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MOSFET power amps, are they more or less sonic equals?

62vauxhall

62vauxhall

Addicted Member
In particular, a Hafler DH-220 and a Sanyo Plus P55 - each with similar power.

I lived with a DH-220 for five or so years and liked it. But I moved on. Somewhat recently I obtained a Sanyo Plus P55 in good working order for virtually nothing but cannot do a side by side because the Hafler is gone.

One of my new housemates, (she who owns the house) is encouraging me to divest myself of nonessentials, suplus paraphanalia, things I am not using therefore do not need so this Plus P55 has come under scrutiny.

I need A/B comparisons to notice a difference between amplifiers. My ability to remember what one sounded like a few minutes after hearing it is poor. If a Plus P55 performed similarly to a DH-220, I could make a case for keeping it.

Looking for opinions as those are the only MOSFET amplifiers I've owned.
 
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At this level, most MOSFET amps really sound more similar than different. Not that this is a bad thing, it's not. And it's why there are so many good options out there. Yes, they're something of a compromise, but I am willing to put up with that for the power, control, and versatility, that a good transistor design brings to the table. A tube or tube hybrid pre driving a MOSFET power amp(s) is a recipe for good sound.
 
justjed2 said:
At this level, most MOSFET amps really sound more similar than different. Not that this is a bad thing, it's not. And it's why there are so many good options out there. Yes, they're something of a compromise, but I am willing to put up with that for the power, control, and versatility, that a good transistor design brings to the table. A tube or tube hybrid pre driving a MOSFET power amp(s) is a recipe for good sound.
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JJ,
In what way do you feel MOSFET Amps are a compromise? As compared to what?
BTW, I have a tubed CD Player and tubed Pre Amp feeding a MOSFET Power Amp and love the sound.
 
Have tube amp, class A Mosfet power amp, class a/b integrated mosfet, class D and Tripath. I don't think any are a compromise or maybe all are. Curious also?
 
rickb119 said:
Sounds like she's trying to whittle you down, not just what you own.
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Well, she does not have a problem with the wall of LP's I brought with me or the ~1000 8 tracks and similar number of CD's. Or the 78's, 45's, open reel tapes, cassette tapes and even Elcasets. She "gets" me having the music but not the hardware. Her "thing" is flowers. She has a garden and a bouquet subscription with a local grower - new bunches of cut flowers every week. I live on the ground floor of her place and am now subject to weekly flowers in a vase on my table.

I am in her debt though. The offer of rural tenancy was enough for me to sell a condo and get out of the city where I lived all my life but felt I did not want to die in.

On moving in she had choice of whatever amp, speakers, turntable, cassette & 8 track deck, CD player she wanted and I let her pick her way through the LP's and tapes. But she can't comprehend my attraction to the gear. She keeps wanting to fix me up with a woman which in her mind will redirect my interests.
 
TubeMon said:
In what way do you feel MOSFET Amps are a compromise? As compared to what?
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By compromise, I meant relative to other designs. Most MOSFET amps have little class A wattage available. And they're not as efficient as some more modern designs. I don't find this a disadvantage, as my speakers need a few watts before they open up anyway. I like tube amps, I like class A amps, I like efficient speakers. But I own moderately efficient speakers, and decent MOSFET monoblocks. I'm not trying to re-create an arena show, but I've never been to a quiet concert!

I wasn't talking down any good amp design, just acknowledging that no design is perfect for everyone all the time. Carry on....
 
justjed2 said:
By compromise, I meant relative to other designs. Most MOSFET amps have little class A wattage available. And they're not as efficient as some more modern designs. I don't find this a disadvantage, as my speakers need a few watts before they open up anyway. I like tube amps, I like class A amps, I like efficient speakers. But I own moderately efficient speakers, and decent MOSFET monoblocks. I'm not trying to re-create an arena show, but I've never been to a quiet concert!

I wasn't talking down any good amp design, just acknowledging that no design is perfect for everyone all the time. Carry on....
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Generalising about MOSFET amps is about as useful as generalising about bipolar transistor amps, or generalising about valve amps, ie not very useful at all. MOSFET amps can be push-pull or single-ended. They can be class A or class AB. They can be as varied as amps using any other type of output device.
 
I liked Hafler Power amps friends had. I would never give up a Hafler for a Sanyo product. The build quality and choice of components isn't as good with the Sanyo.
 
rothwellaudio said:
Generalising about MOSFET amps is about as useful as generalising about bipolar transistor amps, or generalising about valve amps, ie not very useful at all. MOSFET amps can be push-pull or single-ended. They can be class A or class AB. They can be as varied as amps using any other type of output device.
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From my interpretation, the OP was specifically interested in mid-fi MOSFET designs, few of which are class A, or even A/AB, and most of which are push-pull. I do find most class AB MOSFETs to be a compromise, but a good one, and one I live with.
 
62vauxhall said:
To clarify, there is other amplification at hand. Too much "others" in some peoples minds.
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It’s just stuff. It’s hard but pick your favorites but try it and don’t look back. I have done it twice and am alway more content with with less.

:beerchug:
 
twiiii said:
I liked Hafler Power amps friends had. I would never give up a Hafler for a Sanyo product. The build quality and choice of components isn't as good with the Sanyo.
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Love the Hafler stuff too. But, have you owned a Sanyo P55? Or any component from Sanyo Plus lineup? The build quality will surprise you.
 
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