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General Asylum General audio topics that don't fit into specific categories. |
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In Reply to: Re: Defending the Gaincard and cutting the Amp1 some slack. posted by Passive Chappy on July 8, 2003 at 16:26:28:
You make an important point that seems to, indeed, have escaped some posters. My review compares the $1,750 Shigaraki 4717 (which I had in-house and reviewed a few months back) and the $1,795 AMP-1, NOT the $3,300 - $4,800 GainCard (depending on power output and number of power supplies). Shigaraki offers 3 inputs, 25 watts and funky looks/terminals. AMP-1 offers 45 watts, 1 input and aesthetics/build quality on par with GainCard proper.47Lab is made in Japan, Audio Zone in Canada. Both by small companies, neither in China, both with dealer margins. On balance, AMP-1 offers sound very comparative with Shigaraki (possibly better in two specific areas, likely slightly differenty, definitely on the same level), in an aesthetically far more pleasing package, and with clearly far superior build quality.
Apples to apples, and in my book, AMP-1 beats Shigaraki. How it would compare to GainCard I don't know except to paraphrase Mr. Segoshi who feels that GainCard offers higher resolution and finesse than Shigaraki while 4717 is a bit warmer, a quality possibly preferable in certain systems.
Passive Chappy makes another excellent point by mentioning some specific amps he feels perform "on the level" with the GainCard. Owning $10,000 tube monons myself and having owned and reviewed plenty of other good amplifiers, I must concur that the Shigaraki/AMP-1 implementations of the National Semiconductor chip are scarily good when mated to copasetic loads. If the IRS repossessed my tube monos tomorrow to punish me for wacky personal opinions and tangential writing, I could live with the sonics of either Shigaraki or AMP-1 on my $18,000 DUOs in a heartbeat - without feeling cheated in the slightest. I'd pick the AMP-1 for the "other" qualities mentioned - I like sound *and* high-quality aesthetics/functionality.
Regardless, that's high compliment for the basic architecture independent of specific implementation. It really should make certain uber-amp manufacturers quake in their boots. Of course, the Zen-like size and simplicity of these amps appeals to only a small audience to begin with so it's a mute point. To compete in the mainstream, they'd have to be brutish, big, heavy and expensive, defeating the whole rationale. But make no mistake. If it's high-quality sound you want, this concept pioneered by Kimura-San is eminently viable. So much so that I for one hope to see many more happy IC iterations and alternatives for budget-conscious end users.
Cheers,
Srajan
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Follow Ups
- Re: Defending the Gaincard and cutting the Amp1 some slack. - Srajan Ebaen (R) 16:47:40 07/08/03 (0)
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