why are old school amps worth so much?

[ppia600]

Originally posted by ca90ss
Those sony xes amps always go for good money. Very nice amps though. I'd take one over a Phoenix Gold or PPI amp of similar power any day.

Why do you think they go for so much and why would you rather have one over a phoenix gold?

[camusmuse]

Take a look inside one of those XES amps.....very pretty.

Dont get me wrong, I love the PPI and PG stuff, but I think the XES is in a different class(even if it is imaginary....lol).

All I am missing for my XES system is the amps.....and for what that thing is going for now($305).....I wont be bidding. Saw one go for like $100 not too long ago, still kickin myself......

[tsmith1315]

Refer to Jonny's old post:

The amp I always wanted....again!

[ppia600]

Yes I agree the ES amps are very pretty inside and surely use high quality components, but the newer Sonys are the culmination of those years of experience and they go for way less, even new. Maybe the ES have .00000001%thd and a damping factor of 2000 @ 50hz? The only benefit I see is possibly ease of repair judging by how the boards are layed out. I'd like to have two high quality amplfiers to compare with the same components to see if there was any audible difference. Maybe a phoenix gold ms amp and sony es with equivalent output capabilities and distortion values. Of course the MS amps go for a lot too...

[tsmith1315]

Originally posted by ppia600
Maybe the ES have .00000001%thd and a damping factor of 2000 @ 50hz?

I don't have a clue about them beyond what I've read here... I do know the ES stuff had a strong following.

In fact, Sony had a strong following as soon as it entered the car market and held it, at least, well into the 90's. Nothing Sony I worked with (all pre-ES) was remarkable in any way IMO, so when one of my buddies with a car full of prime stuff (4-PPI 2150 amps, 2- Dynaudio mid/tw, Audio Control EQ's, 4-Kicker C12's) picked an ES HU as an upgrade, I couldn't understand why.

I respect the opinions of plenty of folks in here, so I'll take their word that the ES amps are worth their salt.

[camusmuse]

IMO...

there was the XES....ES...and Explode ES....three completely different lines.

The first two, worth considering, the last one is not.

If i remember correctly...the xes was all hand built matched components, much like the orion gs gold amps....but better (opinion).

the sony es head of the mid to late 90's....some of my favorites.... there were comparable from alpine and pioneer....priced accordingly....

i just happened to install and sell the es.....so thats what i like....

[tsmith1315]

camusmuse:

"Mobile ES" - Was the cream of the Sony crop at the end of my installing days, and the only one I was aware of. The name suggested there was an ES home audio line as well.

I assume this line evolved into simply "ES"?

And do the ES HU's use an analog volume control? I remember my friend's having electronic preamp functions, but can't be sure.

[jol50]

I have one of the explod mobile es xm7527, it appears well built. Is a 2x75 and uses some strange FX50SMJ Mitsu outputs. It will run HC to 360rms x1@1ohm and .3% thd or 2x75rms at 4 ohm HV. It has a separate largish block the outputs are mounted on. I think it is half of one of these. but a little different inside. Features abound, you can even turn off the feedback. Its big and heavy, SMD on the back side, made in Japan. The outputs are very expensive. I saw one go for over 100 and the 4ch much more. It lists 58A current drain at 1 ohm HC. I never had love for sony, and much less after they got political and put a stop to the pc dvd burner/etc things they did. Do have an older HU that is really nice, worked really nice, maybe early 90s with dolby c and changer controller. I don't recall anyone selling them around here back in the day, just the cheaper stuff at retailers is all I saw. Not sure why I still have this amp, its huge on top of all that. I've seen many newer sonys that were blown up, much like many other imported amps.

[camusmuse]

tsmith -

ES or Elevated Standard started in the home line, I think(GUESS) that it was a poor man's version of the sony esprit(sp?) line that was super duper expensive home/audiophile stuff. that was before my time though....every now and then some esprit stuff will come up on audiogon.....still commands mad money.....

Pretty sure all Mobile ES was digital control....

I call mobile es, just es cause im lazy. pretty sure all car/auto es was "mobile es"....i got out before the xplode days....

[tsmith1315]

jol50:

there's nothing wrong with an amp being big and heavy here in the USA!


camusmuse:

every now and then some esprit stuff will come up on audiogon.....still commands mad money.....

Ah, yes. The Japanese esoterica. Pioneer also had some ultra expensive equipment out there IIRC. I faintly remember the hype from TAA/Stereophile "stereotype" readers. Thanks for the recollection, I'll have to do a search...

Pretty sure all Mobile ES was digital control....

Yeah, I thought so. I was hoping for another option when my Alpine 7904 goes south. I really love my old Alpine, but it can't last forever.

Anyone have suggestions for a very good indash CD with analog preamp other than Mac MX406, Clarion DRX9255, Denon Z1?Features are irrelevant, SQ and durability are the only concerns.