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Power Amplifier - Maximum Resolution & Detail!

I am assuming some of you have experienced the following.... All else being the same in the chain, you replaced a power amplifier and started hearing more resolution and detail, perhaps a lil more in a track that you have heard a thousand times.

Ime, the higher you go up in price doesn't necessarily guarantee that you could experience the above mentioned. It seems to come down to the nitty gritty of the circuits under consideration, i.e., the black art of power delivery and analog circuit design.

What is a power amp you may have experimented with that provided the maximum detail and resolution at any price? (Not just perceived changes in tonal balance, etc).

I am hoping to shortlist a power amp based on some suggestions here for a future purchase.

 

P.S. If you are an ASR type of guy who thinks all power amps sound the same, this may not the right thread for you, I suppose...

deep_333
at0310t's avatar
at0310t
13 posts
 

I've had wonderful experience with the Ayre KX-R Twenty preamp paired with the Ayre VX-R Twenty Power amp. Incredible resolution with a rube-like presentation.  I've yet to hear anything since acquiring them 6 years ago to suggest an upgrade.

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hk_fan
487 posts
 

I will second the Ayre recommendation.  Excellent electronics!

ckr1969
101 posts
 

burmester 218 is the best amp i have owned

fleschler
2,023 posts
 

Despite owning two great sounding tube power amps, I chose my first solid state amps in 50+ years.  The Westminster Labs REI.  Not inexpensive but superb powerful amps at low weight, warm only and no maintenance requirements.  No feedback/impedance problems over the full frequency range with zero global feedback, Class A (or whatever the manufacturer says it is).  

zuesman
207 posts
 

You should definitely listen to the new SIM audio 861 amplifier it beats amplifiers costing two to three times the price, the new MDCA circuitry that they have developed is a game changer, It's the first a/ab amplifier that I know of that uses no local or global feedback most other amplifiers still use local feedback which affects the sound, I have no doubt that this amplifier will beat other amplifiers in the 40 to $70,000 Canadian range.

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