course, it is LA....and who the heck wants to go to LA :D....

But seriously at least 4 hours to get any dealer... when we went up to visit our son in Sunnyvale went to a dealer... but all they really had was McIntosh.... and a decent speaker line... I think Sonus Faber or Focal?

There were also a couple Magnolia stores up there.... but that was next to useless...

The funny thing is lots of the good stuff is actually built here.... Wyred 4 Sound and SST are just around the corner (I have gone up to visit Tony and EJ several times and listened to EJ's KEFs in their test room... really nice).... Pass and First Watt are up in Auburn if I am not mistaken, which is near Sacramento... Vanderstein is over in the valley some where I believe and Magico is somewhere down south I think. Pretty sure Oppo is down there as well... and I am sure others as well... but nothing within 4-5 hours from here...

Also of course, not being a native Californian venturing down south intimidates the crap out of me :)....

Ok, amplifiers I have recently heard (both in mine or club members homes)...

Audio Research Corporation (ARC)
Spread Spectrum Technologies (SST)
McIntosh
MBL
Goldmund
Bryston
Classe' Audio
Wyred 4 Sound (W4S)
 
For your speakers, Soulution is a common pairing.

If you want to go tubes, then VAC and Focal is great together.


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pelo911
You can see from our responses why only you can decide what will be right from you. Taking Mike's and Randy's lists I might pick 2 that would make it into a top 5. This hobby is too personal and besides you didn't indicate whether you had a budget.
 
Totally agreed... but of course getting others opinions and responses are sometimes the only way of getting a feel for certain brands and honestly, many times hearing about a brand that you never knew existed. It is also one of the things that make this hobby so much fun!
 
Mike said:
Top 5? My top 5 would be:

Soulution
Vitus
CH
Ayre
Pass XS300
....and then a tie between Dartzeel, D'Ag, Boulder, and a few others.

Haven't spent enough time with Gryphon or FM acoustics to comment.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Boulder have killer amps !
600w class A?
i think they are the only brand offer so much power in Class A , right?

what about Audionet Max and Constellation Centaur?
YG and Magico using then

you chose Soulution and Vitus in your system
can you explain what you like with them compare to others?
Soulution and Vitus have similar sonic and performance?

thanks guys
 
still-one said:
pelo911
You can see from our responses why only you can decide what will be right from you. Taking Mike's and Randy's lists I might pick 2 that would make it into a top 5. This hobby is too personal and besides you didn't indicate whether you had a budget.
Click to expand...

poor pelo's been asking the same questions for 5 years now...and he has refused dealer/demo help before.
 
As a disinterested bystander who cannot afford these fine amplifiers, I have in mind a definition of 'reference' for amplifiers:

Able to drive any speaker load, from 20 Hz to 20kHz at full rated power.

Total harmonic distortion below at or below the current state of the art.

Signal to noise below the source material.

Dynamic reserve sufficient to handle peak demands without compression (clipping) at maximum rated output.

Getting one that sounds best, with a given loudspeaker in your room is where the fun starts.

Personally, I prefer simpler designs with fewer parts.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
 
KeithR said:
poor pelo's been asking the same questions for 5 years now...and he has refused dealer/demo help before.
Click to expand...

you are right , dealer from Dallas
agree to come to my house
it's 5 hours drive

i didn't had time back then
i think it was on 2014
my mistake
i think this dealer no longer in business (if i remember right)
 
Mike said:
Top 5? My top 5 would be:

Soulution
Vitus
CH
Ayre
Pass XS300
....and then a tie between Dartzeel, D'Ag, Boulder, and a few others.

Haven't spent enough time with Gryphon or FM acoustics to comment.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

No tubes in there?
 
The D'Ag dealer in Dallas is still there. At least it was 3 months ago when I went into the store.

pelo911 said:
you are right , dealer from Dallas
agree to come to my house
it's 5 hours drive

i didn't had time back then
i think it was on 2014
my mistake
i think this dealer no longer in business (if i remember right)
Click to expand...
 
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