I listened to all three videos straight through, one after another.
I don’t think this is that close. It is easier than the DAC shootout.
I agree with WC’s description that one amp sounds like a DIY kit and one a refined, finished product.
I’ll note that I think WC’s music selection made this closer than it needed to be. None of the three music selections were very dynamic or complicated. They were all pretty simple, not much happening at any given time. Not a criticism, just an observation. On music like that, it is easier for an inferior product to keep up.
I don’t know whether WC kept the same amp as #1 and #2 each time but I think he did. I’ll assume he did.
For me amp #2 wins easily. Better all around in every way.
Why?
First, amp #1 has a much higher noise floor than does amp #2, and for that reason amp #2 sounds much more refined.
Second, while amp #1 sounds fine when things are simple (which as mentioned above is most of the time in these recordings), when things get more involved, it begins to fall apart. As one example, take the piano chords near the end of Private Investigations (video 2). Amp #2 sounds much more realistic as to how a real piano sounds versus amp #1. Most know that getting the piano to sound realistic is one of the most difficult things to do in audio reproduction. With single piano key notes, harder to distinguish, but get a succession of chords, and it becomes clear. So for me that tends to be a nice gauge of quality. No comparison in that regard for me between the two amps.
I could go on but suffice to say that amp 2 just sounds more authentic. Amp 1 sounds more contrived. I concur with the poster above who was adamant that 2 was better and many of the reasons he/she gave.
Goes without saying that this all through YouTube and probably we are getting 20% of the real thing this way, so I defer to WC’s take on actually being in the room. If he tells us that amp 1 blew away amp 2 in the room then I will have lost all respect for YT’s ability to convey what actually happening (whatever respect I have today that is).
I’ll close with a medical analogy. Amp #1 is Target Minute Clinic. Amp #2 is a full trauma hospital. If you have simplistic listening needs, or just have a scratchy throat and need a strep test, get amp #1 or go to Target Minute Clinic. You’ll be happier, it’ll be quicker, and cost less, and you’ll get the strep test and a prescription or the simple sonic presentation you will be happy with.
On the other hand, if you’re a more sophisticated listener with a broad palette of sonic requirements, or to switch to the medical side if you have medical needs beyond the trivial sore throat (maybe you have the onset of throat cancer where early diagnosis could be life saving), go to the hospital or associated clinic -> better odds of being satisfied with the sonic presentation or getting the life-saving intervention you need.
There you go, easy. Haha
Edit: I reread and realized I forgot to say that amp 1, if it is the Rouge, sounds amazing for a $1700 amp, and it sounds pretty good regardless of price. If amp #1 is the megabuck amp, then I know for sure I would never get that amp, haha. If amp #2 is the Rouge, then it is a YouTube star. Thanks to Viber for sending his amp and to WC for the shootout.
I don’t think this is that close. It is easier than the DAC shootout.
I agree with WC’s description that one amp sounds like a DIY kit and one a refined, finished product.
I’ll note that I think WC’s music selection made this closer than it needed to be. None of the three music selections were very dynamic or complicated. They were all pretty simple, not much happening at any given time. Not a criticism, just an observation. On music like that, it is easier for an inferior product to keep up.
I don’t know whether WC kept the same amp as #1 and #2 each time but I think he did. I’ll assume he did.
For me amp #2 wins easily. Better all around in every way.
Why?
First, amp #1 has a much higher noise floor than does amp #2, and for that reason amp #2 sounds much more refined.
Second, while amp #1 sounds fine when things are simple (which as mentioned above is most of the time in these recordings), when things get more involved, it begins to fall apart. As one example, take the piano chords near the end of Private Investigations (video 2). Amp #2 sounds much more realistic as to how a real piano sounds versus amp #1. Most know that getting the piano to sound realistic is one of the most difficult things to do in audio reproduction. With single piano key notes, harder to distinguish, but get a succession of chords, and it becomes clear. So for me that tends to be a nice gauge of quality. No comparison in that regard for me between the two amps.
I could go on but suffice to say that amp 2 just sounds more authentic. Amp 1 sounds more contrived. I concur with the poster above who was adamant that 2 was better and many of the reasons he/she gave.
Goes without saying that this all through YouTube and probably we are getting 20% of the real thing this way, so I defer to WC’s take on actually being in the room. If he tells us that amp 1 blew away amp 2 in the room then I will have lost all respect for YT’s ability to convey what actually happening (whatever respect I have today that is).
I’ll close with a medical analogy. Amp #1 is Target Minute Clinic. Amp #2 is a full trauma hospital. If you have simplistic listening needs, or just have a scratchy throat and need a strep test, get amp #1 or go to Target Minute Clinic. You’ll be happier, it’ll be quicker, and cost less, and you’ll get the strep test and a prescription or the simple sonic presentation you will be happy with.
On the other hand, if you’re a more sophisticated listener with a broad palette of sonic requirements, or to switch to the medical side if you have medical needs beyond the trivial sore throat (maybe you have the onset of throat cancer where early diagnosis could be life saving), go to the hospital or associated clinic -> better odds of being satisfied with the sonic presentation or getting the life-saving intervention you need.
There you go, easy. Haha
Edit: I reread and realized I forgot to say that amp 1, if it is the Rouge, sounds amazing for a $1700 amp, and it sounds pretty good regardless of price. If amp #1 is the megabuck amp, then I know for sure I would never get that amp, haha. If amp #2 is the Rouge, then it is a YouTube star. Thanks to Viber for sending his amp and to WC for the shootout.