"It’s good to hear that $58K amps sound incredible, but at that price, they better. I don’t think that such a price range is really the heart and soul of
the market place."
You are right the "heart and soul" of the marketplace is not at the $60K range.... Nor is it at the $40K, 20K 10K, 5K, 1K, or $500.00. There exists no heart and sould of the marketplace per se.... There is however what is important for any particular audiophile, bearing in mind that his/your/her/mine is only a particular point of view, which has the same value or phylosophicl relevance as anyone else's.
All I am trying to assert is that any price range, there exist some class A, or AB, or D, or triod amps that someone will find preferable to every other amp.... And it is quite likely that what one audiophile finds nirvanic, may be found atrocious by someone else.
THe only thing to remember is that there is an incredibily large world out there, and the expeirience of any one individual is inherently limited.
There are so many Class D amps that are definitely worth exploring at prices less than $15K.... I will mention here only a few that either have an extraordinary musical reputation, or that I have tried myself.... But there are many more than this list:
D-Sonic M3/600 and M3/1500 -- Based on Pascal M-Pro2 and X-Pro2. The underlying pascal modules are capable of doing wonderful things.... Even the M3/1500 at 1500W per channel costs less than $300/pair.
Merrill Teranis stereo -- Based on NCore NC500 $2500. Amazing price/performer.... I have had it in my system for a few months.... It makes music at a level that I would be comfortable paying about $6K.
Bel Canto REF600. Already discussed. Based on NCore NC500 in mono configuration with the NC1200 power supply. If I remember correctly, this one might be about $5000 for the pair. Sorry I have not heard it yet, but I suspect REF600 to be a very good performer
Theta Prometheus Monos. $9K / pair (unless price has changed). Monos based on NCore NC1200, but sporting a custom toroidal power supply..... The combination is bound to be unique.... Sorry I have not heard it.
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Rowland M125 bridgeable. This one is about $3K. Based on a newer implementation of ICEpower. Reports tell of this amp being incredi bily musical and sweet... Sorry, I have not heard it yet, but know it by reputation.
Merrill Veritas monos -- Based on NCore NC1200. $12000 list. Incredible musical machines.... You will find my review on Positive Feedback.... I would expect an amp doing what this one does to cost about $20K.
Rowland Continuum S2 integrated. Based on Pascal M-Pro2, $9500. Heard it several times at RMAF.... Integrates also the Capri S2 linestage.... THis one is magic..... Had I not the big M925, I would be as happy as punch with CS2.
Will the above appeal to everyone? No chance.... Lots of audiophile have sonic preferences that are outside of what these amps do. Will they appeal to many.... Yes, provided the listener does not suffer from "Princess and the Class-D Pea" syndrome *Grins!*
Example... When ROwland M125 was first shown at Munich Show, a well known European media insider was mesmerized by the sound he was hearing.....
Thence came the fatidic question: "Does this marvel run in class A/B?".
The answer was in the form "No, it runs in class D."
To this revelation the insider replied: "Ah, we do not like class D!", and left in a hurry.
G.
