1990's Amps vs Todays

2fast4thelaw

I feel the old-school amps are superior in dynamics and clarity than most of the new stuff but the old school amps are really hard on your electrical system. They were not designed with efficency in mind so the power supplies being high current have efficiencies of 50% or less where now power supplies are 80% or better but at a sacrafice of dynamics.

Unless a class D amp has a massive power supply, it isnt going compete with the old-school amps. Technology advances have reduced the size of amps which opens a whole new world of installation possibilities so there are other advantages. Also crossover and equalization has come along way improving and shaping sound easier and more convieniently.

Pretty much once amps started getting made over seas, quality went down hill in favor of mass production. Many of the great companies have been bought out and prostituted to the main stream market mainly to stay alive in this economy. I also feel surface mount technology has reduced relaibility in circuit boards so audio equipment just isnt as bullet proof as it use to be.

Good amps still can be had, but you have to pay big money to get them.

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speedfreak28

Great post! amplifier technology has come a long way and to the average listener the new amps are tough to beat but for clean undistorted power you just cant beat the old school AB power. Todays high end SQ amps still use AB power supplies but as 2fast said The sound processing has come a long way.