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How far have ss amps really come in the last twenty years?

I have owned and enjoyed my Jeff Rowland model 8 ( recently modded and upgraded by Jeff to the last version) for many years. I recently had the opportunity of comparing it ( after mods) to a few of the current ss models from Gamut, D'Agostino, YBA, Parasound, Sim audio, CH precision, Constellation,PS audio,Pass Labs  and Musical Fidelity. The results were very interesting, because to my ears and in the systems that we did the comparison, the Rowland held its own against all but the most expensive D'Ag and CH amps. Even those were only very slightly outclassing the Rowland in the areas of top end resolution...and a tad in the bottom end resolution. Now the thing is that the last revision to the Rowland 8 was designed by Jeff over ten years ago! 
So, my question for those more technically inclined than myself is...how far has the design of ss amps come in the last ten...or even twenty years? 
128x128daveyf
daveyf's avatar
daveyf OP
2,865 posts
 
@atmasphere     

Very interesting post. Why is it that you think that the DBX folks won't even consider the type of amp your are suggesting in a DBX trial? 
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jag's avatar
jag
98 posts
 
i owned a Rowland 5 back in the 90’s and it was a very warm sounding amp. alway’s liked Jeff’s gear. i recently down scaled and moved into a hotel and now have a Rega Brio. Terry Bateman who designed the Brio showed a prototype to John Gandy and John thought that it was a Class A integrated and was surprised to find out that in fact it was SS. the first time i heard it, it reminded me of my old Audio Note pre-amp in some furtive ways. yes SS has come a long ways. i am hearing rich harmonic over tones similar to what i was hearing with my old all tube system, but with fast transients and articulation. the holy grail has been to realized the best of both worlds like we achieve with a live performance
rksweet
38 posts
 
A perfectly designed and built amplifier would have no discernible sound- it would simply amplify what it was fed. While I agree many amplifiers sound different, they all should sound the same if done right. 
sidekick_i's avatar
sidekick_i
59 posts
 
Worth considering is that you’re listening to each amp within the context of a system in a particular setting. You’re not only listening to the amps basically, but a chain of parts within a specific acoustical space. The end result is influenced by a lot of things where the influence of the amp in isolation is hard to tell.

The finest electronics which of some you’re mentioning also need the associated equipment necessary to reveal the differences and characteristics. Proper matching in between the components are also key, where one amp could work very well in one setting and less so in another.

Adding to all of this is of course your way of listening and evaluating, i.e, what you’re putting your focus on and find to be the most important qualities for your personal enjoyment.

So basically, to only switch the power amp in one particular system does only tell you a part of the truth and the potential of that specific amp.

/ Marcus, www.perfect-sense.se

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