Digital Amp's

With regard to technical advantages, digital amps excel at just about everything.

How they sound is a subjective thing that you need to judge for yourself. Some audiophiles say they are great, while others complain. (What would you expect!).

One aspect that is worth considering is that digital technology is inherently less costly, although some manufacturers won't admit this and continue to charge high end prices. You can get a very powerful amp (eg:600-1000 watts) for less than a conventional 100 watt amp. This may have very beneficial effect on your speakers, far outweighing any sonic inferiority of the amp. That's true for my Magneplanar speakers for sure.

I'd check out the PS Audiio HCA-2.
I owned an Acoustic Reality digital amp, with the B&O module.
The HCA-2 beat it up, everywhere.

Many of the modern digital or switching amplifiers are superior to mid-fi Class A/B amps in dynamics and bass control (depending on power). However, I have heard none of them that really deliver the high-frequency realism that a good bi-polar transistor class A amp can. I have modded several of these and they get better, but still dont challenge the best non-digital amps.

They can be a good value if you are looking on a budget.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
Manufacturer/modder

I've only heard a couple of them, and not the very lattest versions. I've heard quite a few of the Spectron's in various systems and didn't care for them. Thats not to say that they don't work for others in other systems. I've only heard the TacT's briefly in less than ideal circumstances, but, in that context they may be amongst the top three or so amps I've heard. If I was in the postion to buy anything in their price range, I'd make it my business to give them a serious consideration. It's interesting that Audioengr finds the top end questionable, as this is exactly where I'm uncertain of their ultimate quality. Further listening is required.

I have tried the PS Audio HCA-2 and recently Channel Island D-100 Both excellent amps but like Audioengr give me a Class A SS amp.