Some may be getting confused on the distinction between "significant" vs "sounds really good".
For instance the the Phase Linear was significant, and although it sounds pretty good, it certainly does not sound "really good". I remember at the time it came out, it filled a niche and was affordable. It generated quite a bit of excitement. Same for the Hafler amps.
For instance the the Phase Linear was significant, and although it sounds pretty good, it certainly does not sound "really good". I remember at the time it came out, it filled a niche and was affordable. It generated quite a bit of excitement. Same for the Hafler amps.
Let's make clear whether we're talking about current (not historical) amps that are considered "world class" by audiophiles. They might not measure very well, but have a reputation of excellent sound (according to semi-objective criteria).
People might also be interested in amps that are historically significant, so, let's talk about those too.
We just need to make clear which type we're talking about.
About the only amp that comes up in the lists that I consider significant is the NAD 3020. Most of the others seem to be cost-no-object esoteric stuff.
Why don't we compile our own list? Here is my start. Copy and paste into your post and add your own entry at the bottom. It would be nice if you gave a short reason for your choice.
1. NAD 3020 (was affordable and sounded good)
2. Naim NAP250 (created lots of hype)
3. Krell KSA50 (lots of output transistors did make a good amp)
Why don't we compile our own list? Here is my start. Copy and paste into your post and add your own entry at the bottom. It would be nice if you gave a short reason for your choice.
1. NAD 3020 (was affordable and sounded good)
2. Naim NAP250 (created lots of hype)
3. Krell KSA50 (lots of output transistors did make a good amp)
Last edited:
It's certainly an incredibly USA-centric list! There again it's a yank magazine.....
How about
Leak Stereo 20
Quad II
Radford STA25
Quad 303
Quad 405
NAD 3020
A & R Cambridge A60
EAR 519
Musical Fidelity A370
Sugden A21
Not in any way supposed to represent the best ever at any price but "most significant" from a UK view point...... Notice the lack of anything made by Naim!?
How about
Leak Stereo 20
Quad II
Radford STA25
Quad 303
Quad 405
NAD 3020
A & R Cambridge A60
EAR 519
Musical Fidelity A370
Sugden A21
Not in any way supposed to represent the best ever at any price but "most significant" from a UK view point...... Notice the lack of anything made by Naim!?
about
http://www.theaudiocritic.com/back_issues/The_Audio_Critic_21_r.pdf
there also listed a lot of amp models (start by page 34)
http://www.andervikaudio.no/EC DP-Line/tec spec DP/dpA1s_tecspec.pdf
about
http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/electrocompaniet/pi2.html
I read:
A CD player and cosmetic tweaks are in the works and the DP abbreviation derives from the firm Dynamic Precision which Electrocompaniet acquired in 2007. "Really powerful, really heavy, really expensive" is the tie-in. For years if not decades, the most well-known and continuously refined kit from Electrocompaniet has been the, nomen est omen, Classic Line. Potent, heavy and expensive applies as well.
Means this, that the international distributors from "DP" are the same companies than the international distributors from Electrocompaniet?
http://www.theaudiocritic.com/back_issues/The_Audio_Critic_21_r.pdf
there also listed a lot of amp models (start by page 34)
interesting device. Are there simplified schematic anywhere?
http://www.andervikaudio.no/EC DP-Line/tec spec DP/dpA1s_tecspec.pdf
about
http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/electrocompaniet/pi2.html
I read:
A CD player and cosmetic tweaks are in the works and the DP abbreviation derives from the firm Dynamic Precision which Electrocompaniet acquired in 2007. "Really powerful, really heavy, really expensive" is the tie-in. For years if not decades, the most well-known and continuously refined kit from Electrocompaniet has been the, nomen est omen, Classic Line. Potent, heavy and expensive applies as well.
Means this, that the international distributors from "DP" are the same companies than the international distributors from Electrocompaniet?
Last edited:
The best amplifier I have ever heard is the first Dynamic Precision amp.
Quite unique, puts every other amplifier in the shadow.
Cheers
Stein
Haha, good question
By semi-objective I meant those criteria like "transparency", "detail", "image", etc. which are often mentioned when evaluating amplifiers but cannot be measured by equipment, therefore are not "objective".
But I'm open to suggestion if you have a better name.
if you were right with your estimate, these models would also put in the shadow from the first Dynamic Precision amp:The best amplifier I have ever heard is the first Dynamic Precision amp.
Quite unique, puts every other amplifier in the shadow. Cheers Stein
Aleph 1.2 from Passlabs (vintage)
Pass Aleph 1.2 monoblock power amplifier | Stereophile.com
Krell MRA (Vintage)
http://www.stereotimes.com/event010101.shtml
http://www.soundandmore.com/showad.php?an=228§io=18
XA200.5 from Passlabs
Pass Labs: XA.5 Series Amplifiers
DM78 from Halcro
Halcro - dm78
"The Nine" from Sumo (solid state Circlotron, Vintage)
SUMO Line
TEM 3200 (Thorens Circlotron)
6moons audio reviews: Thorens TEM 3200
Michaelson & Austin TVA1 (Vintage) go to post #3 about
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/tubes-valves/131000-tva-1-export-circuit-schematic.html#post2325218
MX-10000 Yamaha (Vintage HCA-topology)
Yamaha MX-10000 on thevintageknob.org
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/soli...lic-conversion-amplification-hca-circuit.html
Can you believe this?
Last edited:
Yes, Electrocompanie bought DP and has a own new DP Line under construction!
Cant wait!!
Electrocompaniet - DP Line
Cant wait!!
Electrocompaniet - DP Line
The THD on those amps are staggering low, like 0.001 at 400w 4ohm and .0002 at 35w. There are those that say amps with very low THD sound bad.......... Symmetrical bad.........
Then there are those that claim that amps with predominant third order harmonics sound bad but then you see a amp like the new Musical Fidelity amp get the highest accolades from the audiophile community and this amp practically only displays odd harmonics although at very low levels. More interesting is that the amp gets compaired to tube amps, now how s that
Originally Posted by stinius
The best amplifier I have ever heard is the first Dynamic Precision amp.
As I said: puts every other amplifier in the shadow
Believe it or not.
Originally Posted by homemodder
The THD on those amps are staggering low, like 0.001 at 400w 4ohm and .0002 at 35w. There are those that say amps with very low THD sound bad..........
The low THD remind me of those of Deltec Precision Audio amps
Deltec Precision Audio
they use something a sophisticated frequency compensation scheme which allows high NFB and very low distorsion. Any connection between these trademarks ?
The best amplifier I have ever heard is the first Dynamic Precision amp.
As I said: puts every other amplifier in the shadow
Believe it or not.
Originally Posted by homemodder
The THD on those amps are staggering low, like 0.001 at 400w 4ohm and .0002 at 35w. There are those that say amps with very low THD sound bad..........
The low THD remind me of those of Deltec Precision Audio amps
Deltec Precision Audio
they use something a sophisticated frequency compensation scheme which allows high NFB and very low distorsion. Any connection between these trademarks ?
Haha, good question
By semi-objective I meant those criteria like "transparency", "detail", "image", etc. which are often mentioned when evaluating amplifiers but cannot be measured by equipment, therefore are not "objective".
But I'm open to suggestion if you have a better name.
Entirely subjective ?
The best amplifier I have ever heard is the first Dynamic Precision amp.
Quite unique, puts every other amplifier in the shadow.
Cheers
Stein
You hear it too short, hear it for hours, days, and you may put it into trash bin. I have such amp (that sounds clean, rich) few years ago and feel something unpleasant, until I have my "Nice", with its natural sounds (natural means my ears take rest instantly while the sound stop, like what happened to nature sounds, it help to prevent listening fatigues).
ShengYa (Vincent in Europe) also makes monoblocks (at leas ShengYa PSM-300 and Vincent SP-998/991/991+) that's THD% is ~0,0003% (IMD% is lower than this) between 0,5 watts and ~40 watts into 4 ohms. At 20Khz the THD% is 0,0009-0,001% so it rises, but little compared to more general designs.
The amp is "double balanced", so there are four amplifiers inside one monoblock, and they use only ~20dB of (edit: G-)NFB according to Shengya. Balancing drops even order harmonics very, very low, so the ruling harmonic is 3rd but it's level (-110dB) is negligible. Frequency response is wide (-3dB 5Hz and 150-200khz maybe) DC-offset is ~1mV, noise floor below 100dB (ref 1W/8ohm) and gain of both amp is within 0,03dB! Both the measurements and the construction is quite "audio art" to my eyes, with beefy power supply of 120,000µF Elna capacitance, (almost) all-polypropylene cap design elsewhere, lots of regulators with separate heat sinks nicely fitted on amplifier boards, massive 1,5kVA toroid with electromagnetic shield etc. so they get my vote for best <5000$ monoblocks amps, but who knows what of all amps they might swipe the floor with. Oh did I mention, they also sound fantastic
. Being high biased AB-class design they run very hot in "A-class" bias mode and sound delicate and smooth, one could say tube-ish smooth.I don't know about ultimate best amp, after all there are only "subjectively best" amps for all of us, but I instantly fell in love with Boulder's lates and the most massive amplifiers (I think they were also monoblocks) that was introduced this year when I read about it and looked some amp-porn pictures of it.
Last edited:
- Status
- This old topic is closed. If you want to reopen this topic, contact a moderator using the "Report Post" button.