2. amps-preamps
  3. 1296703842

Oh how I wish Class D amps ...

I sure wish manufacturers and designers would move forward as quickly as is possible on improving the current status of Class D amps ... I have heard them all, some in my own system, and they have SO mcu promise !!! Unfortunately they just do not have it down yet. They still sound dry, unmusical, and strange in the treble ... kind of chalky and rolled off, and definitely lacking air.
I long for the day I can get rid of my hundred pound Class AB monster amp, for a nice small cool running amp that sounds just as good. I am worried though that designers and manufacturers have accepted the " It sounds good enough" opinion, and that the B&O Ice power may be a long time before it is "fixed"... sigh.
Just my rant ...
timtim
michael_moskowich
86 posts
 
Atmasphere, least of all I want to argue with you. However, I did not expressed any doubt that your "bigger" amplifiers (or similar OTL amps) can drive Sasha too. Surely, they will show magical midrange there as well.

I love to audition operas e.g. Saturday's "live" transmissions from Metropoliten Opera in NY, big symphonic music and I do stand behind my statement that any OTL I know of: "cannot drive my Sasha by Wilson and provide the same dynamic range as Spectron does ". PERIOD !!! I believe Spectron has 7kW peak power and it shows!

Mike
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,807 posts
 
Mike, If you have a large room that may be true. But if your room is average size (17' x 25' or thereabouts) then I would not be so certain. FWIW, the live transmissions over FM have to be compressed to fit the dynamic range of the medium.

I share your interest in dynamic range- its one of my pet peeves that I feel plague many systems I have heard.

If you really want to hear dynamic range you can actually do better with an LP. Here's a recommendation, a bit hard to find but one of the bigger dynamic ranges on LP, Verdi's Requiem, on the old RCA Soria set. Try track 2, Dies Irae and then see if you can play it at actual lifelike levels. I have seen that LP bring many 'state of the art' systems to their knees. It was recorded about 1959 or so and most systems still have trouble with it...
michael_moskowich
86 posts
 
"Verdi's Requiem, track 2, Dies Irae" Oh yes, sir !!!!!
The biggest dynamic range I have experienced when (at holidays only) I use Sony early SACD where Eugine Ormandy conducts Philadelphia Orchestra.

I stand corrected - live FM transmissions are probably compressed, indeed. However, when I see them in my own listening room singing and talking and I am actually away hundreds of miles away and did not pay hundreds of dollars for ticket - my knees are shaken !!!! It is the best system in my life, system which transfers me there (or them to me - I don;t understand he difference) sometimes so realistic I almost cry...

You are great man Ralph! and you undertsand us "obsessed" as few can

Mike
More to discover