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I think Pro Amps are as good as Audiophile Amps...

69.134.5.254
Posted on May 30, 2004 at 14:44:35
Chris


 
With a lot more power and at lower prices.
Just like cable manufacturers, "audiophile grade" amplifier manufacturers capitalize on look and weight, and marketing. Professional amplifiers are equally -if not superior- competent to make the best out of audiophile speakers. What do you think?

 

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Re: Ga - NOPE !, posted on May 30, 2004 at 17:04:59
jimih


 
nt

 

Maybe up to a certain price point ..., posted on May 30, 2004 at 22:50:25
Jack Seaton


 
... but there has never been a Pro-use amp that sounds anything close to the better Audiophile amps available at this time.

 

Carver ZR makes audiophile amps look like really fancy heavy TOYS, posted on June 1, 2004 at 09:32:07
taloyd


 
hello,

As a former owner of a Crown Macro Reference, and two fully balanced, monoblock, no negative feedback, Monarchy Audio SM-70 (pretty much the best there is in terms of Class AB, and Class A amplification, respectively), I can say that the $800 Carver ZR1000 pro-amp, outdoes both, hands done, no questions asked.

Moreover, pro-amps are ALWAYS more reliable, as they have to be. Also, they are ALWAYS a better value, as they have to be. Professionals don't have time, patience, or money, for bullshit claims and pretty faceplates.

I think the Carver ZR series is one of the best things to happen to the audiophile world in a long long time.

I laughed my ass off when I first heard it, due to the sheer musicality, sound quality, transparency, resolution, speed, and everything else that makes this amplifier so much better than just about everything else. And the fact that it costs 3 digits. New. With a warranty.

peace,

-tal

 

If you can tolerate the acitve cooling...., posted on June 3, 2004 at 13:29:44
Zipcord
Manufacturer

Posts: 707
Location: No. California
Joined: December 19, 2002
 ..(fan) noise, then I totally agree.

 

I guess if your using...., posted on June 5, 2004 at 22:33:48
Sean
Audiophile

Posts: 4342
Joined: October 9, 1999
 "Professional grade speakers" to listen to the amps, they might all sound the same. Since i've worked with many different "Pro" sound amps and many audiophile amps, all i will say is that i STRONGLY disagree with you. If such was not the case, and being that i am quite familiar with many, many pro amps, it would be nothing less than foolish for me to spend my money on a more expensive amp that wasn't better sounding.

If i remember correctly, some "Pro Sound" website that did "glossy mag" type reviews happened across a Pass Labs amplifier. After comparing it to several "Pro Sound" type amps ( Hafler, Crown, etc..), the reviewer noted that not all amps sound alike and that the Pass actually was sonically superior. To me, this is quite evident if one knows how to listen and has a system that is properly set up. Then again, i know for a fact that "wire isn't wire", so we're probably on different sides of the fence.

Having said that, if you can't hear the difference, then you probably shouldn't spend the money. No sense in buying a Ferrari if all you do is go to the grocery store down the block. Sean
>

 

With which source material and componentry, posted on June 9, 2004 at 06:58:39
E-Stat
Audiophile

Posts: 37584
Joined: May 12, 2000
Contributor
  Since: April 5, 2002
 did you arrive at your conclusion?

rw

 

I think you are right sometimes (nt), posted on June 11, 2004 at 07:23:43
Magnetar
Magnetar

 

Re: With which source material and componentry, posted on June 12, 2004 at 07:55:41
Chris


 
Well, for speakers, I have B&W CDM-9nt, some 2-way Dynaudio DIY monitors, and Magnepan MG12s (I like to swap from time to time). They are wired with 18gauge high quality magnet wires. Interconnects are Belden-based Analog 2 from Signal Cables, or Monster M950i (I like to swap there too). Digital cable is either optical glass, or Monster datalink 100 coax. For some reason, there's something about Monster, and among MIT, Nordost, Kimber, AQ, the Monsters are the only one to come back im my sytem. I have not find a digital coax that I could live with to replace the optical glass, except for the Monster, which is to me the better connection. The pre-amp is an Adcom 710, and the source is a MSB DAC III with upsampling card. The "pro" studio amp I am using is a Samson Servo 260, had for US$190 new. The other amps I have had were Rotel RB1070, Adcom 5300, Arcam Alpha 8P. So my point is that if you consider a "mid/hi-fi" amp in the $500 - $4000 range, you ought to try a "pro" amp of equivalent value. My Samson is way better sounding than the Arcam (even in a bi-amp configuration with the integrated alpha), Rotel and Adcom. The Samson was 60% cheaper. Among the studio guys, the Samson is not a "reference"... it is just ok.
I have heard a few folks joyfully replacing so called "audiophile" amps with much cheaper "pro" amp.

 

Indeed some speakers, posted on June 12, 2004 at 08:09:54
E-Stat
Audiophile

Posts: 37584
Joined: May 12, 2000
Contributor
  Since: April 5, 2002
 like the Maggies do require some current and high damping factor to work their best. By source material, I was also curious as to the musical content as well. I find most pop/rock recordings less demanding than unamplified musical venues for reproducing the live experience. There really is no live with 32 track mixdowns.

rw

 

Carver amps were talked about at the Harbeth speakers group., posted on June 12, 2004 at 10:05:03
mark maloof


 
Robert Green and others talked about Carver amps at the Harbeth speakers group, noting which models they thought sounded best. Interesting, something I might check out some day (in regards to using electrostats), though I use tubes now, and a single Monarchy SM70 Pro (which is a nice little amp.)

 

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