2. amps-preamps
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Digital Amps? Marketing Hype?

Call me old school, but the very notion of a digital amp does not make sense to me. Is it just marketing hype or what? As I understand it, the signal fed to the amplifier is analog (even if the source is digital, it must still be converted to analog). What would a 'digital' amp do? Amplify the signal in discrete increments?

And what about the so called 'digital speakers'? That notion seems to stretch credibility even further! (cones powered by step motors?) Your thoughts on these issues...
jlamb
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
Crazy4blues...Carver already did that without the benefit of digital processing. He designed a solid state amp that was made to sound like a tube amp. He said he could tweek his amp up to match anything on the market. Reports that I read at the time said that he was quite successful.
voodoochile
93 posts
 
Jlamb,

Your welcome... I think the big advantage for the
"digital" amps utilizing DSP's is shorter signal
path. If you get a chance have a listen to The Bel
Canto EVO's and the Spectron. Im guessing either way
you wont be dissapointed.

Crazy4blues..

My SS practice amp has digital modeling... I dont know
anybody who uses any of that stuff.. as you know most
of it is worthless.. Its like the Hall or jazz club
effect on a pre-pro. Anyone who knows any better cant
stand to listen to it.

What i was talking about is the actual amplifier portion of the head. Not the effects.. Im using 120w Blue Voodoo heads now.. And i used to use Marshalls 50 and 100 heads and i really wish they all were a little faster/punchier with more attack. I would be very intrested to try out a "Digital" not SS guitar head. Maybe based on Tri-path? I dont know.. but i would the first in line to try it out?

Steve
crazy4blues
243 posts
 
Eldartford: I'm not talking about ss amps that are supposed to sound "like" tube amps. Rather, I'm talking about *one* digital amp that can, at the flip of a switch, sound like *many* different kinds of amps. You want that sharp Krell sound? No problem. How about a 2a3 sound? Just flip the switch again. How about a tetrode push-pull kt-88 sound? Again, flip the switch.

The technology I'm talking about is the ability to digitize a sound signature and use one product to convey several different choices of sounds. I can see this as a possible direction for audiophiles.

While I don't necessarily look forward to it, I can see a day when discussion lists on this forum will concern themselves not with this or that tube, or this or that cable; rather, guys will be asking about the latest "cyroed el-84 preamp to 300B SET power amp" PATCH, which will be downlodable via usb and put into your amp. Boom, you have a different sound. See what I mean?

If I were smart enough, I would try to produce this type of product.
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