Needed: Honest Advice on high-end amps- either mono or stereo

yep @ghdprentice kind of nails it …..point, set, and match in tennis jargon

@yesiam_a_pirate : When the audio hobbyist migrates up into high-end performance with a $$$$$ / Ka-Ching entry point, a couple of paradigms stand out:

(a) That anecdotal “Rule of Fourths “ (or similar variant) governs: ergo… it’s an inverse relationship that  triggers a four-fold cash drain on your wallet to acquire that added 25% in audio performance, 

That now dovetails into the following homily. 

(b) “Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.” - Warren Buffett

The only true high end amps I've heard in recent decades are the Convergent tube amps, and yes, on a top notch system they really do make a difference.  Whether or not they're worth it I can't say, because I'd be very hard pressed to justify that much money.  Diminishing returns are in full play, but are also audible.  It is a system, and it needs to all be at a similar level to maximize the overall performance.

I'd guess I'm getting roughly 90% of the performance for a fraction of the cost with some heavily modified Dyna/VTA amps in my system, but the difference is notable when I go and hear the CATs.  If I stay away, and just listen to my rig, I'm perfectly content! 

Diminishing returns is a real thing, however every step up in quality is very rewarding and typically worth the initial investment.  Notice I said quality, not price - I've heard many expensive components which were good but not groundbreaking.  When you hear something that changes your experience it's difficult to forget about - so be careful what you listen to!! :)

@ghdprentice 

 Honest question, what do you mean by that statement? Now, if you’re going for the Sound, spectacular the imaging from ceiling to floor off onto the side walls. Not natural in musical, but absolutely incredible. Then the Burmeister Boulder and some of those other brands are for you. I've been in the music business, for a few decades that's what I did to pay the bills. What I've experienced, wether acoustic or amplified, we've sought for filling the room, and it's always been preferable for a "live" sound pressure level. Please explain.

   Thanks RWR.

OP  I’m perplexed by the offering of high end amps. Needed: Honest Advice

I’ll get bombs by this. Your ears are correct. All current new hi-end equipment are a joke. All they are made by who can’t hear and can’t make the right sound. People who can hear run away from hi-fi audio.

The world’s best microphones are from 1950’s. The world’s best sound electronic guitars are from 1950’s. Same for audio tubes. People who made those best sounding electronics are dead now without transferring their knowledge to their students. 60~90 years old good sound mics are broken now and all new mics sound so bad that we must hear noisy recording and broadcasting always.

Alex/Wavetouch audio