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SS amp mosfet 'haze' - ever experienced this?

Tried a new amp in my system on the weekend: the well-reviewed Gamut D200 mkIII (partly based on HP's great review), a single-mosfet SS design. At the dealers' place, it sounded great (speakers were Wilson Benesch Discovery, an isobarak, lower-efficiency design). I can't use a tube amp right now (unfortunately!) due to pending child and the system is on a LOT (2-ch/HT mix), so am looking for the most full-bodied SS amp I can find (prefer fully balanced design to match my modded SF Line 3 pre).

Well, to my surprise, the amp did NOT work out as well at my place. My speakers are 97db Coincident Total Victory. Yes, it was full-bodied, but I was definitely aware of this haze, or veiling around each note. I have a friend who designs amplifiers, and he said that this is inherent of mosfet designs. I called Israel (Coincident) and he was not surprised that I only heard this once I got back to my place, due to the high resolution abilities of my speaker vs the speakers at the dealer's. I guess I will be sticking with my Sim Audio W-3, as it is much 'cleaner' on my system (given that I must stay with SS). Too bad, 'cause my Sim W-3 definitely has the edge in clarity, but the Gamut was a touch more full-bodied.

Has anyone else experienced this 'haze' with a mosfet-based design? I admit, those with higher-efficiency speakers like mine (97db/14ohm) probably are NOT using higher-powered mosfet designs anyways, but I would like to know how others feel about mosfet designs and this issue I had.
sutts
muralman1
1,527 posts
 
I had the advantage of replacing my Supersymmetry monos directly with a "chip" amp, same system. Everything became instantly clearer. I could see much deeper into the recording. Thee bass was much more pronounced and tighter. There was no turning back. My "chip" system has evolved greatly beyond that first baptism.
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muralman1
1,527 posts
 
That did not make a lick of sense, Tvad. I know you are a fan of Pass amps. Are you saying all the bold difference between my present amps and the X600 are those tiny pass component boards? I think not. The huge difference is due to completely different amplifying designs.

I'm a savant if you are a clairvoyant.
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sutts OP
700 posts
 
Gentlemen- I will add one note below- an exciting new finding for me... (by the way, no one is going to convince me about that the Mosfet haze doesn't exist- I know what I heard on my reasonably high-efficiency speakers).

I recently auditioned a remarkably uncoloured, yet also extremely communicative set of SS monoblocks. They are the Audiosector 'Patek' SE (the 6Moons guy raved about them I believe). I believed they would be termed a 'gainclone'. The low parts count and superb contruction stunned me, really superb and obviously meticulous build quality- perhaps this translates to the purity of sound I experienced??

I see big potential here- in fact, I compared them to the other 'new technology kid on the block'- digital switching power supply amps, in this case, a set of Bel Canto Ref 1000 monos. The BC's were interesting- but almost TOO quiet between the notes, as if in a vacuum... I found more 'life' in the Pateks...
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