20 Year Old Amplifiers compared to 2017


Just a random thought, but I’m curious just how well the state of the art solid-state amplifiers from 20 years ago compare to some of today’s better offerings. For example, what does a pair of Mark Levinson 33Hs or a Krell FPB 600 sound like if compared to the latest offerings from Pass Labs or Ayre Acoustics?
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Indeed, willemj is right.

And so was Peter Aczel, of The Audio Critic, when he said: “Longtime readers of The Audio Critic know the drill that comes at this point: I repeat, for the nth time, that all amplifiers having high input impedance, low output impedance, flat frequency response, low distortion, and low noise floor sound exactly the same when operated at matched levels and not clipped. (Those who are unable to stomach this simple truth, proved over and over again in double-blind listening tests, should stick with Stereophile.)”

Of course, it's true that certain unique loudspeakers can present loading that will cause good amplifiers to sound slightly different; refer E. Brad Meyer's article that originally appeared in the June 1991 issue of Stereo Review. (More recently reprinted in the Boston Audio Society's monthly BAS Speaker publication.)

And while it may be theoretically possible to construct a vacuum tube-type power amplifier that will initially approach equivalent excellence, that product will also exhibit persistent and continuous degradation from the time of initial turn-on until its ultimate end in cathode depletion failure—barring other modes of premature demise (e.g. open filament, vacuum leaks, gassing, microphonics, atypical distortion, hum/noise). So vacuum tubes are not a wise choice when stable, long term circuit performance is a serious design goal.
Class D and digital amps are relatively new, thus do not have vintage counterparts.

I do say that the early Pioneer Elite Class D amps that were used in their upper end A/V receivers were not bad. I used one from 2003 for 2 channel music for a few years and was surprised how dood it sounded to stand alone class A amps that I tried. 
Whenever one of my class A mono blocks needs service, I pull out a 20-year old Hafler P3000 studio amp from the garage and replace it for a while. Always have the same two reactions:
1. Surprised at how good the Hafler sounds
2. still, can't wait to get the mono block back
Have recently tried a Nord class D amp and did not find it in the same league as class A amplifiers.
Have recently tried a Nord class D amp and did not find it in the same league as class A amplifiers.
+1 on that, listened to many "good" ones now that owners say are good, but they still don't cut the mustard.

Cheers George 
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