Digital Amps - Your opinions and why so few?


Hi, I'm in the market for new amps for Maggie 3.6r's and just wondered what your experiences/opinions are on digital amps.
The technology seems well developed, and the advantages seem very tangible 'on paper'. I spoke with a tech guy at Tact Audio concerning their S2150 amp, and the 'specs' are very impressive. They amps also provide the facility to replace the speaker x-over. In a 2-way speaker, you can use two digital amps and program each amp with the associated crossover parameters.
I also spoke yesterday with a real gentleman, Henry, the designer/founder of H2O digital amps. I found him by following a buzz on the apogee audio website, where people using the difficult to drive apogees are dumping off their big Krells and Pass amps, and getting in the queue for the H2O. The few people already using the H20's are raving about them.
Then of course there are the Spectron amps, though I read somewhere recently that they may be going out of business?

The point is, if this technology has matured, and these amps can compete with convential amps, and they are cheaper, lighter, give off less heat, generate higher watts from a smaller/lighter chasis, and.....wait for it....may actually sound better dollar for dollar, why don't we see more of them around?

Rooze
PS - I'm considering dropping big $$$$$ on a pair of new S2150 Tact digitals, please, please talk me out of it, and tell me these amps are crap....
128x128rooze

Showing 4 responses by audioengr

ZR1600 is a good choice for planar speakers. There are several mods available for it. I compared it head-to-head with JC-1 monoblocks and it controls bass better than any amp I have heard, including the JC-1's. Here is a recent shootout:

http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/viewtopic.php?t=13174
Panny - your XR45 can sound as good as the Carver ZR1600 with the exception of bass control. This is the only edge that the ZR1600 has over it, once they are both modded anyway. This is the only way that I will listen to either one. Before mods, I feel that the XR45 really sucks, but the Carver isn't too bad stock.
The ZR1600 fan noise is easily remedied. It can also sound superb with the right mods. See this recent shootout article:
http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/viewtopic.php?t=13174
Panny - an improved after-market power cord is beneficial. There is no "synergy" with this amp. If you have good speakers, they will sound good with this amp. This amp will drive any speaker well.

The mods that I do improve:
1)output filtering stages
2) op-amps - by eliminating 8 and replacing with 3
3) power delivery to both the remaining op-amps and Tri-path module

All of these I feel are necessary.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
Manufacturer