Why can't they make Pro amps pretty?

[VonMagnum]

Simply put, pro amps don't need to be pretty when they are usually out of sight. If they work and don't have to be replaced often, that is usually good enough.

BUT, I get it. Would be nice to grab a huge stack of 2ch pro amps to have "unlimited" power.

 

[lovinthehd]

Freshly generated and copy/pasted pick-yer-pro amp review....just like an audiophile device!


After a few weeks of listening the upper registers were revealing. The mids seemed trunchant although the bottom was a bit overblown. The separation was particularly delicate. I experienced a subtle presence of accuracy while the attack transients were euphonic.

- AudioGadgets


On second listen:


Upon first listen the highs were lush. The midrange seemed focused although the low end was rather honky. The isolation was particularly fluttery. I experienced a sterile perspective of bloom while the impulse noise was airy.

- AudioGadgets

 

[Verdinut]

I don't know.

I am not impressed at all with the Yamaha PX3 specs:
They only specify THD at 1 kHz and they don't even quote IM distortion levels.

 

[panteragstk]

Is it because electricity is cheap and you like high SPL with a lot of speakers operating simultaneously?

...no...yes...maybe?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I am not impressed at all with the Yamaha PX3 specs:
They only specify THD at 1 kHz and they don't even quote IM distortion levels.

I’m not impressed with any pro-amp specs.

 

[lovinthehd]

These specs are pretty sweet for this guy

 

[Verdinut]

The specs are pretty good for the QSC DCA series of amps:

https://www.qsc.com/cinema/products/power-amplifiers/dca-series/dca-1622/

Those are to my knowledge the best pro amp specs at a reasonable price for a home theater system, and for bigger venues as well.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

These specs are pretty sweet for this guy
View attachment 29762

Alright just for fun let's compare SNR and Crosstalk between this $12K pro-amp vs. a cheap AVR since we know that pro-amps will beat all AVR and most amps in terms of power output.

Lap Gruppen (from manual): Gain 22dB/ SNR 105dB, Gain 31dB/SNR 111dB, Crosstalk 70dB 1kHz. So if we're talking about a typical AVR gain of 28dB, the SNR would fall between 105 and 111dB, maybe 109dB or less?
http://www.marketing.labgruppen.com/webservices/dh.ashx?t=qv&v=12010

$300 Yamaha 377: Crosstalk 77dB 1kHz, SNR 110.
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/yamaha-rx-v377-av-receiver-test-bench

So a $300 Yamaha AVR has better Crosstalk and about the same or better SNR (at ~28dB Gain) than a $12K pro-amp?


Of course, ATI amps will have Crosstalk of 100dB and SNR> 120dB.

 

[lovinthehd]

Alright just for fun let's compare SNR and Crosstalk between this $12K pro-amp vs. a cheap AVR since we know that pro-amps will beat all AVR and most amps in terms of power output.

Lap Gruppen (from manual): Gain 22dB/ SNR 105dB, Gain 31dB/SNR 111dB, Crosstalk 70dB 1kHz. So if we're talking about a typical AVR gain of 28dB, the SNR would fall between 105 and 111dB, maybe 109dB or less?
http://www.marketing.labgruppen.com/webservices/dh.ashx?t=qv&v=12010

$300 Yamaha 377: Crosstalk 77dB 1kHz, SNR 110.
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/yamaha-rx-v377-av-receiver-test-bench

So a $300 Yamaha AVR has better Crosstalk and about the same or better SNR (at ~28dB Gain) than a $12K pro-amp?


Of course, ATI amps will have Crosstalk of 100dB and SNR> 120dB.

So? You hear those differences?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

So? You hear those differences?

No.

I’ve said before that we probably can’t hear the difference and the specs are inaudible.

Like comparing SNR of 140dB vs 100dB or crosstalk of 120dB vs 70dB.

The point is that whether we are comparing the Yamaha PX3 or the $12K Lap Gruppen, the specs (SNR, XTalk, FR, THD) of all these pro-amps (even $12K) are not “impressive” at all even when compared to a $300 AVR.

 

[lovinthehd]

Except for the power at lower impedance, then the avr's specs tend not to look so hot.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Except for the power at lower impedance, then the avr's specs tend not to look so hot.

When it comes to power, AVR and even most audiophile amps (cough, cough, $3K 100WPC Benchmark amp) aren’t even in the same league as many pro-amps. Absolutely zero percent Room for debate here.