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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
kalan
185 posts
 
Jtgofish: Yes, the hot-running valve gear does become a problem in warm weather. I have always felt, until just recently, that running valves was worth the hassles (tube replacement costs, heat, can't leave them on 24/7, etc) because the sonic goods the gear delivers are so rewarding.

But...after 20 years of using tubed separates, I am going to try the GamuT M200 monos (breaking in now). So far, they show great promise in creating a similar kind of large, open, transparent sound stage that the Cary SLAM-100's do. They are also musically engaging and seem to have a more even-handed tonal balance and handle the highs and very lows with the same even-handedness as their mid-range. The Carys seem to have a more transparent mid range, but the Carys' extreme highs and very lows are not as fleshed out as their mids, upper bass, and lower treble regions.

I may miss the eerie valve midrange realism, but the over all presentation of the Gamut M200's from top to bottom is damned good and pretty addictive. The Gamut trick of valve-like physicality (palpability?) and sound stage depth is the best I have experienced from SS in my system. (Plinius SA102 MkII, Goldmund M28, BAT VK500, and 47 L Gaincard S, among others)

It's all an adventure. We'll see what happens....
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sutts OP
701 posts
 
Kalan- please let us know how the Gamut monos work out for you- curious, how was the Plinius SA-102? Did you have it with the same speakers?? Plinius definitely seems to have their fans as well... btw- I had heard somewhere that the lower-powered (25 watt??) 47 labs amp (Gaincard??) was actually the better soundign one than the 50-watt version...

Cdc & Mural- thanks for expanding the desciption of 'chip'- good info...
kalan
185 posts
 
Tvad, I also lived with the DI-150 GamuT integrated for about four weeks. While it is good, as you mentioned, the First Sound pre-amp feeding the GamuT M200 monos as a combo comes much closer to the holographic presentation of tubes. While it may not quite have that last bit of 3D-ness of a good all tube system, the First Sound/GamuT combo actually has a better proportioned sound stage. Tube power amps sometimes tend to bulge the front center of the stage a bit forward in relationship to the outer edges and the rest of the imaginary "stage."

I am not a sound-stage/image freak, but I have noticed the more correct relative proportionality of the GamuT amps sound staging over some tubed power amps. As fantastic as that "see into" holography of some tube amps can be, the GamuT seems to get the over all completeness of the staging pretty well nailed.
jtgofish's avatar
jtgofish
515 posts
 
Kalan,
If you want fleshed out treble you should hear a Supratek Grange or Cabernet preamp with TJ meshplate 300Bs.Nothing I have heard comes even close.This is what I have been using with my $300 chip amp.An absurd mix of budgets and technology I know but it really works.
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