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How far have ss amps really come in the last twenty years?

I have owned and enjoyed my Jeff Rowland model 8 ( recently modded and upgraded by Jeff to the last version) for many years. I recently had the opportunity of comparing it ( after mods) to a few of the current ss models from Gamut, D'Agostino, YBA, Parasound, Sim audio, CH precision, Constellation,PS audio,Pass Labs  and Musical Fidelity. The results were very interesting, because to my ears and in the systems that we did the comparison, the Rowland held its own against all but the most expensive D'Ag and CH amps. Even those were only very slightly outclassing the Rowland in the areas of top end resolution...and a tad in the bottom end resolution. Now the thing is that the last revision to the Rowland 8 was designed by Jeff over ten years ago! 
So, my question for those more technically inclined than myself is...how far has the design of ss amps come in the last ten...or even twenty years? 
128x128daveyf
lhasaguy's avatar
lhasaguy
342 posts
 
Having read most of this thread, I reflect on my 12+ year old McIntosh MC501 mono block amplifiers.  Paired with a tube pre amp, driving 3.6 Maggie’s.

McIntosh has a certain “sound” and paired with planar speakers they still speak to me.  

Could my my system be better, most likely, but at what cost?  Being married to a world class Economist, marginal cost versus marginal gain is our mantra.

I understand current technology has moved the price much higher, the question is, IF you can hear it, is the price worth it?  

This is is an empirical issue that is answered differently by each individual.

There is much to be said for component synergy and when realized, it takes a LOT to move one off that sweet spot.
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ahofer
225 posts
 
Teo, it's an appeal to authority because it isn't backed up with any evidence or answer, merely assertion about talent/credentials.  Your response reduces to an irrelevant and incomplete assertion of what ears do (even if we stipulated that, it wouldn't necessarily bear on audibility of differences), and then has several paragraphs that can be summed up as "I'm awesome, you're an idiot, get off my lawn".

  • I remain open to the possibility that I am an audio philistine, but I have my doubts given my long and continued experience with live music, the reference standard
  • I have admitted I sometimes hear differences between amps, but, after reviewing evidence (incomplete?)  I am also open to the possibility those were explainable by power/obvious artifacts or simply not objectively audible
  • I have explicitly asked for further evidence that I may have missed and shown people what I have reviewed.
  • I've freely admitted I enjoy the hobby no matter which way my beliefs go on these subjects, and, after all, I don't listen blind. 
  • But who wouldn't want to know?

Your response to this is "you're an ignoramus, get out of the hobby".  This attitude closes, rather than opens, minds.  Furthermore, it is suspicious.  I've come to understand from my 31 years of business experience that nasty bluster is most often a smokescreen.
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
“I’ve come to understand from my 31 years of business experience that nasty bluster is most often a smokescreen.”

>>>>>Appeal to Authority alert 🚨
ahofer
225 posts
 
@geoffkait - I view it as more of a probabilistic inference, but I'll happily grant your point if it helps turn the dialogue in a more productive direction.
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