2. amps-preamps
  3. 169206-6504

Drummers! Which amps do you use for best Timing & Dynamics?

Many audio systems fail to deliver a really tight groove with correct dynamics and rock solid timing. The timing must be coherent from lows to highs as well. Some amps time well in the mids but lag behind in the bass. The amp must be lush or free of any hardness at the same time as well.

Please share your choices for amps , sources and speakers. 

In my case I am looking for great low volume performance, huge soundstage that opens up in direction to the listener, and the tight groove of course. Speaker efficiency 88db, minimum impedance 3Ohm.

I have the impression that amps which double into 4 ohm, have zero negative feedback and have high idle power consumption are the best for high current low volume performance.

I also prefer single solid core cables for best timing.

Price up to 5k used.

As bang for buck reference I want to mention the Kinki EX M1 integrated or M7 power amp which has excellent low volume performance and timing. It is slightly lean, cool mechanical and I am interested in other alternatives ( neutral or warm)


zuio
zuio's avatar
zuio OP
96 posts
 
Oh and a very important aspect in hifi is immediacy.

So no class D. Class D is like a super fast and powerful jet plane but it loses against a motorbike the first few feet...
avanti1960
1,617 posts
 
The Cary Audio solid state model SA 200.2 ES is the most dynamic amp I have owned.  Even with less than sensitive speakers. I think it is  little over $4k new from Cary Direct.  Blistering fast.  
tweak1
3,739 posts
 
Be interesting to hear how the GaN amps sound to drummers. I have a highly modified class D based on dual IceEdge AS 1200 modules. At 1200 wpc @ 4ohms it did a really good job of energizing my very large room BUT, I now have a LSA Voyager 350/600 wpc GaN amp which sounds significantly more potent. I wasn't prepared for that. Micro detail and strong drum thwacks, though they could be stronger (mods could help), especially better wire from the modules to the inputs
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
12,201 posts
 
I have the impression that amps which double into 4 ohm, have zero negative feedback and have high idle power consumption are the best for high current low volume performance.
Actually what you're looking for is the right distortion signature. If the amp has that then the way the amp does it is unimportant. What you're looking for is an amp with a significant 2nd and 3rd harmonic, enough so that the higher orders are masked. This will cause the amp to sound smooth and if the amp is also fairly low in distortion, detailed as well. So you can't see this in the THD figures- you have to see a spectrum of the distortion components.


Also the distortion should be the same at all frequencies. Usually amps are tested for distortion at 100Hz, which isn't high enough to show what's going on. It should have the same THD at 100Hz, 1KHz and 10KHz.


You're probably looking for a solid state amp since your speakers are difficult to drive. You might want to keep in mind that making an amplifier work hard for a living will in all amplifiers cause the amp to make more distortion. Do not be fooled by claims that the difference is 'inaudible' or 'negligible'. It is easily heard as reduced detail and usually harsher and brighter. If you really want to hear what the snare and cymbals are doing, this is an important consideration.


Another issue with inefficient speakers is thermal compression in the voice coils. This is caused by heating of the voice coil with each bass note- it causes the voice coil to become harder to drive and if you simple turn up the volume to try to overcome the dynamic issue this imposes it gets worse. So you might consider getting a speaker that's easier to drive if you really want to hear what the drums are doing.
More to discover