Amps I Like

Hi Bob!
Ayre is a very interesting amp design. The diamond circuit is one I fell in love with and don't really know why, despite a number of serious criticisms of it's technical performance.
It falls short of perfection but I really love the sound. I also love the sound of it implemented as a headphone amp. The Pono and Codex are among the best headphone amps I've ever heard.

Now, as for the speaker amps.... this is going to sound really weird, because I can't really connect what I hear with a technical measurement.

Ayre amps provide a lush dark backdrop which I've heard in no other amplifier. I don't mean they are dark sounding (i.e. reduced treble) but that the sound seems to emanate from absolute nothingness and explode without boundaries. An effect I've not heard in any other amplifier.

The argument can be made that there are colorations... but if so I can't describe them with the normal verbage.

D'Agostino lacks that, IMHO, but then, that's an Ayre signature quality. D'Agostino is like heavy lightning. Utterly smooth, no noise, no grain, also without a limit into the treble or bass.

I find the D'Agostinos and Luxmans to be a lot more similar than they are different.

All the amps in the A category I've listed make the B class seem restricted, like not enough energy comes out in the bass or the treble, and have an utter smoothness and liquidity the B class lacks.


Best,

E

I do know what you mean about the sound being restricted.I've heard it before.I've thought to myself as it being too polite or lack of dynamics.

Say Erik, could you list out things you really, really like, as opposed to the things you kinda sorta like?

Also, could you list the gear you felt guilty about listening to, because you kinda sorta thought you might be interested in buying, but then didn't, and so wound up feeling guilty even though you originally thought you wouldn't?

Thanks!

Hi Miller,

I'm afraid you have me confused with an employee of yours. I thought this was a forum to discuss our relationship with audio gear and share our experiences. As such I'm not really obligated to take your criticisms. I'm writing as I would talk, and explaining my goals as I go along.

Feel free to write better and show us how it should be done.

Best,
Erik

I am struck by the hilarity of trying to write a completely positive thread, and still having people come in to spoil the fun.

I mean, I can’t write about amps I like. I can’t say "I heard class D amps and I liked them, pretty cool"

What else will cause me to get hen pecked by the peanut gallery?


I mean, let me write a short post on a couple of DACs I heard ... that has GOT to get them all frothy. For heaven's sakes gang, you have all these pretenses of culture and taste and this is what you do for giggles?