My Steg MSK Class A, MS 2125,275, M 50, ZPA .5 SQ test
Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2017 10:36 pm
Hope you enjoy the read!
Thought I would throw this up here. So many times I have read people who say there is no difference in sound quality from amp to amp, or very little difference. I was curious for decades and finally sat down and did a side by side SQ comparison. Here are my findings. These are my amps that I own.
The signal was coming through my home audio set up which consists of a Rega Saturn CD player, Pass Labs 'Aleph P' pre-amp with modified caps internally, and custom Focal tower speakers I made with very high end crossovers. The sound was very different through all amps. I ranked them from best to worst.
Steg MSK Class A
-the sound that came through was incredible. It had a detailed sweetness that all other amps could not produce. It was able to produce the 'leading edge' of the music. The sound stage was very wide. It sounded as if you were part of the concert right in front of you.
ZPA .5
-The sound that came through was detailed. The sweetness was not there. The sound was right in your face, which was not enjoyable. Harsh one could say. Almost like someone yelling in your face. It was able to produce the leading edge of music. The sound stage was very wide.
MS 275
-The sound was good, not as detailed. The sound was very similar to the ZPA .5 with the sound being right in your face. Was not able to produce the leading edge of the music. Softer detail I would describe it as. Sound stage was wide.
MS 2125 and MAC 500
-The sound was good, not as detailed. The sound was very different from all the other amps. All mid-range sounds were very distant. Like if you were at the back of the concert hall. Pleasant though, but the MS 275 would be just as loud when vocals were in the music even though the MS 275 had a lot less power. Was not able to play the leading edge of music. Sound stage was wide, but distant. One could play this amp at loud volumes and not get fatigued.
M 50
-The sound was well, ok... I am very surprised how the over all sound is disappointing compared to the MS 275. Even though the 2 amps share the same components... Was not able to produce the leading edge of music. The sound stage was not wide. It played music I guess one could say. Not badly but, not with excitement either.
Over all this was quite an eye opener. Some will have there opinions, but, this is what I personally heard. I would say the Steg was as close to my Krell house amp as possible. I was shocked! It is very difficult for pre-amps and amplifiers to reproduce the leading edge of music. The Steg and ZPA was able to do this. I would say that if one replaces the op amps in the MS and M series amps they would get better sound. But at an added cost... This is the down fall of many amps, it's their op amp filled electronic crossovers and line drivers. I did not have a crossover or line driver in front of any amp. The ZPA's sound would degrade if this was the case and believe me, it needs a line driver... All other amps do not require any with a decent head unit.
This is obviously a test in house, not a car. Head units will really effect sound. Patch cords will effect sound. The width of sound stage will not really be noticeable in a general car. But the leading edge of music and depth of music, you will hear if the mids are of a good quality and placed up high near the dash.
The quote I read says: "ZPA's will have the same sound essentially as you get from the MS, they just feature a bigger shinier set of balls." Not so true...
Thought I would throw this up here. So many times I have read people who say there is no difference in sound quality from amp to amp, or very little difference. I was curious for decades and finally sat down and did a side by side SQ comparison. Here are my findings. These are my amps that I own.
The signal was coming through my home audio set up which consists of a Rega Saturn CD player, Pass Labs 'Aleph P' pre-amp with modified caps internally, and custom Focal tower speakers I made with very high end crossovers. The sound was very different through all amps. I ranked them from best to worst.
Steg MSK Class A
-the sound that came through was incredible. It had a detailed sweetness that all other amps could not produce. It was able to produce the 'leading edge' of the music. The sound stage was very wide. It sounded as if you were part of the concert right in front of you.
ZPA .5
-The sound that came through was detailed. The sweetness was not there. The sound was right in your face, which was not enjoyable. Harsh one could say. Almost like someone yelling in your face. It was able to produce the leading edge of music. The sound stage was very wide.
MS 275
-The sound was good, not as detailed. The sound was very similar to the ZPA .5 with the sound being right in your face. Was not able to produce the leading edge of the music. Softer detail I would describe it as. Sound stage was wide.
MS 2125 and MAC 500
-The sound was good, not as detailed. The sound was very different from all the other amps. All mid-range sounds were very distant. Like if you were at the back of the concert hall. Pleasant though, but the MS 275 would be just as loud when vocals were in the music even though the MS 275 had a lot less power. Was not able to play the leading edge of music. Sound stage was wide, but distant. One could play this amp at loud volumes and not get fatigued.
M 50
-The sound was well, ok... I am very surprised how the over all sound is disappointing compared to the MS 275. Even though the 2 amps share the same components... Was not able to produce the leading edge of music. The sound stage was not wide. It played music I guess one could say. Not badly but, not with excitement either.
Over all this was quite an eye opener. Some will have there opinions, but, this is what I personally heard. I would say the Steg was as close to my Krell house amp as possible. I was shocked! It is very difficult for pre-amps and amplifiers to reproduce the leading edge of music. The Steg and ZPA was able to do this. I would say that if one replaces the op amps in the MS and M series amps they would get better sound. But at an added cost... This is the down fall of many amps, it's their op amp filled electronic crossovers and line drivers. I did not have a crossover or line driver in front of any amp. The ZPA's sound would degrade if this was the case and believe me, it needs a line driver... All other amps do not require any with a decent head unit.
This is obviously a test in house, not a car. Head units will really effect sound. Patch cords will effect sound. The width of sound stage will not really be noticeable in a general car. But the leading edge of music and depth of music, you will hear if the mids are of a good quality and placed up high near the dash.
The quote I read says: "ZPA's will have the same sound essentially as you get from the MS, they just feature a bigger shinier set of balls." Not so true...