Ampzilla vs. Pathos vs. Krell vs. Vacuumstate

tkp · « **Reply #20 on:** 8 May 2005, 08:14 pm »

I have asked James several time on the phone regarding an all black finish without the StarTrek logo and he was adamant that the blue faceplate with the Startrek logo was/is a bit hit in Japan market. He did bent in and offered the black color face plate and I got four pieces for a buddy of mine. They look better than the blue face plate but the StarTrek logo still make the amp looks like kid's toy to me.

As for performance, IMHO there are very few if any class AB amp can match the Ampzilla2K performance. If financial allow, I plan to get a SOA2K later for collection. For now, I am putting most of my money in speakers.

pugs · « **Reply #21 on:** 8 May 2005, 09:04 pm »

Quote

As for performance, IMHO there are very few if any class AB amp can match the Ampzilla2K performan ...

Have you compared them to Odyssey amps? If so, what do you like better about the Ampzilla?

tkp · « **Reply #22 on:** 8 May 2005, 09:26 pm »

Quote from: pugs

Quote
As for performance, IMHO there are very few if any class AB amp can match the Ampzilla2K performan ...

Have you compared them to Odyssey amps? If so, what do you like better about the Ampzilla?

I have not heard any Odyssey amp. However, I know someone who did compare the Odyssey with his other amps and in the end he did not get the Odyssey and got the A2K even thought the A2K were much more expensive. I have not heard all class AB amp but with the few class AB amp I owned (Plinius SA100, SA250, Proceed HPA2, Audire Tenendo, Audire Otez, Plinius 8200, etc...), the A2k easily won out in my system.

What do I like about the A2K? Well, they sounded very balance accross the audio band. Compare to a well designed and pure class A amp, the A2K lost out a bit in the midrange and not as sweet in the top end. The A2K won out in the mid and low bass department.

I absolutely hate the look of the A2K but bought a pair base on performance. This should tell you how highly I think of the A2K.

John Casler · « **Reply #23 on:** 8 May 2005, 11:42 pm »

For all who find the Logo not to their liking, it can be ordered without the logo plaque or it can be removed at any time.

Strangely enough I never realized (even being somewhat of a Treckie) how much it resembled the Star Trek arch.

While I doubt if James "drew" from that inspiration, who knows? I'll ask him the next time I talk to him.

zybar · « **Reply #24 on:** 9 May 2005, 12:50 am »

Quote from: Sedona Sky Sound

I think the US contingecy on this board seems to be missing a very important point: Ampzillas are sold all over the world and the US sense of style can be very different from the rest of the world. For every amp sold in the US, James probably sells 50 in Asia. In many of these countries, a solid silver faceplate would be considered the FUGLY one. The current faceplates are definitely a combination of James' unique sense of style and what he knows sells in his target consumer markets.

I asked James a few ...

Julian,

That's fine by me that James primarliy cares about the market he sells to the most (seems like a smarts business move to me). But since that market isn't the US and the amp looks terrible, I just won't consider his product.

George

mcrespo71 · « **Reply #25 on:** 9 May 2005, 01:31 am »

Quote from: zybar

Julian,

That's fine by me that James primarliy cares about the market he sells to the most (seems like a smarts business move to me). But since that market isn't the US and the amp looks terrible, I just won't consider his product.

George

This coming from a former RM40 owner? I would say the RM40's have a similar "hard to love aesthetic," though I'd say they look like coffins instead of star trek amps.

zybar · « **Reply #26 on:** 9 May 2005, 01:35 am »

Quote from: mcrespo71

Quote from: zybar
Julian,

That's fine by me that James primarliy cares about the market he sells to the most (seems like a smarts business move to me). But since that market isn't the US and the amp looks terrible, I just won't consider his product.

George

This coming from a former RM40 owner? I would say the RM40's have a similar "hard to love aesthetic," though I'd say they look like coffins instead of star trek amps.

Learned my lesson there.

George

mcrespo71 · « **Reply #27 on:** 9 May 2005, 01:40 am »

Your new speakers should have the exact opposite effect- those are straight up gorgeous in the pictures I've seen, George.

Michael

rosconey · « **Reply #28 on:** 9 May 2005, 09:38 pm »

Quote from: tkp

I have not heard any Odyssey amp. However, I know someone who did compare the Odyssey with his other amps and in the end he did not get the Odyssey and got the A2K even thought the A2K were much more expensive. I have not heard all class AB amp but with the few class AB amp I owned (Plinius SA100, SA250, Proceed HPA2, Audire Tenendo, Audire Otez, Plinius 8200, etc...), the A2k easily won out in my system.

What do I like about the A2K? Well, they sounded very balance accross the audio band. Compare to ...

i would love to compare my extreme monos against the ampzilla-also nice to deal with the owner who cares about the american market and has such good service-

tkp · « **Reply #29 on:** 9 May 2005, 09:53 pm »

Quote from: rosconey

i would love to compare my extreme monos against the ampzilla-also nice to deal with the owner who cares about the american market and has such good service-

Althought JB designed the A2K's look for market outside of US, from my experience in dealing with him, he cares about his customers and does provide good service.

If you are happy with the Odessy amp then sit back and enjoy the music

.

Florian · « **Reply #30 on:** 9 May 2005, 10:40 pm »

JB has an amazing support and just like Big B answeres his customers directly. It even drives the 1ohm Scintilla with no problem, which not many amps can say about themselves.

John Casler · « **Reply #31 on:** 9 May 2005, 10:49 pm »

Quote from: tkp

Althought JB designed the A2K's look for market outside of US, from my experience in dealing with him, he cares about his customers and does provide good service.

.

Somehow this "perception" developed that James:

1) designed the look for a foreign market
2) he doesn't care about the domestic market

Both perceptions are inacurrate.

James picked the color, logo, and look because "he" thought it looked best that way. The fact that it is more successful in foriegn markets is simply a result of their finding it to their liking. His former backround in Asia may have given him an appreciation for their aethetics, but the design was what he thought looked best to him

James "does" care about the domestic market but, while he is a "brilliant" circuit/amp designer, he is "not" a consumate marketeer, and promoter (other than his flashy CES appearances).

Additionally he is a small businesman with limited resources. This means there will be limited models and finsihes for any company.

Just wanted to interject that since sometimes a few wayward perceptions/interpretations can give the wrong idea.

TKP has had "many" conversations with James and knows that he cares about his customers.

zybar · « **Reply #32 on:** 9 May 2005, 11:29 pm »

John,

The perception that has developed is based off Julian's post on page 2 of this thread. Since he is a dealer, his thoughts and comments go a long way towards shaping the public's perception (positive or negative).

Before Julian's post, nobody was questioning James' commitment to the US market (which morphed into possible customer service questions), people were simply posting that they didn't like the looks.

George

ctviggen · « **Reply #33 on:** 9 May 2005, 11:43 pm »

Personally, I care more for performance than looks. I really don't care how things look, but I do care how they perform. For instance, I think my Linn 5140s look much better than my RM40s, but the RM40s blow away the Linns in terms of performance (and cost about the same). For that reason, the Linns are currently relegated to rear channel duty, although they will be going in my living room soon (although I don't care about looks, my girlfriend does, so I'll put the Linns in the living room).

I certainly would never buy new speakers just because they looked better than other speakers.

warnerwh · « **Reply #34 on:** 10 May 2005, 01:48 am »

When it comes to speakers I agree about looks, I don't care as the sound is too important. Amplifiers though sound so similar it's not worth having one that you find less than nice looking. Perreaux power amps I've seen I also find not worth looking into. Alot of good amps are made so finding one that meets your performance requirements and won't bother you looks wise isn't quite the same thing. James' amps are just too close to looking like they have a Star Trek logo. I've no doubt James' tastes are what dictated the faceplate, look how he dresses but to each their own. Don't know how many have been sold but only remember seeing one come up for sale on Audiogon.

zybar · « **Reply #35 on:** 10 May 2005, 02:04 am »

Quote from: ctviggen

Personally, I care more for performance than looks. I really don't care how things look, but I do care how they perform. For instance, I think my Linn 5140s look much better than my RM40s, but the RM40s blow away the Linns in terms of performance (and cost about the same). For that reason, the Linns are currently relegated to rear channel duty, although they will be going in my living room soon (although I don't care about looks, my girlfriend does, so I'll put the Linns in the living room).

I certainly would never buy new speakers just because they looked better than other speakers.

Why not try and get both?

George