Is solid state on the brink of extinction?

Muralman1, your Acoustic Reality amp is solid state! Solid state essentially means that the circuits utilize transistors rather than vacuum tubes. Truly digital amplifiers, not those with just a digitally regulated power supply, amplify the audio signal in the digital domain. They generally have complex semiconductor chips (containing lots of tiny transistors) that save space and are more energy efficient in comparison to using a circuit board with discrete electronic components amplfying in the analog domain.

To this point, I believe that the major benefits of digital amplifiers are for the manufacturers, not the audiophile. Digital amps make sense for computers and products that must be physically small. When used with more traditional audio components with analog outputs, their use requires unnecessary steps of digital to analog and analog to digital conversion.

Aren't we splitting hairs? There is a wide gulf in approach in power production between digital module powered amps and bipolar/mosfet type amps. They just aren't the same. Maybe I am using the wrong code word.

I know that TacT is truly digital to the final analogue conversion. Likewise, OTLs are true valve gear.

The small cool running digital modules are sweeping into the audio arena. There are new better (and worse) modules being introduced all the time.

Bigkidz and others, it pains me to diss my good old Pass buddies. I'm just a crass consumer after all..

Yes, synergy is important. I am not totally surprised the Spectron took a back seat to the Pass and others. There is room for improvement. The fact is that improvement is happening with great speed.

The eAR has an analogue power supply, while all the "digitals" I can think of are using a switched power supply. The ICE module was built to surpass earlier module designs. Acoustic Reality goes further and improves ICE. All I know for sure is the eAR sounds analogue to these ears.

I can't speak to the eAR 2, but my stock "digitally-enhanced/controlled" HCA-2 (with skookum power cord) is far more detailed, emotionally involving, natural-sounding, and MUSICAL than any conventional tubed or ss amp I've heard. (Well.. the Bryston 3B SST was fairly decent also!)

The HCA makes music - listening fatigue is non-existent. I'm staying up far too late into the night these days, cuz I can't shut the damn thing off. Those who claim these amps have no "soul" could not possibly have heard them critically in decent systems. I think the "old school" is biased against the term "digital" - perhaps a better term would be "the new analog".

Played Patricia Barber the other day and was amazed at the reproduction of bass lines: superb resolution and vibrancy, the oft-vaunted "truth of timbre" in spades.

If these amps can sound this truthful and involving this early in the game, just imagine the results when this technology matures...

My final comment is that the best is only relative to what we each have heard in a given system. Excitement over a new design/technology, could well be superceded by current technology. Muralman, <1 ohm Apogee Scintillas may be best matched with the digital amp in question and in your system. But what you have done here based on your speakers which admittedly are probably the MOST difficult in the history of this hobby to drive, have asked a question that maybe in your situation may be the best solution but certainly not in many others. The title of your thread seems more an excitement of finding something that works much better than your Pass amp in your system but might sound like sh** in another. I don't mean to come across as sounding crass but as I stated in my first post, synergy is MUCH more important in realizing what each of us is attempting to achieve in realizing long term listening pleasure from our individual systems.

I have heard a few digital amps, none have impressed me thus far. Detail, dynamics are only part of the equation, musical involvement LONG TERM, "I can't wait to hear my favorite music tonight" is. I am no pessimist, but more a realist. Maybe digital has its advantages in a given system but my guess is that on an absolute level, current technology (SS and tubes) at their best would be preferable in more systems. Of course digital may eventually turn out to be the turning point in getting us closer to reality but to date I doubt very much if it has "arrived", time will tell.