Will digital amps make analog amps obsolete?

Analog amps wouldn't be obsolete, but if the digital/Class D Pulse Width Modulation amps like the Spectron continue to improve and offer sound quality that equals or exceeds power hungry analog amps, it will become harder to justify using these expensive room heaters.

There will always be audiophiles that like all the bits and pieces of a complex hiend audio system and will continue to use them.

For the music lover, digital systems will simplfy things and make it easier to get high quality sound for a lot
less money and lower operating cost.

Has digital music formats made analog formats obsolete?

This is a very interesting thread because it raises many more questions. What I find equally interesting is the lack of coverage from the audio magazine press. It is as if they fear to really touch it, to explore who is doing "what" with it (the different typologies of using pulse width modulation). The Hovland may be using exactly this form of technology...all hush hush of course.

Prfont, I also have maggies, 1.6 qr's, and I am looking for an amp to drive them. It seems as though you are recommending PS audio's digital amp, am I right. What maggie do you have and what do you hear from the PS audio that has made you switch from tubes.

I would deeply appreciate if you can share any of your thinking about this.

Thanks for your help>

Best-Richard

Oopps...I meant Halcro not Hovland...sorry!

Best-Richard

Richard,

I have MG-12's with modified crossovers. I am indeed driving them with an HCA-2. I sold my CJ MV 52 prior to buying the maggies so my comparisons of push-pull v. digital where on meadowlard kestral hotrods(which are known to be tube friendly). Still I preferred the clarity of the PS over the CJ in the bass and surprisingly in the treble. Again, it was not the etched treble I was used to hearing with other SS I had heard. It was not about power or slam, I preferred it musically. My other reasons are stated above, it's an easier amp to have around the house and in my current set-up, I just don't need the heat, size, and expense of an tube amp suitable to drive the maggies. Search the planar aslyum archives at Audioaslyum and you may get some more info.

good luck,

Pete