SoundStage! Ultra

[GuillaumeB]

New words from Mr. FRITZ

We don’t need Dan D’Agostino to make a quarter-million-dollar amp -- particularly when his $55,000 model broke on John Atkinson’s test bench. Mr. D’Agostino, remember your Krell KSA-250 power amp, which cost $5700 when you introduced it, in 1991? At three times the price today, an amp of similar power and quality would be considered a steal. Why can’t we have that?

We can.

There are ways to avoid the conundrum described by Craig, but it might require a reimagining of what the high end looks like. The clearest way is to forgo the notion that only separates can produce real high-end sound quality. For example, if you’re willing to abandon the bought-it-by-the-pound mentality that in part made the Krell KSA-250 so popular -- a mentality that many buyers still share today -- you can actually get better sound for much less money.

In the amplifier department, I’m thinking about the awesome products from Devialet. Consider that the Devialet 120 DAC-preamp-amp retails for $6495 -- not much more than the KSA-250 of almost 25 years ago -- and includes features that could only be dreamed of in 1991: wireless streaming, online customization, Ethernet connectivity, etc. And despite their reasonable prices, the sound quality of the Devialets currently constitutes the state of the art. But luxury buyers who just “know” that the six-figure amp must be better -- because they still believe that, to sound best, an amp must be heavier, bigger, occupy more boxes, and therefore cost a lot -- won’t even consider something like a Devialet. For you, Craig, and me: If you want to avoid the luxury/high-end conundrum, Devialet is a perfect starting and ending point.

http://www.soundstageultra.com/index.php...a-solution

Very interesting read... and I wonder how long Gryphon will continue advertising on their site.

Guillaume