2. amps-preamps
  3. 1069894978

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
muralman1 OP
1,527 posts
 
Khrys what is your problem? In another forum topic, I repeated one quote by a speaker maker that colorfully explains why Apogee stopped making Scintillas, but not the much larger Full Ranges, and you have had connuptions ever since.

The hand labor that went into the making of the Scintilla would drive it's cost upwards to 40k these days. The Scintilla was made as a statement, not a financial banquet.

You would obviously be surprised at the number of speaker builders that have used Apogees to voice their own famous speakers.

You also act like you have never heard a decent digital, nor an Apogee. If you had, you wouldn't be crashing this topic just to plagiarize my quote from another topic.
khrys
446 posts
 
Muralman, surely you mean conniption? And if not, you should at least try to define extinction, especially for those of us not as blessed as you.
khrys
446 posts
 
My Dear, you cannot plagiarize a quote that's already extinct.
muralman1 OP
1,527 posts
 
Khyrs. Why don't you have your maid give you a warm glass of milk, and tuck you in. You must be running a fever.
unsound
7,329 posts
 
Muralman1, please take this in the manner in which it is intended. I'm not trying to unduly attack the Apogees. I'm sure that you'll agree that they are a rather unique speaker. One that puts a unusual load on amps, requires more than typical care regarding placement, and to my ears and I'm led to believe others as well, presents a sonic signature of eleveated lower frequencies and depressed higher frequencies. Despite all this they certainly have their charms. The reason I mention all this, is because I'm curious if you had the opportunity to use the eAR amp on other speakers. Do you think the eAR is that most sought after neutral product or one that just seems to have a synergy with the Apogees?
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