Swiss amps

i've demo-ed several of the amps you've listed (Dartzeel, FM Acoustics, & Goldmund). each employ unique circuitry (not the typical class A, class A/B, &/or class D) which makes them rather unique fm other stuff out there.

FM Acoustics' website claims "proprietry enhanced class A circuitry".

Goldmund uses what they call "JOB5 circuit" (orignally invented by several grad students).

Dartzeel won't even say what circuit they use (but speaker cables MUST be connected b/f operation).

neither FM nor Goldmund makes use of massive transformers, capacitors, nor heatsinks commonly found on other high-end amps (in fact, pics of their innards show them to be mostly hollow), yet all 3 hv high bandwidth/current, are relatively lightweight, & run cool to the touch, etc. i'm not aware of any other Class A amp with these characteristics.

the Swiss does do a thriving trade in professional audio components. i believe companies such as FM Acoustics, Nagra, Weiss, etc. all started out this way. although this does not necessarily mean they'd make good audiophile components, it does show they are investing a fair amt in R&D.

as for Nobel prizes, i don't think they give these out for superb amp (or elec circuit) designs at the moment.

hi Dazzdax,

the latest Goldmund Telos range doesn't sound tubelike or silky. they're tonally transparent with very extended highs & more on the 'forward' side. pace-wise, they fast & dynamic (hence very lively). i find them similar in character to FM Acoustics.

Dazzdax:

i find FM Acoustic to be more musical than the Goldmund, but only when used in conjunction with a FM preamp.

the Goldmund amps are lively & musical, but not in a 'tube' sense (i.e. silky sweet mids). a number of other amps i tried had smoother, more fluid mids, but usually at the expense of speed & immediacy.

i should add - all amp demos were done on Marten Coltrane speakers, Emm DCC2 running directly into the amp (except for part of the FM session when we inserted a FM preamp). Jorma Prime cables & Shunyata Anaconda Helix Alpha power cords were used throughout.

Mrtennis:

i didn't claim these amps (or amp designs) were superior. just diffferent. nothing will works well with everything. it's all a matter of preference & synergy (within a particular system).