Solid State Amplifier Advancements In A Decade

Al,
I believe Tom Colangelo and one or two other associates started Viola Labs some years before he died.
It is significant to me that you mention the Marantz 2 amplifiers, (which I never heard), because I often compared the sound of more modern amplifiers in my system, with more up to date circuit topologies with my old Mac 2105, and then realized why they still command silly prices. They just sound really good. When all of the technology and casework is complete, it still comes down to what sounds good to the listener.
That said, I'm using an 8 watt 300b now, but I'll keep the Mac.

Bombaywalla, I really enjoy your contributions here, and more often than not agree with them. But, a lot of what you have attributed to happening in the last 10 years has been available for much, much longer than that.
In further defense of Mark Levinson, he's just one of very many, that for what ever reasons lost control of what once was thought be their companies.

I agree with Unsound. That was the basis of my response earlier. I do agree with some of what Bombaywalla wrote. However, in my opinion as an Engineer, much of what he has described has been around for quite some time.

I agree that class D amp design has come quite far, but, we weren't talking about that.

in my opinion, a major technology change will have to happen to supplant the current technology.

Maybe recording, processing and playback based on something other than electricity.

Having designed and worked on circuits, amps, pre-amps, filters, etc. for some time, I can say that good amp/circuit design is just that. There are some very good older designs out there that can definitely stand with the latest and greatest of today. They also managed to squeeze the best out of some not so great components. Sometimes one is limited by the technology of the era.

What I'm finding is that current Japanese transistor technology is also really amazing. That is a step forward.

Look at cars. How long has the internal combustion engine been around? We've greatly improved the efficiency of internal combustion engines, but they are still just that. Controlled explosions turning some machinery. We should be wayyyy past that by now. Don't get me started as to why we aren't.

But, I can tell you that the circuit/amp designers mentioned and many that weren't are absolutely amazing. I still go back and re-read some of Nelson Pass' early papers. Still relevant today. But, if this "hobby" was a popular as automobiles, we would see some major technology breakthroughs. In my opinion.

Look at what happened to phone and computer design/technology. It is changing on an exponential scale.

Who is stepping up to take over for excellent audio designers and move the industry a step or two forward?

I tell you. I count myself as fortunate that I can sit and listen (and still hear) my system/music with a good book, company, and a good glass of wine and appreciate it.

I love it.

enjoy

Benchmark AHB2. http://www.stereophile.com/content/benchmark-media-systems-ahb2-power-amplifier#buJbikdLh7dJAfBo.97

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Kr4, thanks for the link. I read the review. I wonder if that technology can be scaled to create an amp that can play at 500 wpc or 1,000 wpc at 8 ohms at attainable prices.
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