[SoundGame]

I was just reading about the latest Boulder 3050 Mono Power Amps. 

 
1,500 watts continuous into any load
6000 watt peak power
5 encapsulated toroidal transformers, 48 filter capacitors and 120 bipolar output devices
Fully-balanced, dual-mono audio circuitry.
Pure Class A operation into 8 ohms
400 lbs. (180 kg) each
Dedicated 240V / 30 A supply operation
Distortion 0.0006%
 
And this got me wondering what are the most powerful and most dynamic commercial amplifiers out there.  The 28B-SST2 I'm sure is up there but I'm curious about it's competition.

[spinner]

 This ought to be an interesting topic ..... 

[HsvHeelFan]

So, how much are those mono-blocks?

Boulder is known to be kind of pricey.

Is this going to be a watt per dollar kind of thread?   

How do they sound?  I sure wouldn't want to have to move them around.

I'll stick with my Bryston.

HsvHeelFan

[vegasdave]

I've heard Boulder before. I was not impressed. It is also very expensive. I'll stick with Bryston as well.

[Phil A]

Never heard them.  The upside is that they probably come with a free hernia and 2nd mortgage for the increased electric bill for the 240V operation.

[Phil A]

The picture actually does not give justice to the size of these things - $180k/pair - http://www.stereophile.com/content/boulders-3050-monoblocks

[Phil A]

I've set-up Levinson 33Hs with a friend who worked at a high end shop in the past.  They came in their own crate and were something like 220lbs. shipped.  Can't imagine 400 lbs. each.

[Rclark]

Is this the same Boulder that Wayne here is associated with? The mods guy?

[John Casler]

Is this the same Boulder that Wayne here is associated with? The mods guy?

No, Wayne is BOLDER, no "u"

[SoundGame]

A little bit of the beauty in the design of these - and they should be beautiful given their $195,000 price tag: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSC_benn19I
 
That said, this is not to compare Bryston to Boulder but rather to acknowledge that Bryston also produces a super-amp, the 28B-SST2 and ask, what other amps are out there that compete in power and dynamics to amps such as these.
 
Can we get a list going?
 
Boulder 3050 Mono 1500 wpc $195,000 each/pair?
Bryston 28B-SST2 1000 wpc $19,200 / pair

[John Casler]

A little bit of the beauty in the design of these - and they should be beautiful given their $195,000 price tag: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSC_benn19I
 
That said, this is not to compare Bryston to Boulder but rather to acknowledge that Bryston also produces a super-amp, the 28B-SST2 and ask, what other amps are out there that compete in power and dynamics to amps such as these.
 
Can we get a list going?
 
Boulder 3050 Mono 1500 wpc $195,000 each/pair?
Bryston 28B-SST2 1000 wpc $19,200 / pair

At that price, you could TRI-AMP (3000wpc) with BRYSTON and still purchase a used Ferrarri for the wife. (or at least that is what you tell her)

If you BI-AMP (2000wpc) you might even be able to go with an ASTON or LAMBO (used)

[Johnbr]

How a 4'000wt yours for 110'000Eu.But are they beautiful.
  http://analogdomain.eu/

[SoundGame]

At that price, you could TRI-AMP (3000wpc) with BRYSTON and still purchase a used Ferrarri for the wife. (or at least that is what you tell her)

If you BI-AMP (2000wpc) you might even be able to go with an ASTON or LAMBO (used)

I don't believe the "typical" Bryston client will be buying these Boulder amps.  The price, size and weight as well as I'm sure availability will make them rather exclusive.  Do they sound better than a 28B-SST/2 - I have no idea but I would classify them in the same category as a super-amp. 
 
So no other superamps?

[SoundGame]

How a 4'000wt yours for 110'000Eu.But they beautiful.
  http://analogdomain.eu/

Impressive specs - with a dynamic range that almost matches the range of the human ear ie. 135db:
 

 

Input sensitivity:	1.55 Vrms
Input impedance:	10 kohm
Voltage gain:	+38 dB or +26 dB, switch-selectable
Peak power output:	2kW/8ohm; 4kW/4ohm; 2ohm stable
Peak output voltage:	126 Vac, ±179 Vpp
Peak output current:	120 A
Frequency range:	1Hz–100kHz
Full-power bandwidth:	5Hz-25kHz
Minimum rated load:	4ohm
Damping factor:	> 1000
Output noise:	< 40uVrms
Dynamic range:	> 126 dB linear; > 132 dB A-weighted
THD+N:	< -92dB (0.0025%)
Mains voltage:	230/115Vac, factory pre-configured
Power draw:	200W idling; < 20W standby
Max current draw:	< 10A / 230V
Inputs:	XLR balanced, RCA unbalanced
Trigger voltage:	12V in, 12V out
Trigger input/output:	3.5mm jacks
Dimensions:	440(w) x 298(h) x 545(d), mm
Weight:	~75kg, 105kg shipping

[Anonamemouse]

This is Thomas Hoehne (left) and me (right) in front of Sovereigns top amplifier, The Sovereign, currently € 119.900,- a pair. The picture was taken in his living room, he only drives his tweeters and mids with these.

[mca]

This is Thomas Hoehne (left) and me (right) in front of Sovereigns top amplifier, The Sovereign, currently € 119.900,- a pair. The picture was taken in his living room, he only drives his tweeters and mids with these.

Does he save the big amps for the bass?

[highfilter]

Not grotesquely priced or physically beefy, but the Sanders Magtech monoblocks are power horses:

Price: $10,000 pair
Power: 1600 watts RMS into an 8 ohm load / 2000 watts RMS into a 4 ohm load
Bandwidth: DC through 100kHz
Class of Operation: Class AB
Slew Rate: 500 Volts/microsecond
Input voltage required for full output: 2 Volts
Input Impedance: 50kohm (both balanced and unbalanced)
Gain: 26dB
Noise: More than 110dB below rated output
Damping Factor: Greater than 600 into an 8 ohm load
THD: Less than 0.004%, 20 Hz - 20 KHz 
IMD: Less than 0.003%, 20 Hz - 20 KHz
Dimensions: 17" wide x 5.5" tall x 16" deep (43cm x 14cm x 40.6cm)
Weight: 55 pounds (25 Kgs)
Web site: http://www.sanderssoundsystems.com/products/amplifiers/magtech-monoblock-amp

[Anonamemouse]

From left to right in the picture:
A big block, this is a subwoofer with built in amplifier. Only a few were made, they were discontinued.
Thomas Hoehne (who sees Bryston as a worthy competitor), behind him a study loudspeaker which unfortunately never made it to production because he wants Sovereign to stick with amplifiers and nothing else.
One of two massive monoblock amplifiers, The Sovereign. It has a mention in the Guiness book of records. The other one is behind me.
The second and visible tweeter/mid loudspeaker. It has a counterweight (hanging underneath) much like the massive blocks of steel in skyscrapers, to prevent them from collapsing during an earthquake. It looks bizarre, and when you crank up the volume to serious levels you can actually see it move. The units used are customized SEAS units.
The second subwoofer.

His sound is beyond awesome.

[PRELUDE]

I thought the global economy is hurting
I do not think I would ask for more power with my current set up in my whole life.But if I could I would like to try this one.
http://www.accuphase.com/cat/m-6000_e.pdf

[Anonamemouse]

I thought the global economy is hurting

98% of all the worlds money still ends up at 2% of the people, so yeah...

I do not think I would ask for more power with my current set up in my whole life.But if I could I would like to try this one.
http://www.accuphase.com/cat/m-6000_e.pdf

Looks like a fun toy to have!