Cigars for ALL my new SONof Ampzilla is in the delivery room

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KJ

Cigars for ALL my new SONof Ampzilla is in the delivery room
« Reply #20 on: 7 Sep 2004, 03:30 pm »
How exactly are the SoAs capable of driving such high loads?  I believe Brian's SoAs were driving RM40s and/or RM/xs without issue which is not a speaker one would normally mate with a 125W/ch amp (IMO).  I must be missing something when reading the specs on the SST site.

Quote
The SOA lists for $3250...


Also, I assume the SoAs are $3250 per pair since the Ampzilla 2000 is $2750.00 each?

-KJ

zybar

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Cigars for ALL my new SONof Ampzilla is in the delivery room
« Reply #21 on: 7 Sep 2004, 03:49 pm »
SOA is a stereo amp.

Ampzilla 2K is a mono amp.

How it does what it does, I am not sure...

George

John Casler

Cigars for ALL my new SONof Ampzilla is in the delivery room
« Reply #22 on: 7 Sep 2004, 05:00 pm »
Quote from: KJ
How exactly are the SoAs capable of driving such high loads?  I believe Brian's SoAs were driving RM40s and/or RM/xs without issue which is not a speaker one would normally mate with a 125W/ch amp (IMO).  I must be missing something when reading the specs on the SST site.

Quote
The SOA lists for $3250...


Also, I assume the SoAs are $3250 per pair since the Ampzilla 2000 is $2750.00 each?

-KJ


Hi KJ,

Yes the Son is a stereo amp and "conservatively" rated by James as 100 wpc x 2.  I actually estimated the 120 wpc by looking at the graphs.

The Ampzilla 2000s are 200 wpc monoblocs and list for $5500 a pair
The Son of AMPzilla is 100 wpc stereo and lists for $3250 each.

I have not tried the Son on RM40s yet, but the 626R is probably a harder load to drive (less efficient) and it will play them quite loudly.  I don't see peake reading LEDs until about 94db when they will flash a bit, with no perceptible affect on the sound.

mr_bill

Cigars for ALL my new SONof Ampzilla is in the delivery room
« Reply #23 on: 7 Sep 2004, 05:16 pm »
John or someone - could you comment on the connectors on the back of the SOA.  I thought they were regular XLR's.
Thanks,
Bill

John Casler

Cigars for ALL my new SONof Ampzilla is in the delivery room
« Reply #24 on: 7 Sep 2004, 06:05 pm »
Quote from: mr_bill
John or someone - could you comment on the connectors on the back of the SOA.  I thought they were regular XLR's.
Thanks,
Bill


Hi Bill,

I don't have the time to unhook, pull out and look at the back, (i'm running out the door) but here is a picture of the "dual jack" system.


Wayne1

Cigars for ALL my new SONof Ampzilla is in the delivery room
« Reply #25 on: 7 Sep 2004, 06:49 pm »
The connector is the Neutrik "Combo".

It can accept either a standard balanced XLR or a 2 conductor, 1/4" phone plug.

mr_bill

Cigars for ALL my new SONof Ampzilla is in the delivery room
« Reply #26 on: 7 Sep 2004, 06:50 pm »
Thanks for the pic John.
Anyone?  Are those XLR's?
Thanks,
Bill

KJ

Cigars for ALL my new SONof Ampzilla is in the delivery room
« Reply #27 on: 7 Sep 2004, 07:17 pm »
Quote
SOA is a stereo amp.   Ampzilla 2K is a mono amp.

Doh!  Should've caught that.  Thanks.

Quote
I have not tried the Son on RM40s yet, but the 626R is probably a harder load to drive (less efficient) and it will play them quite loudly.

Perhaps the reason the Ampzillas appear to have endless power in my eyes is because the VMPS product range is rather efficient?  Ie, if I were to hook up a typical cone speaker that is rated at 8ohms and could suck a 300 watt amp dry I might be lacking in power with a SoA?  Questions, questions...

-KJ

ctviggen

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Cigars for ALL my new SONof Ampzilla is in the delivery room
« Reply #28 on: 7 Sep 2004, 07:36 pm »
They're a combination -- XLR plus a different type not typically used in the US.  My Bryston has the same connectors.  Oops.  I see Wayne answered this.

shokunin

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Cigars for ALL my new SONof Ampzilla is in the delivery room
« Reply #29 on: 8 Sep 2004, 07:41 pm »
Quote from: KJ
How exactly are the SoAs capable of driving such high loads?  I believe Brian's SoAs were driving RM40s and/or RM/xs without issue which is not a speaker one would normally mate with a 125W/ch amp (IMO).  I must be missing something when reading the specs on the SST site.
-KJ


I believe Brian Bi-amps the RM/x's with a Pair of Ampzilla 2000 monoblocks for the bass and a SoA for the mid/treble.  a single SoA on the RM/x would probably make the amp cry for papa...

radiob

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Cigars for ALL my new SONof Ampzilla is in the delivery room
« Reply #30 on: 8 Sep 2004, 10:41 pm »
The Ampzilla 2000s are 200 wpc monoblocs and list for $5500 a pair , how do they compare to say Manley Neo-Classic 250s? 5500 seems high to me for their specs. I do know however, that some some speakers like certain amps, but 5500 can buy a lot of amp.or AMPS....

Sedona Sky Sound

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Cigars for ALL my new SONof Ampzilla is in the delivery room
« Reply #31 on: 9 Sep 2004, 04:24 am »
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

ctviggen

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Cigars for ALL my new SONof Ampzilla is in the delivery room
« Reply #32 on: 9 Sep 2004, 10:20 am »
Although it should be noted that some amps don't use transformers.  For instance, my Jeff Rowland uses a "switch mode" power supply:

http://www.jeffrowland.com/model_10_and_12_power_supply_swi.htm

You can check out the inside of the power supply here (although the picture is tiny):

http://www.jeffrowland.com/Model%2010%20Page.htm

And digital amps also don't use transformers, at least not the huge kind.  See:

http://www.jeffrowland.com/Model%20201%20Page.htm

zybar

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Cigars for ALL my new SONof Ampzilla is in the delivery room
« Reply #33 on: 9 Sep 2004, 02:22 pm »
And we see how the 201's compare to SOA in just a few days...

Can't wait to hear what people think.

George

ctviggen

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Cigars for ALL my new SONof Ampzilla is in the delivery room
« Reply #34 on: 9 Sep 2004, 03:48 pm »
George,

Are you comparing the two?  That's great.  Let me know what happens (although I doubt I'd sell my JR).

zybar

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Cigars for ALL my new SONof Ampzilla is in the delivery room
« Reply #35 on: 9 Sep 2004, 04:04 pm »
Bob,

The comparison is being done by the SoCal AudioCircle group this weekend.

George

John Casler

Cigars for ALL my new SONof Ampzilla is in the delivery room
« Reply #36 on: 9 Sep 2004, 05:20 pm »
While we will be comparing the 201s against the Son of Ampzilla it might be of interest to post some of the stats:

Jeff Rowland 201 = $4700 retail list
Son of Ampzilla = $3250 retail list
Ampzilla 2000 = $5500 retail list

Jeff Rowland 201 power rating = 250 wpc @ 8 ohms
Son of Ampzilla power rating = 100 wpc @ 8 ohms
Ampzilla 2000 power rating = 200wpc @ 8 ohms

Jeff Rowland 201 IM distortion = .002%
Son of Ampzilla IM distortion = .002%
Ampzilla 2000 distortion = .05% (combined THD and IM)

Jeff Rowland 201 weight = 27# for 2 monoblocs
Son of Ampzilla weight = 52# for a single chassis stereo amp
Ampzilla 2000 weight = 100# for 2 monoblocs

Mad DOg

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Cigars for ALL my new SONof Ampzilla is in the delivery room
« Reply #37 on: 9 Sep 2004, 05:32 pm »
Quote from: zybar
Bob,

The comparison is being done by the SoCal AudioCircle group this weekend.

George
it's actually become a combination of SoCal AC members, AV123 forum members and LAOC Audio Society members and possibly a few Hometheaterforum members...  :)

Mad DOg

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Cigars for ALL my new SONof Ampzilla is in the delivery room
« Reply #38 on: 9 Sep 2004, 05:34 pm »
Quote from: zybar
And we see how the 201's compare to SOA in just a few days...

Can't wait to hear what people think.

George


there's a possibility that the Pass X-250 has been added to the mix as well... :thumb:

zybar

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Cigars for ALL my new SONof Ampzilla is in the delivery room
« Reply #39 on: 9 Sep 2004, 05:37 pm »
Quote from: John Casler
While we will be comparing the 201s against the Son of Ampzilla it might be of interest to post some of the stats:

Jeff Rowland 201 = $4700 retail list
Son of Ampzilla = $3250 retail list
Ampzilla 2000 = $5500 retail list

Jeff Rowland 201 power rating = 250 wpc @ 8 ohms
Son of Ampzilla power rating = 100 wpc @ 8 ohms
Ampzilla 2000 power rating = 200wpc @ 8 ohms

Jeff Rowland 201 IM distortion = .002%
Son of Ampzilla IM distortion = .002%
Ampzilla 2000 distortion = .05% (combined THD and IM)

 ...



John,

Not trying to be defensive, but weight is really irrelevant in this case.  The 201's use the ICE module and don't have a big transformer in each amp.  As such, their weight is very low.  For the person who doesn't know much about the 201's, the weight parameter can lead to a false conclusion.

More important stats might be gain, impedance, connectors, etc...

George