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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
roxy54's avatar
roxy54
7,965 posts
 
I agree daveyf. Symphonic line makes fine amps, and even an older one would hold its own today.
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jafox
1,454 posts
 
Another huge applause for Symphonic Line.  I had read about this product over the years but rarely saw any for sale to audition.  Finally that option came my way.  I got a killer deal on their smallest amp, the RG11 two years ago.  I think it was one of the earliest versions....maybe from the mid-late 1990s, but in immaculate condition, and a beautiful polished chrome faceplate.  It was just to be an amp for for surround speakers but it stunned me how this silly thing drove the big SoundLab A1 speakers.  How could this be possible!  And the clarity/detail was phenomenal.  I just shook my head.  What a most beautiful sounding amp.  And then I tried it on Sonus Faber Amati Futura, and it did pretty well with these difficult speakers.  This small amp was so far beyond Belles mono amps and the Odyssey Khartago amp in power drive without making any unique sonic statement.

I have since bought the RG1 amp, one level above the RG11, also with the beautiful chrome faceplate, and this amp with the SF speakers is stunning.  I run the Sound Lab speakers with BAT VK600SE amps and the result is a great match, but I would love so much to try a stereo Symphonic Line Kraft or mono amps, even from a decade ago.  So difficult to find!
p59teitel
312 posts
 
jafox, try getting in touch directly with Klaus Bunge of Odyssey and ask him to keep his eyes open for SL amps for you.  He sold my Kraft 250s to me, after he'd imported them for someone else who only kept them for maybe a month, at a huge discount from list price.
lhasaguy's avatar
lhasaguy
336 posts
 
The is no doubt that designs and execution have advanced over time.  Yet I have to ask myself after deep reflection, how much better is it really?

When I purchased my first decent system of separates, 50 years ago while in the service, I had a small amp, Sansui 555 with it’s companion tuner TU-555.  Paired with Sansui SP-100 3 way speakers, a Dual 1019 turntable and AKAI reel to reel, I was the n heaven.

No doubt my current 3.6 Maggie’s are much better speakers, and McIntosh MC501 mono blocks are much better amps, yet I MUST ask myself, does I enjoy the system I have more than the one I had with in 1971?   

Somehow I think NOT.   I would be interested to hear from folks in my age group if they feel the same.

Not trying to hijack this thread, but following a natural thought progression IMHO.
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