[lpreston]

So other than seeing other DIY members post about the brand, I have no experience. Most seem to agree they have great sound quality. That said, I'm looking for amps capable of High Res frequencies. It appears their 4 channel is capable. Is anybody running one? Live listened to a system with them in it?

Second question. Suggestions on other brands of High Res capable amps besides Brax? I already have one kidney on an IOU....

 

[miniSQ]

What are high res frequencies?

 

[lpreston]

What are high res frequencies?

From what I understand, those are capable of 40k. I have also seen a few at 35k.

 

[ckirocz28]

From what I understand, those are capable of 40k. I have also seen a few at 35k.

Can you hear that high? Last I checked, humans can hear 20 hz to 20000 hz, and can feel lower frequencies, but can't hear or feel higher than 20000 hz, and that's with absolutely perfect hearing, which none of us have.

 

[lpreston]

Can you hear that high? Last I checked, humans can hear 20 hz to 20000 hz, and can feel lower frequencies, but can't hear or feel higher than 20000 hz, and that's with absolutely perfect hearing, which none of us have.

No. But I have read that the existence of those frequencies makes the ones we can hear richer. Has to be a reason some high-end equipment is capable of it if there was no merit.

 

[miniSQ]

No. But I have read that the existence of those frequencies makes the ones we can hear richer. Has to be a reason some high-end equipment is capable of it if there was no merit.

i think thats a rabbit hole that is not worth going down. Unless you have unlimited funds, and the ability to understand it and tune it.

 

[Myface]

Yeah, marketing!
So any who, I'm getting my audiofrog amps installed with my focal utopia speakers next month. Should be ready by July.
I'm going to have @Samb have a listen in P.A. So we'll see how that goes 🤪

 

[haakono]

Sony XM-GS4 has a frequency range up to 100khz (-3db)

Don't know if it's good for anything more than highest number on a spec sheet, but it's at least about $6200 less than a $6500 Brax to try out

 

[ckirocz28]

No. But I have read that the existence of those frequencies makes the ones we can hear richer. Has to be a reason some high-end equipment is capable of it if there was no merit.

I think that really applies to the frequencies beyond our hearing loss up to 20000 hz (maybe 15000-20000). The thing to really take into consideration is the higher switching frequencies needed to play cleanly up to those higher frequencies really moves the possible noise far outside of our capability to hear. It's more a quality thing than a Hi-Res frequency thing, Hi-Res is just a marketing buzz word.
So, I'm not saying don't buy a Hi-Res amp, just don't buy one because of the Hi-Res tag.

 

[SkizeR]

These ones should sound very, cough, similar to the Audiofrog amps

Emphaser EA-MT4 Monolith 4 Channel Class D Power Amplifier 600 Watt RMS | eBay

Measuring only 212 x 35 x 110 mm, the very compact EA-MT4 offers high performance in the smallest of spaces. The exceptional heat sink design made of die-cast aluminum enables significantly smaller dimensions while maintaining excellent temperature management. The optimized Class-D amplifier...

www.ebay.com

 

[OrangeTang19x]

WOW are the Emphaser EA-MT4 guts identical also? cause the Audiofrog A150.4D is $699!!!!!

 

[Muu]

They exist because people like buying gear on numbers, rather than merit.

 

[miniSQ]

emphaser ea: Search Result | eBay

Buy and sell electronics, cars, fashion apparel, collectibles, sporting goods, digital cameras, baby items, coupons, and everything else on eBay, the world's online marketplace

www.ebay.com

 

[knever3]

Wow, I had really thought about the AF amps due to their size, but at half the cost of a pair... It looks like the only difference is the CNC aluminum crossover cover. What came first, the chicken or the egg?

 

[619Tundra]

Good looking out @SkizeR.

 

[DaveG]

Same internals?

 

[JimmyDee]

Same internals?

I've got a friend who's an AudioFrog Dealer... he's going to buy one of the Em-Phaser amps, so we can open them both up and compare guts.
I'll be interested to see if they are identical. If so, then you are paying 3X the price for the AudioFrog branded cover plate.

 

[doeboy]

Very nice Skizer. I see this same thing occur a lot in subwoofers. When you go to China to actually manufacture the entire product there is nothing stopping them from producing the same design without the badging for others. Really the only power one might have is if they do enough volume to cause a lot of financial damage to the producer. Much larger brands would likely have that sort of capacity to deal with this or they could buy the manufactured pieces from a variety of businesses in China then assemble somewhere else where there is more control or a legal means to enforce something which is proprietary. I saw this when working at a car battery plant that produced roughly 1/3rd of the car batteries in the US. Same battery just different badging/cases. Interstate vs advanced auto same battery for example thou a car battery is far more simple than a circuit board with all the varieties of chips they have so not exactly a great comparison.

 

[bbfoto]

I've got a friend who's an AudioFrog Dealer... he's going to buy one of the Em-Phaser amps, so we can open them both up and compare guts.
I'll be interested to see if they are identical. If so, then you are paying 3X the price for the AudioFrog branded cover plate.

Playing the devil's advocate, one key difference is that with the Audiofrog amplifiers, you would have a USA warranty and support. But when the other amplifier in question is less than half the retail cost, if it turns out to have identical internals and specs, is that piece of mind with the AF worth the extra cost?

Probably not for most people on this DIY forum. But it may be worthwhile to a general consumer who is having a shop install the amp or system.

If there is a problem, a reputable shop would handle the repair or replacement.

How quickly would they be able to source a replacement from Germany, or have it repaired?

And how does that cost factor in to their overhead and operating costs?

Do the Em-Phaser amplifiers go through the same QC regimen, testing, and acceptable tolerances at the build house that Andy has specified in his contract?

And will that German seller or source still be around next year???

 

[Esscueonly]

LMAO! I knew there was a reason Andy got so defensive about his amps when he had his meltdown. I think I'll buy one of these knockoffs and rebrand it "Sound Salamander".