Digital Amps - Your opinions and why so few?


Hi, I'm in the market for new amps for Maggie 3.6r's and just wondered what your experiences/opinions are on digital amps.
The technology seems well developed, and the advantages seem very tangible 'on paper'. I spoke with a tech guy at Tact Audio concerning their S2150 amp, and the 'specs' are very impressive. They amps also provide the facility to replace the speaker x-over. In a 2-way speaker, you can use two digital amps and program each amp with the associated crossover parameters.
I also spoke yesterday with a real gentleman, Henry, the designer/founder of H2O digital amps. I found him by following a buzz on the apogee audio website, where people using the difficult to drive apogees are dumping off their big Krells and Pass amps, and getting in the queue for the H2O. The few people already using the H20's are raving about them.
Then of course there are the Spectron amps, though I read somewhere recently that they may be going out of business?

The point is, if this technology has matured, and these amps can compete with convential amps, and they are cheaper, lighter, give off less heat, generate higher watts from a smaller/lighter chasis, and.....wait for it....may actually sound better dollar for dollar, why don't we see more of them around?

Rooze
PS - I'm considering dropping big $$$$$ on a pair of new S2150 Tact digitals, please, please talk me out of it, and tell me these amps are crap....
128x128rooze

Showing 2 responses by muralman1

Hi Ramy, I'm glad you like the Acoustic Reality. It was a revelation to me, as well. BTW, my amp journey took me through the Pass X600 to the eAR. Now, I have moved to a new best amp ever, the H2O, another ICE powered amp, but one that is all together different, with much more power.
Rooze, the pics you saw must have been of his very first hand made prototype. My amps have perfect fit and finish. All the ones I've seen pictures of coming off the line are the same. I hear you on the sales lag time. There is a waiting list. As for resale, I know several people that would pay full price for my used monos.

Oxia knows I owned an Acoustic Reality, and the Pass X600. There is no doubt for anyone hearing all three, the H2O is the finest al-rounder. There are several items separating the H2O from the Acoustic Reality. For one, the H2O has an independent power supply, not borrowed from winds on the output transformer. The H2O transformer is a kilowatt.

A thousand dollar increase was necessary. The H2Oo amps are substantial amps that do not cut corners anywhere. The $4k price is way under some competitors, and equal to others. Henry offers a free trial for prospective buyers.