Actually, your $5500/pair IS buying a lot of amps. If you are just comparing 200W to 200W then you are totally missing the picture. EACH Ampzilla monobloc has a 2.4 kVA torroid and 100,000 ufd of filtering. When you compare this to some of the other "powerhouse" amps you will get a better understanding of how the Ampzilla stacks up:
$3000 (each channel) - Parasound JC-1 = 1.9 kVA running 1 channel rated at 400W
$4795 - CINEPRO 2K6(4) = 2.3 kVA running 6 channels rated at 300W each
$6750 - Theta Dreadnaught = 2.2 kVA; 40,000 ufd running 5 channels rated at 200W each
$7500 - Krell Theater = 2x2.0 kVA; 108,000 ufd running 5 channels rated at 200W each
$8000 (each channel) - Pass X600 = 4kVA; 180,000 ufd running 1 channel rated at 600W
$39,000 - Boulder 2060 - 2x2.5kVA running 2 channels at 600W each
As the price goes down so does the size of the transformer (typically the most expensive part of an amplifier) even though the "rated" power seems to go up:
$6000 - Pass X250 = 1.2 kVA running 2 channels rated at 250W each
$2000 - Parasound halo A21 = 1.2 kVA running 2 channels rated at 250W each
$2500 - Aragon 8008BB - 2x1.1 kVA; 70,000 ufd running 2 channels at 200W each
As such, the specs of the Ampzillas are more closely related to 400W+ amps retailing for $10k+ than they are to most of the amps in the 200W and <$5k range.
In the end, it all really comes down to what your ears like and what your wallet can afford. As for me, I personally have not heard any amp under $15k that I would compare to the Ampzillas. The other amps on my "top performer" list include ML 33Hs, Halcro DM48s, and the large Boulders (all of which are MUCH more expensive).
Julian
www.sedonaskysound.com
