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Can an IC based amp be considered 'high end'?

I'm fairly new to this forum so apologies if this has been asked before (I've searched the threads and can't find this question being raised), so here goes...

Most, if not all amplifiers that are regarded as 'high end' are either valve or solid state designs. Is there any reason why an amplifier based on an integrated circuit (chip) shouldn't be considered high-end as well? 47 Labs produced the Gaincard back in 1999 and DIYers have taken the design forward over the intervening years, improving performance, power etc. but there aren't many commercial products based on ICs. In my experience a very well designed IC based amplifier can give any other type of design (with a similar power output) a run for its money, I'm just interested why there aren't many about and whether there is a general opinion that they aren't 'high end', whatever that means.

pragmasi
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
Can an IC based amp be considered 'high end'


Build your own, get a ready made power supply, the "chip amp" put it into a Asian box with heat sinks with 2 rca's and 2 pairs of speaker terminals and see how it sounds.
For the best chip amp go to diy audio, they are the ones who are up to date.
Then after you've built it you can sell it on ebay because they are not hiend "yet"

Cheers George 
kgbspy
60 posts
 
https://www.ebay.com/itm/LM3886-Fully-Balanced-Power-Amplifier-Board-120W-120W-HiFi-Stereo-2-channel/162735526386?_trkparms=aid%3D555018%26algo%3DPL.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20131003132420%26meid%3D2203a910203044eaaac6d75d6e3f86f7%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D12%26mehot%3Dlo%26sd%3D312339841155%26itm%3D162735526386%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851
timlub
2,042 posts
 
A good friend of mine years ago was Marcof headamps, cartridges, cables, amps etc. 
He build an amp from STK086 mono amp chips. He did his own circuit design, made and etched his own boards etc. He has a excellent parts on the boards as well as a monster power supply. Other than deepest bass,  I would put this amp up against most out there.  Of course it wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea,  someone always likes something else better,  but no one would deny that it is easily an audiophile product.  
pragmasi OP
212 posts
 
Thanks for all the responses... I guess 'high end' is a pretty subjective term. It's nice to see that most are open minded about the technology used and not put off by the use of ICs. The LM3886 is a good sounding amp with a competent implementation of the datasheet circuit, it is possible to get even better performance with more advanced designs as well.
tubehead120's avatar
tubehead120
35 posts
 
No matter what you consider high end, most IC-based stuff can be improved by putting a Burson op amp replacement (made of discrete parts) in it.  The amount of improvement depends on what chip was there in the first place but I haven't found any op amps, even the very best ones, that can match a Burson.  (Of course it's easier to do this if the amp has sockets for the IC's, but quite a few do.) 
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