@Olli Thanks. I appreciate it would be a PITA to swap them over but it would great to do a basic subjective comparison/impression. no need for switching between the two. The ahb has got to be one of the current technical references.
It's also of interest because of the fundamentally different design topologies.[/
@Olli Thanks. I appreciate it would be a PITA to swap them over but it would great to do a basic subjective comparison/impression. no need for switching between the two. The ahb has got to be one of the current technical references.
It's also of interest because of the fundamentally different design topologies.
Both amps sound great - in their set-ups. But I think it would be misleading to try to describe their sound Sinne these set-ups are totally different.
- AHBS are in a very open space that has approx 80 m2, ceilings around 5 m. The entire ceiling is treated. Speakers are large floorstanders + 2 18' Subs. Roon is the source, using its digital VC.
- March P252 is in a 20 m2 room, ceiling 3,5 m, Room is non treated, speakers are (large) bookshelfs + 2 12' subs. Roon again is the source, using its digital VC.
- Both set-ups are eq'ed with Audiolense, using the same target curve, with a lot of help and great input from @mitchco. Thanks again!
I am using the P252 instead of a much mor expensive Nagra Classic Amp now - again, my judgement is totally subjective, coulnd't do any proper ABX testing. But the Nagra is sold.
I enjoy the small listening room as much as the big one. Both amps sound crystal clear to me.
There are only 2 objective observations I can give for now:
- The P252 is dead silent. No hiss at all from tweeters or any other driver. With the AHB, you can hear some (quite) hiss if pressing you ear against the tweeter
- As stated before - the P252 never ever gets even remotely warm. So you can put it anywhere, that's nice. The AHBs get warm, not hot. I used a Spectral DMA 260 before with the large floorstanders, which got super hot. Not comparable to that level, but still - the AHBs definitely get hotter than the P252. So they need at least some ventilation.
I am not considering to sell neither the AHBs nor the P252 anytime soon - but the P252 is indeed a fantastic bang for the buck (and a very handsome one on top of it).