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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
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,954 posts
 

@mapman 

Because GANFETs have no leads on them and are quite small, they allow for reduced noise from the amplifier module. This is really important; its not good enough IME/IMO to just be able to meet European Union radiation directives (required for the CE mark) or similar; the amp really should be quite a bit quieter than that so switching noise doesn't mess with other equipment in any way. If the GANFET amp is done properly it can be so quiet that class A or AB amps actually radiate more noise.

zuesman
207 posts
 

drbay,

I just purchased the SIM audio 861 amplifier all I could say is wow I listened to the Burmeister 216 and 218 which are 50 and $70,000 Canadian and the same audio 861 sounds better the background details those little fine details you can hear a lot clearer with the sim audio 861 and it's only 22,000 US or 29,000 Canadian, the MDCA circuitry that Sim has developed is a real game changer it's going to piss off a lot of companies that make real expensive amplifiers.

jkhjr
2 posts
 

So many great electronics in this post! I think I counted over a dozen brands.  I probably heard half of them.

 

i did an in home test with accuphase v boulder v ch precision.  Magico speakers.  I used to have Sonus Faber.

The night and day difference between Accuphase and Boulder was astonishing.  It’s like I changed out every part of my system.  Accuphase was UBER warm and Boulder was UBER open and detailed.  It really is a personal preference as to what you want music to sound like….and your musical tastes, room, etc.  for me Accuphase didn’t show the Magicos transparency and openness and the Boulders were fatiguing and a bit bright….though with my Sonus Faber Boulder was perfect!

For my Magicos (M6 + SSubs) CH Precision was easy choice of the 3 as it was somewhere in the middle of the accuphase and Boulder…musical, detailed, a little warmth,

if you want uber detail, punch, power, dynamics, Boulder really is a remarkable brand.  CHP is more laid back then Boulder, doesn’t have the limitless power but is can be a bit more musical depending on your other components, etc.

ghdprentice
7,289 posts
 

@jkhjr

Excellent comments!

 

Pointing out the essence of the differences between some high end brands and of course Magico are the ultimate microscope through which to hear differences. Also, showing how matching is critical. 

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