Solid-State Power Amp Adventures

Discussion in 'Power Amps' started by purr1n, Jan 24, 2017.

  1. Dino

    Dino Friend

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  2. fraggler

    fraggler A Happy & Busy Life

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    Can confirm that the Adcom GFA-5200 is better than my DIY TPA3116D2 at space and openness. That was the main thing immediately noticeable. Hard to pick out anything more nuanced since I can't swap back and forth easily. But just on a couple of days of listening, it is easily worth the $100 it cost me. I will still say that the TPA is a terrific amp if you need something compact and cheap for the desk. I enjoyed it more than a couple other Class D amps that I tried (both Tripath) and it will likely return to desk duty when the Adcom gets moved to my eventual living room system. $99 Schiit Fulla 2 to the $100 Adcom feeding my $140 Overnight Sensations has given me more enjoyment of big sound then any system I had based around the HD650. Maybe not as correct or detailed or whatever, but it sounds more like music should. Not abandoning headphones, but it has been really gratifying to return to 2 channel with all the knowledge that I have picked up from my earlier days.
     
  3. Nbees

    Nbees Acquaintance

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    What class D did u try besides Nuprime? PS AUDIO (ice) and CIA (hypex) have some 100 and 140 watters that "double down" on the horizon, and if I could expect class D done right, those manufacturers are worthy contenders, of course depending on how one feels about class D . Then there's a 100/200 good old AB amp coming from Schitt.
     
  4. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

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    Just read about the Monoprice Monolith series power amp. At $1000 for 2x200w, seems competitive with some Emotiva models and the upcoming Schiit Vidar. Curious how it performs.
     
  5. SSL

    SSL Friend

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    They call it a two-channel amp, but it clearly has 7 channels ... am I missing something?

    Edit: Yes, I was missing something. They just reused the pictures from the 7 channel version.
     
  6. Grahad2

    Grahad2 Red eyes from too much anime

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    Monoprice seems determined to be a good competitor at the budget end of the scale. Given how the internals are laid out, I have to wonder if Monolith 2 is just a 7 but with 5 'cards' missing.

    Edit: Given this comment on Monolith 3, seems to be so...
     
    Last edited: Apr 14, 2017
  7. Dino

    Dino Friend

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    I don't see a Monolith 4. Seems like since these are kind of modular, 4 channels for bi-amping stereo speakers would have a market. That is what I could be interested in, anyway.
     
  8. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

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    Emotiva has a modular amp that is configurable from 2-7 channels with a bit more power/channel. The monoprice seems the same.
     
  9. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Emotiva's line has become confusing, that's why I skipped them. The modular line is supposed to sound better, yet it incorporates cost-cutting measures such as the SMPS, which in my experience has always sounded worse than linear power supplies. Also, sharing notes with others' experience with Emotiva and other brand amps which I have also heard, I've decided to skip over Emotiva.

    Monolith modular amp designs looks interesting with the torroids, but they have not made anything I would consider spectacular of even good sounding. They look like a Chinese company knocking off existing designs. Not going to risk it because these amps cost well over a grand. Would rather stick with used higher line Crest or Crown pro amps.

    Class D has its place: cheap and efficient for power. I'm not falling for latest bullshit anymore. It's just a waste of my time. Not the kind of sound I am looking for. I'll revisit Class D when someone I know with good ears tells me there is something worth trying. I even hate class D for subwoofers, so there you go.

    Class D is insipid shit recommended by people with shit for ears.
     
    Last edited: Apr 15, 2017
  10. MrTie

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    The monolith amp is a rebranded ATI AT1800 series, so I'd expect it to sound like that, for better or worse.

    ATI:
    ATI.jpg
    Monoprice
    mono.png
     
    Last edited: Apr 15, 2017
  11. artur9

    artur9 Facebook Friend

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    Would love to see you compare Odyssey Audio or used Belles. Those have been my favorites vs old Krell and Parasound. I fully expect my ego to be crushed if you do get around to comparing those.

    One more, the Lindell AMPX. Has meters, too! Not that it means anything but was a stereophile recommendation for a while and is under $1600.
     
    Last edited: Apr 27, 2017
  12. quick

    quick New

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    Also curious to see feedback on some of the Odyssey stuff, especially if anyone has also had the chance to hear a Vidar. I've been on the fence about trying out a Khartago/Stratos for a while, but currently waiting for the Vidar release to decide where to go next for my 2 channel speaker setup.

    This feels unnecessary.
     
  13. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    That statement was probably excessive and made in haste, but I do feel it establishes a baseline of minimal standards. I've used digital amps in the past, but this is not technology I feel is worth pursuing (considering that many are no longer cheap) unless a trusted ear tells me otherwise.
     
  14. Thenewerguy009

    Thenewerguy009 Friend

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    Has anyone tried any of the Nelson Pass stuff besides his First Watt/Adcom line?
     
  15. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    @sphinxvc has NP stuff. He's also had the Odyssey Audio and the Vincent. I believe he said he preferred the Vincent.

    I've updated the first post BTW. Separated low and high power amps.
     
  16. Azteca

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  17. MrTie

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    Looks like a solid deal to me, also Bryston will still service every amp they have ever made, in as far as I know, they do require you to buy their dumb shipping box for $50, but I've heard their rates are reasonable for out of warranty work. That said $500 bones for a workhorse amp and pre, assuming it's in good working, even if it's bit cosmetically challenged sounds decent. Offer him $400 :)
     
  18. sphinxvc

    sphinxvc Gear Master (retired)

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    I'd give the edge to the Vincent over the Odyssey Stratos Plus, mainly for having a better FR (warm tilt vs. V-shape). FW is in another class.

    @Thenewerguy009 - never heard Pass Labs before. :(
     
  19. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    If you don't need a lot of power, I've found the Noobsound JL Hood 1969 amp quite satisfying, especially after the output cap is paralleled with a cheap 10uF red Audyn film cap. A little bit over $200 from Aliexpress or eBay. I haven't had time to write up much about it yet.
     
  20. Thenewerguy009

    Thenewerguy009 Friend

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    I ask because this guy owned or audition a slew of power amps (36), from Krell, Mark Levinson, McIntosh, Theta Dreadnaught, Bryston SST2 line etc...
    https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/my-long-list-of-amplifiers-and-my-personal-review-of-each?

    ...and placed the latest Pass Labs stuff at the very top.

    The descriptions are just a few sentences for each amp, but it gives a good idea of where they stand sound signature-wise.

    I knew a lot of people recommend the First Watt amps like crazy, but they are the older, much less powerful amps before the Pass Labs line came up (I think). I can't say I heard anyone in the headphone forums with a current gen Pass Labs either.
     

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