Victor Chan

I wouldn't discount the technology that Sony will put into its digital amps until I can hear them in person. True, the H/K and Panasonic digital amps have not been given very good reviews vs their solid state counterparts. But sony has been experimenting their technology in their lower HTIB Dream Systems for a few years now and their most recent iteration in the AVD ES line (combination digital amp receiver and SACD/DVD/CD player) supposedly sound very good.

DVD etc. magazine reviewed the AVD-C70ES and the reviewer said that while it wasn't quite as good as the high-ene\d separates that he was using in his reference system, the Sony did sound very good and didn't have a problem powering his speakers (which if I remember correctly, were hard to drive B&W Nautilus series speakers). One would think, based off of price differential alone, that the quality of the digital amps and the technology that went into the new ES line of receivers will be far superior to what they put into these combo units. So we may yet be presently surprised with what the new Sony S-Master digital amped receivers can do.

Seth_L

Supposedly Sony is using Tri-Path modules which has a dubious reputation. Still I'd recommend listening to it before getting all worked up over it.

DarrylM

I was under the impression that:

1. The biggest advantage to digital switching amps is that they generate less heat and run at cooler temperatures. Though a company like Sony would most likely use this as an excuse to use smaller heatsinks and such.

2. Digital switching amps do not work as well at higher frequencies (the higher the frequency, the faster they must switch). Consequently, digital switching amps have been more common with subwoofer amplifiers. Though, I have also heard that they have may have poorer bass response, as well.

3. The digital aspect of digital switching amps has nothing to do with the digital format of the source media. That is, there is no inherent advantage to using a digital amplifier for digital media; there are still intermediary steps involved.

Mark Hedges

I believe that is true except for DSD. DSD and switching amps work along very similar principles. As I understand it, you can practically feed a digital amp a DSD signal straight from SACD with very little additional processing.

Of course only the most expensive Sony SACD player has a digital linkup so most people won't be able to take advantage of this.

Mark

Tommy Rodgers

Does anyone have a link to the review of the Sony AVD-C70ES from DVD Etc. magazine referred to above? Or any link to any review of this unit? Or even personal experience? I am looking to buy a second system and space is a huge consideration, so if this thing sounds good, I may be a guinea pig for the new digital amp technology...

Tommy

I need more money!

Guy Martin

Well I bit the bullet and ordered the 1000ES from the employee program. They said I should have it in late July/Early August. I decided that I didn't need the home-automation and dual-zone features of the 2000ES (I live in a studio apartment) nor did I need 120 watts per channel. And it looks like the 1000ES uses analog ampd, although I am not sure whether it is the same ones as the old 4ES (which I understand had audibly better amps than either the 1ES or 2ES).

I'll let you all know my initial impressions when it arrives later this month!

- Guy

RobM

Guy, is that the normal wait time when your order something through the employee program? I'd be chomping at the bit the whole time I was waiting for it to arrive

Rob

Angelo.M

Guy Martin

RobM -

Afraid so, but the fact that I'll be getting it for half off retail balances out the frustration and waiting

Angelo-
I have to admit I did not notice much difference between a 2ES and a 4ES myself, but others claim it is quite substantial. The other reason I went for the 4ES was the tweakability, which I hope the 1000ES has.

- Guy

Scott Ailstock

OADE BROTHERS STILL HAS STOCK ON THE 4ES AND HAS THEM AT A GREAT PRICE. I JUST ORDERED ONE TODAY.