All of the above posts saying that cheap amps cannot equal or outperform expensive amps are based on ignoring a few inconvenient truths. For example, claiming that the Benchmark AHB2 cannot equal or beat the Nagra Classic for clarity is based on NOT auditioning the AHB2. RIAA deserves credit for being the staunchest proponent of the need for personal audition to make any claim.
Second, designers all have their sonic preferences. The AHB2 design goals were clarity/transparency/neutrality, and they have succeeded according to my listening for 1 month, and yyzsantabarbara's longer ownership. All the Gryphon amps have some degree of warmth, according to Jay, even the Mephisto which was warmer than the Boulder, verified by several good listeners including myself and mrdecibel. Yes, all the Gryphons have better build quality and drive capability than the AHB2. I didn't buy the AHB2 because it couldn't drive my parallel electrostatic speakers without shutting down, but I loved its qualities at moderate levels. Many people have conventional, more efficient speakers, so the AHB2 drives them well.
Third, a more theoretical claim. It is a correct widely accepted notion that simpler circuits with shorter signal paths are the recipe for clarity/transparency. This should inherently reduce the cost compared to a larger, complicated circuit which costs more. All this assumes that your goal is accuracy/transparency. The AHB2 is an example of the above. But if your goal is brute force, by all means spend your money on big, heavy amps which are expensive.
Fourth, an amp is not a high performance car. More money buys more power, acceleration, etc. I am not knowledgeable about cars, but I wonder if the high performance power cars can do the subtle moves required if there is 2 inches of clearance when driving between 2 vehicles, or avoiding a bicyclist, etc. Jay might say that the expensive car can do everything better, but the driver has to have more skill. For my average skills, I am safer in a conventional car because I couldn't properly handle a high performance car.
As an aside, some high end phono cartridge manufacturers employ small women with delicate hands and great coordination to do the skillful hand construction and adjustment of those cartridges. Such a woman would be out of place in an amp factory where strong men are needed to lift heavy amps around, even with assisting tools. This illustrates my contention that brute force is useful in some tasks, and subtle skill is for others. Different amps are designed with different priorities, for the consumer with different preferences. More money helps in some cases, but not others.
Second, designers all have their sonic preferences. The AHB2 design goals were clarity/transparency/neutrality, and they have succeeded according to my listening for 1 month, and yyzsantabarbara's longer ownership. All the Gryphon amps have some degree of warmth, according to Jay, even the Mephisto which was warmer than the Boulder, verified by several good listeners including myself and mrdecibel. Yes, all the Gryphons have better build quality and drive capability than the AHB2. I didn't buy the AHB2 because it couldn't drive my parallel electrostatic speakers without shutting down, but I loved its qualities at moderate levels. Many people have conventional, more efficient speakers, so the AHB2 drives them well.
Third, a more theoretical claim. It is a correct widely accepted notion that simpler circuits with shorter signal paths are the recipe for clarity/transparency. This should inherently reduce the cost compared to a larger, complicated circuit which costs more. All this assumes that your goal is accuracy/transparency. The AHB2 is an example of the above. But if your goal is brute force, by all means spend your money on big, heavy amps which are expensive.
Fourth, an amp is not a high performance car. More money buys more power, acceleration, etc. I am not knowledgeable about cars, but I wonder if the high performance power cars can do the subtle moves required if there is 2 inches of clearance when driving between 2 vehicles, or avoiding a bicyclist, etc. Jay might say that the expensive car can do everything better, but the driver has to have more skill. For my average skills, I am safer in a conventional car because I couldn't properly handle a high performance car.
As an aside, some high end phono cartridge manufacturers employ small women with delicate hands and great coordination to do the skillful hand construction and adjustment of those cartridges. Such a woman would be out of place in an amp factory where strong men are needed to lift heavy amps around, even with assisting tools. This illustrates my contention that brute force is useful in some tasks, and subtle skill is for others. Different amps are designed with different priorities, for the consumer with different preferences. More money helps in some cases, but not others.