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Digital Amps - Your opinions and why so few?

Hi, I'm in the market for new amps for Maggie 3.6r's and just wondered what your experiences/opinions are on digital amps.
The technology seems well developed, and the advantages seem very tangible 'on paper'. I spoke with a tech guy at Tact Audio concerning their S2150 amp, and the 'specs' are very impressive. They amps also provide the facility to replace the speaker x-over. In a 2-way speaker, you can use two digital amps and program each amp with the associated crossover parameters.
I also spoke yesterday with a real gentleman, Henry, the designer/founder of H2O digital amps. I found him by following a buzz on the apogee audio website, where people using the difficult to drive apogees are dumping off their big Krells and Pass amps, and getting in the queue for the H2O. The few people already using the H20's are raving about them.
Then of course there are the Spectron amps, though I read somewhere recently that they may be going out of business?

The point is, if this technology has matured, and these amps can compete with convential amps, and they are cheaper, lighter, give off less heat, generate higher watts from a smaller/lighter chasis, and.....wait for it....may actually sound better dollar for dollar, why don't we see more of them around?

Rooze
PS - I'm considering dropping big $$$$$ on a pair of new S2150 Tact digitals, please, please talk me out of it, and tell me these amps are crap....
128x128rooze
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
Telescope_trade... I, also, haven't heard the Hyperions. As Gmood1 says, the ZR1600 input is balanced (remember this is a Prosound amp) but it works fine single ended using the Radio Shack phono/rca adapter. With regard to preamps, the ZR1600 input sensitivity is adjustable.
Choices range from 0.316 to 2.45 vrms for full output (600 watts into 4 ohms) so it would be easy to match up with source electronics if you want to use a passive preamp. The ZR1600 also has volume controls, separate for both channels, which can be bypassed if you think they degrade the sound.

The only drawback is that the amp does use a fan, which makes some noise. The best solution (the one I use) is to hide the amp away in the cellar or a closet. There is also a simple mod to change the fan to a very quiet model, and, for home audio use, it's been reported that the amp does not overheat with the fan disconnected.

It is solidly built (for rough Prosound use) and has a 5 year warranty.
telescope_trade
555 posts
 
Thanks guys for your input! I am thinking on using
a passive pre amp, but am a little worried about using
the rat shack adaptor, and I heard that the Carver also
cannot accept spades, which means I will have to change
my speaker cables also!?
Well I'm still giving it some thought.

Thanks again!
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Panny - your XR45 can sound as good as the Carver ZR1600 with the exception of bass control. This is the only edge that the ZR1600 has over it, once they are both modded anyway. This is the only way that I will listen to either one. Before mods, I feel that the XR45 really sucks, but the Carver isn't too bad stock.
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
The ZR1600 fan noise is easily remedied. It can also sound superb with the right mods. See this recent shootout article:
http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/viewtopic.php?t=13174
rooze's avatar
rooze OP
580 posts
 
Eldartford, what was your experience with break-in on these amps?....how much time do they need and what kind of changes/improvement occur in the first 30 hrs or so?

Also, what do you do with speaker cables, are yours banana terminated or do you use an adaptor?

I picked up a pair of the ZR1600's and have about 5 hrs on them so far.
I'm using a Cardas banana to spade adaptor but it doesn't make a really good contact.

I shouldn't form an opinion with only a few hours on them, but my initial reaction is that these amps are very good for the money, but are not really the 'giant killers' that people are suggesting....perhaps they just need another 20 hrs or so.

Thanks

Rooze
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