Power Amplifier - Maximum Resolution & Detail!

I also demoed the Luxman M10x amp and remembered how much I loved the older Luxman m900u. I think the M10x is more detailed and better for my needs than the m900u.

Hmm, good to hear that the M10x is more detailed than the m900u (currently have the latter, wonder what they changed...), i.e., something for the shortlist/within reach. The benchmark is not for me. I bought it, lived with it for a couple of weeks and sent it back. It had a unpleasant that I couldn’t get over.

On a different note, the 70k Aavik class A had an insane amount of detail...but, the 70k is problematic at the moment with 2 kids in college and spouse monitoring the bank accounts like a hawk. AudioGroupDenmark dealers are so greedy!

I guess upto 30k is doable.

Bakoon make the highest resolution amplfiers I have used and heard.They sound extremely natural and pure.Next to them probably CH Precision.At a much greater price.The Bakoons are a relative bargain.

@jtgofish thanks for the suggestion...interesting brand/designs.

It changed hands recently? Enleum?

I forgot to mention that I also heard the CH Precision top of the line amp with the top end Clarisys speaker. That amp was amazing until I asked the price. over $100k.

@yyzsantabarbara Bets are off if you heard it against a different speaker. Hopefully, you'll get a chance to hear it with your NS5000 (I know the latter quite well).

You did not mention $$ budget , there are many great amplifiers if money is no object ,being into Audio for decades ,owning a Audiostore for a decade and semi retired now travel to many audio get togethers and have heard most equipment that’s brought into the U.S and many shoot outs between components of all types. Having owned 6 figure audio systems in the past, Now I seek out the best sounding products for the least amount of monies ,that is much harder to achieve and have found a bunch of equipment for all types of taste .System, synergies is the most important part in building a solid audio system . You are only as strong as your weakest link in the chain. Many people over look more things then they think is Relevant

i don’t have a budget...well, actually, the limit may be around 30k or under this year, but, it can be anything next year. But, won’t be paying audio jewelry fluff price for stuff that doesn’t meet the requirement. I"ve heard some in the upper price tier that isn’t more detailed than at least one of my current amps. In other words, It can be ugly as sin, but, if it meets the detail requirement, I’ll take it.

I just wanna keep it simple. All else in the chain including the linestage being the same, what is a power amplifier change only that boosted perceived detail...I understand that there’s synergy and can tweak my way all day long into moving the needle back/forth for my personal taste.

I have heard/had some amps, but, just don’t have the ability to know what all’s out there or who came up with some new circuit, etc.

Comes down to design. In simple terms, if the component has any filtering of the AC then you in general will get more details and a blacker background - think AC filter chokes. They power supply caps can make things sound like mush or can have speed and clarity. Same goes for resistors. Mills, Amtrans, Audio Note non-magnetic, etc. That is why upgrades can alter and change the sound tailored to your liking. No to mention the ability of the transformer to offer top to bottom impact on the sound of a system.

@bigkidz Theorycrafting vs successful execution... (there’s always a bigger gap than one might think).

Maximum resolution and detail should NOT impair musicality. When it does, IME, it is because resolution and detail are confused with distortion.

IMO, to maximize resolution and detail without increasing distortion requires components of the highest quality. Naturally, manufacturers don’t want to spend big bucks on 50 resistors at $10 each, and air gap capacitors at $100, so they only use these at the most critical points of the topology, if at all. So if you want that quality, be prepared to spend big big bucks or build it yourself.

DIY forever!

@terry9 , You make a good point...I tinker with cheaper kits off aliexpress, etc, but, hesitant to try and go to town on some expensive piece... (Warranty goes out the window quickly, etc). It is always hard to meet the level of controls in place they have in some factories (some fab process ironed out) vs a guy tinkering in his garage.

I tend to think of detail presentation as being more in the domain of the preamp. But yes I'm sure the amp also has a lot to say about it.

@jji666 

Streamer/software/ddc whatever -'> conducive transport for detail creation

dac ---> detail 'creation'

dac output stage, preamp --'> hopefully, it is preserved

cables --> hopefully, it is preserved

power amp --> higher probability of a possible bottleneck/choke point pethaps for letting it through, imo

i have some ways of dealing with stuff upstream of the poweramp, not that worried about the same.

The use case is not just for hifi listening. There is a 'hifi' speaker I've been recently using as a monitor as well, recording some things, etc...Hence,...a quest to  mitigate any power amp bottleneck, w.r.t the above mentioned (could be in vain...could be not).

But, there have been some interesting suggestions thus far.

Runs too hot for the summers here in Sin City though. I tried placing wet rags on the top of the chassis which is also the heat sink, but it was too much trouble to keep the cloth sufficiently damp without dripping water into the electronics :)

@ltmandella , Wet rags?!?! 

Set this on top of the amp.... This type of cooler has prolonged the lifespan of many an amp IN A SAFE MANNER.

AC Infinity Aircom T10 Amp Cooler

I’m surprised that no one has asked. What are the speakers  the OP is going to use with that $30,000 amp?

@donvito , I have different speakers, but, the one i'm considering this future amp for primarily is a Yamaha NS5000. 

I suggest you listen to the Mola Mola Perca.

@laoman  Thanks for the suggestion, I hear some good things about this Mola Mola's main engineer. This might be worth an audit....

I may have to look at more oddball less heard of names, i think....Maybe MSB, "Bakoon", Hegel H30, etc...as well. I've had the more common big names on loan, or atleast a older model at some point... Gryphon, Boulder, AR, etc and they haven't produced that extra detail than my current amps, it's about in the same ballpark.

Worst case...I could wait for some rich guy to sell me a Aavik P-880 for 30k. I could probably talk him into thinking that some other 200k miracle amp is what he needs and the Aavik is beneath him! 

@yyzsantabarbara , I'll get a hold of the dealer on the Coda 250...give it a shot.