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In Reply to: RE: Solid State Power: MOSFET vs. Bipolar? posted by pictureguy on October 13, 2010 at 20:56:35
HI picture,
There is a way to expose yourself to a variety of amps, in your system, and not cost a fortune. Buy excellent stuff used. The operative word is EXCELLENT. The initial entry price can be high but after that you can turn over equipment at no loss or possibly even make a profit.
This method won't get the most current equipment because to make it work you have to wait until depreciation is maxed out. I have found that great amps remain great for a long time. So, for example, a great ten year old amp will still be very close to the state-of-the-art represented by current models.
I think this is less true of solid state amps than tubes. Solid state amps are still evolving trying to overcome basic problems inherent with the use of bipolar transistors. But they continue to improve. The best of the ten year old solid state designs can be excellent even now.
You are right. I left out Nelson Pass. I wasn't trying to be comprehensive. I was trying to illustrate my point with brands I have owned. I am a big admirer of Nelson Pass. My leaving him out of the discussion should not be taken as a put down or ignoring one of the great modern amp designers. The "buy used" technique should not extend to Threshold (Pass designs). They can't be maintained with reasonable ease. Great amps though.
I note that you have Maggies. I have always liked them no matter the model or age. When I was in the market for a magnetic panel speakers, the choice came down to Maggies and Apogee. Eminent Technology was not on the market yet. Apogee won. But not for long. I ended up with Martin Logan CLS IIA electrostatics which I still love 20 years later. Now here is a speaker that will expose every wart in a system. With CLS IIA's synergy is extremely important; more than usual. They work beautifully with tubes but most tube amps can't handle the brutal load. My ARC D250 Mk II Servo amp puts those problems aside.
Sparky
Follow Ups:
Yep, karma,
I've been aware and heard of people doing the preowned swap and roll thing for a while. I'm not going to get on that bus.
And yes, there are bunches of amps out there which would qualify as testable. I'd personally like to try a Mac with my panels. Or Bryston....or a Pass.
I have no interest, however, in going 'tube'. Here's what would happen. I buy a nice tube amp. Something of decent power and good reputation. I don't like it. Than the trouble would start. 'Why didn't you try XYX tubes?' OR 'Those nasty I/Cs are the problem.....Junk 'em out!' OR 'You use WHAT for speaker wire? That's in insult to that fine amp'.
I've seen suggestions and comments like above for while now. Even stuff that makes no sense. Guys' got a hum.....Sounds to me like some kind of ground problem or maybe a dimmer or other device on the same line. Next thing you know, he's induced to lift all his grounds, buy a 2kva iso transformer and get the power company to run him a new feed and transformer. Problem persists. His wife sews at the times he likes to listen and the motor control of the sewing machine is putting some 'hash' on the line and some RF in the air.
I see you've had your speakers for a LONG time....at least by hifi standards. This is a good thing, to me, at least. I had my first set of panels for 20+ years and a rebuild thru WhiteBear Lake. Sold 'em to buy some 1.6s and a new amp.... Magnepan is Magnepan...even over longer time periods. The only thing they screwed up, IMO was when they rotated the pole piece to the BACK and sold 'em with the mylar side to the listener. Just my opin, but I have ROTATED my panels and listen to the pole piece side to great satisfaction.
Cheers::
Too much is never enough
HI,
I can understand, I guess, you not wanting to go to tubes. But, you act like your actions are being driven by others. That I do not understand. If you want to learn, you must do it yourself and to hell with what others think, including me.
Sparky
I can see, perhaps where my last post may lead you astray. The couple brands I mentioned include 2 which are mentioned a lot with Magnepan and 1 which isn't...Mac.
Not accurate. I'm a little on the obsessive side so approach things like a lunatic. IF I bought tube gear, I'd be tempted to go the 'rolling route' and finish off my last active brain cell. IF I did buy tubes I'd start with a pre. I understand (correctly?) the tubes last longer. The other thing. If I bought tube stuff, I'd end up with a tube checker and 300$ worth of Fluke and maybe even a scope....than cap tests and the road to insanity.
The fact that I'm not nutty about cables and power cords is evidence I'm not letting others choose my stuff by consensus. I DO see bunches of that, however, and you only rarely see my moniker in one of those 'what do I buy' threads where somebody asks about the 'best' something. I advocate listening. Tour local stores and get ideas of what you do or do not like. stuff like that. I've read many threads, for entertainment value, in which people advocate nearly opposite views...just a couple posts apart. The one 'best of' threads I did answer was one about inexpensive balanced cables. I was about the 5th person to advocate Mogami....while some other people were spending the OP's limit of 300$
Personally, I'd like to go hear more live music. I think that is my big weakness. I'd also like a larger base of stuff I've heard. The local emporiums are good for that and always have something interesting on, and I don't bug 'em......though I occasionally bring some interesting music.
Too much is never enough
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