Emerald Physics amps?

4xoddic

Anyone have a listen @ RMAF2012? I'm contemplating the EP100.2SE (x2) for powering my RTia9s.

http://www.emeraldphysics.com/search/label/Power%20Amplifiers

RMAF 2013 Emerald Physics and Underwood Hifi, room 1017 also in room 1030 with Wyred 4 Sound.

rpf65

Never heard this amp, but think you should look at Wyred4sound or D-Sonic. Seems like better pricing and warranties from those companies. I'm sure more knowledgeable people will chime in. Most will recommend an amp rated at 200+ watts.

4xoddic

Wyred4Sound & d-Sonic are 2 of the many sites I've been pouring over.

This quote from 6moons review of modified Outlaw Audio M-200 monoblocks:

"well-known machinations of modmen Walter Liederman of Underwood HiFi and Chris Johnson of the PartsConneXion."

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/outlaw/m200.html

got me reading thru some other threads on amplifier mods by these 2:

http://www.underwoodhifi.com/p/modifications.html

SONIC FRONTIERS Power-2

My guess is that they've peeked under the lid of a majority of Class D amps (read where Underwood HiFi was Wyred4Sound's first dealer). This has me thinking the EP100.2SE is an in-house twist benefitting from such modifications.

SolidSqual

Cullen Circuits is the brain power behind the Wyred and Emmy amps. I think the Emmys stray away from the B&O tech and use other ICE tech. I have the D-Sonic M2 1500 monos and love them, another non B&O amp.

4xoddic

"other tech', as in the Audiogon thread: D-SONIC SOA Class-D Core Amps. The best Class-D ? "discussion of technical merits of Abletec and other new generation class-D power conversion modules, to their application to actual amplifier components, and to the findings of those who have had an early chance of listening to such creatures."

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?aamps&1357229899&openfrom&66&4#66

From that disCUSSin', I have the impression that manufacturers are reluctant to mention exactly what they're using. Perhaps there's some pressure on B&0's part (I started this trip on a Yamaha CA-600, B&O 3702s & a Pioneer TT. Now have the Pioneer SC-07 w/ICE amps.)

rpf65

Seems to me, with my limited knowledge on the subject, that the goal of pretty much all manufacturers using class-D amplification is to achieve a dead neutral sound. In other words they are trying to not change or influence the house sound of other components in the food chain.

From what I have read about most of the manufacturers of these amps, they are largely succeeding. There are some of the higher end companies that I suspect are trying to color the amplification, but I suspect it is filters either before or after the actual amplification stage. I don't think at the price point that Emerald is trying anything other than looking for neutral.

Class-D amplification is still in it's infancy. Kind of like when cell phones started going digital. I still remember analog cell phones, and that was the standard about 20 years ago. Point being is I don't really seeing any huge break through in this technology at the present time. Low power consumption and neutral sound enhancement is what these guys are all about. I think the Emerald has a slightly higher price point, and it may very well be worth it. Personally I would probably lean towards the higher power ratings of the other 2.

4xoddic

rpf65: I still remember analog cell phones, and that was the standard about 20 years ago.

Was it that long ago? At the time, when my last cell phone started dropping out, I was told my problem was it was analog. 8<)

I think you're right on the "infancy" aspect. As for "Low power consumption," my 60" Pioneer Kuro sitting between the RTia9s does a splendid job of warming the room.

IMHO, the future with Digital lossless files will see software capable of warping the sound to emulate tubes/SS as you wish. Dibs on a software menu drop-down choices of: Audiopax Mk.III, McIntosh MC275, Octave Audio RE 290, ARC Ref 150 & Lamm ML3; or Simaudio Moon Rock, D'Agostino Momentum, Levinson No. 53, Anthem Statement M1 & MBL Reference 9011; or FLAT . . . hmmm, maybe Spatial could load that app on my Mac now?

unc2701

Check out:
http://www.profusionplc.com/pro/gex/prodGen.html?prdtyp=power%20amplifiers

ANAVIEW is Abletec. They're what D-Sonic is using now, I believe. Shipping on a pair of modules is ~$30 to the US and the cable hook-ups run about $5. So you can get a pair of 150watt monoblocks for about $300 and a pair of 600 watt monos for $600, (case and connectors not included).

All these guys mod the OEM modules a bit, but if you want a cheap way to see if you can live with the sound, this the way to go. I've heard stock ICEpower vs Modded ICEpower and it's not a massive difference; going from class A/B or tubes to Class D is going to be a bigger step.

And if you're wondering if you can handle DIY on this yourself the answer is probably yes. The only skill required is crimping a connector.

headrott

4xoddic wrote: »

IMHO, the future with Digital lossless files will see software capable of warping the sound to emulate tubes/SS as you wish. Dibs on a software menu drop-down choices of: Audiopax Mk.III, McIntosh MC275, Octave Audio RE 290, ARC Ref 150 & Lamm ML3; or Simaudio Moon Rock, D'Agostino Momentum, Levinson No. 53, Anthem Statement M1 & MBL Reference 9011; or FLAT . . . hmmm, maybe Spatial could load that app on my Mac now?

They may try to "emulate" tube sound, but like a digital sample of a mellotron (analog keyboard) used in a digital keyboard, it does not sound the same. The only way to get a tube sound is by using tubes, IMO.