2. amps-preamps
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Is solid state on the brink of extinction?

I am curious how many out there, like me, that have come to the conclusion the age of solid state, and perhaps tube gear, is closing.

In freeing needed cash from my high end audio recently, I was forced to look for a less expensive alternative. To my surprise, the alternative turned out to be an unexpected bonus.

I have notoriously inefficient speakers. I was sure I would have to sell them once I sold off my large solid state blocks.

Going on a tip from another amp killer speaker owner, I bought an Acoustic Reality eAR 2 MKII Class D amp. This tiny amp caused a revolution in sound benefits over my ss mono blocks.

My speakers gained in speed, depth, control, detail, range, clarity, and dynamics.

It didn't stop there. I also sold my front end, and bought a very cheap programmable digital DVD. It also proved to be better that my old disc player. My playback gained in detail, separation, depth, bass control, bass extension, and treble extension. The mids are just plain natural. Reverberation decay occurs evenly and naturally.

Has anyone else had a similar experience of moving from solid state or tubes to digital? What do you see as the future for solid state component producers? What of tube amps?
muralman1
danielk141
489 posts
 
I've heard only one digital amp that truly impressed me in my house on borrowed Watt Puppy 5.1s. It was the Spectron Amp, and it was an excellent match with a Theta Gen Va dac.
What is impressive sound to me? Something that comes close to my current system: Sony SCD-777ES, Pass Aleph or X pre-amp, Pass Aleph 2s & Apogee Mini-Grands w/Aragon 4004MKII driving the subs. I haven't heard any speaker or amp that sounds better in my listening (living) room.
And I'm constantly searching.
Digital amps are like early redbook CDs to me, still in the teething stage....
muralman1 OP
1,527 posts
 
Ah! Daniel, close to my heart. I am driving Apogee Scintillas with the eAR 2. I still have my Aleph P pre amp. My sweet Jolida 100 fitted with terrific tubes has lost out to the cheapy ($150) Liteon, already improved with three cd inserted patches.

It was the vaunted X600 that was replaced by the eAR.
slappy
903 posts
 
Guess im behind times and am lacking the pulse of the digital revolution in audio standards.

What the hell is a digital amp?

Benefits? Drawbacks? Expencive? Cheap? Hot? Cold? BIg? Small? Power output? ????
tubegroover
2,320 posts
 
I doubt it Muralman, at least not in my direct comparisons. I have done an AB with my current amp and the Spectron, it wasn't even close in any parameter in my system. In another system or with your Class D amp the outcome may have been different but that remains to be determined which I plan on doing soon. System matching, again is the most important element in each of us realizing the goal of the absolute sound or what we expect or hope our systems to do towards our enjoyment of music. I think what you found in your system were two products that improved your system. One thing in this hobby I have found to be true is that improvements often come from unexpected sources.
bigkidz
3,408 posts
 
I agree with Tubegroover. I had the Spectron Musician II power amp and it was a very clear sounding amp. Clearer than my Pass Labs X-250 in my system but I did not really connect with the music. In fact my Kinergetics KBA-75 was more musical. The Pass had more texture to the notes and voices than the Digi amp just did not have. Again this was in my system at the time. Also at 500 woc it did not sound any louder than the Pass at 250 wpc. Does this mean the Spectron was bad, no way, maybe with a different source, preamp and speakers it would have made for a fantastic system. I have since upgraded speakers and source and the system synergy changed 100% so I am back at looking differnt componets to reach its full potential.

Happy Listening.
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