How far have ss amps really come in the last twenty years?


I have owned and enjoyed my Jeff Rowland model 8 ( recently modded and upgraded by Jeff to the last version) for many years. I recently had the opportunity of comparing it ( after mods) to a few of the current ss models from Gamut, D'Agostino, YBA, Parasound, Sim audio, CH precision, Constellation,PS audio,Pass Labs  and Musical Fidelity. The results were very interesting, because to my ears and in the systems that we did the comparison, the Rowland held its own against all but the most expensive D'Ag and CH amps. Even those were only very slightly outclassing the Rowland in the areas of top end resolution...and a tad in the bottom end resolution. Now the thing is that the last revision to the Rowland 8 was designed by Jeff over ten years ago! 
So, my question for those more technically inclined than myself is...how far has the design of ss amps come in the last ten...or even twenty years? 
daveyf

Showing 6 responses by roberjerman

All today's SS amplifiers measure exceedingly well in all parameters! Sonic neutrality is the order of the day! To say that amplifier A sounds "better" or "blows away" amplifier B is to be guilty of delusional thinking! Measurements rule - not "my golden ears" told me it is so!
If you want to hear an amplifier sound "different" get a tube amp with an output impedance of several ohms! Ohm's Law rules here! A frequency response that will follow the varying impedance of the typical speaker.
@mrdecibel : I probably have more amps (both SS and tube) on hand (along with speakers) than you do! So I can speak with some experience! And I agree with you that Class D is an interesting development - though I was aware of it long ago with Infinity's ill-fated attempt at it! 
SS amplification reached sonic equivalence decades ago! If you think that amplifier A sounds better than amplifier B, remember it is only in your mind - not in Reality! Expectation bias is the ruling factor here when trying to ascertain amplifier "quality"!
@mrdecibel : I have never been in a rock band and my hearing is still good! Right in front of me to my left is a Richard Brown Electronics Lab BEL 1001 amp (serial no. 0001). A favorite of Harry Pearson's from 1980. This requires an IEC cord - for which I bought a $99 Pangea from Audio Advisor. My TOTL Toshiba DVD player (2003) needs the same. So there, at least two pieces using IEC outlets!

I will put that BEL 1001 amp (first production one!) up against any of today's pricey gear! For too long audiophiles have been conned into the belief "spend more, get more"! So a $10K amp has to be sonically much better than a $1K amp? And a $50K amp better than the $10K amp? Not necessarily true! With electronic gear diminishing returns sets in quite quickly!