I got hold of a pair of non-Dynamik Solo's, and love them a lot. I am still getting used to what they have to offer (taking it slowly, mostly passive listening) but a few things may be interesting to share here & I'd like to learn from other people's experiences with these mono amps.
First of all, I suppose "the best amp" does not exist, and I've found at least two implementations where I do not consider Solo's the best option: (1) on servo duties as a bass amp in my main system (Infinity IRS Gamma) where the Dynamik Twin is so much more fun (quicker, effortless) and (2) on the mid/high in that same system where a tube amp - apparently - feels much smoother, mostly because it is not trying to "fight" the speakers. These speakers where designed with tube amps in mind, and that's perfectly fine. They also have a quite horrible impedance curve, and if I'm not mistaken, a capacitative load as well.
I read elsewhere on this forum "Solo's will not drive everything" and I can confirm that is also what I found.
Another thing I learned, these Solo's came from a full aktiv 8x Solo Komri setup, and had been powered off for 8 months before I got them. They sounded quite unpleasant in the first 2-8 hours, as in: not joyful. The stereo image even drifted between L and R so there was definitely something going on there. This all settled.
I am quite used to the Twin now (6+ years) and would never have thought that such a big step up would be even possible. In my 2nd system, which is based on small (near field) speakers (Infinity Infinitesimal 0.1's), KDS/3, and KK/1/D, I would often switch between solid state and tube power amps. Mostly for fun, just to try different combinations. However now with the Solo's I feel no urge at all to make any changes. It appears a lot of the good stuff that I thought was exclusive to tube amps (3D), can indeed be had from a solid state amp as well. This is something I did not get out of the Twin.
One thing I am wondering about in particular, and which I am still unsure about, is whether or not these amps give me some extra 'goodness' after a certain amount of time / warming up, let's say after 30-40 minutes?
It could be just how my brain works and gets into the right flow. I could accept that. Let me try to explain what happens ... it's all very very good for the first 1/2 hour, but after a while it appears the music comes in even more 'effortless' and it becomes easier to 'understand' everything that is happening in terms of the soundstage. It's not like the soundstage changes, it doesn't get any bigger or deeper, it's just a lot easier to follow all that's going on.
I am happy to learn (from other people's experiences) if this is just my brain adjusting, or if this is a real thing (e.g. warming up of the electronics). Or could this be a sign that these Solo's would benefit from a re-cap, I just don't know?
Long story short: I love these Solo's.
First of all, I suppose "the best amp" does not exist, and I've found at least two implementations where I do not consider Solo's the best option: (1) on servo duties as a bass amp in my main system (Infinity IRS Gamma) where the Dynamik Twin is so much more fun (quicker, effortless) and (2) on the mid/high in that same system where a tube amp - apparently - feels much smoother, mostly because it is not trying to "fight" the speakers. These speakers where designed with tube amps in mind, and that's perfectly fine. They also have a quite horrible impedance curve, and if I'm not mistaken, a capacitative load as well.
I read elsewhere on this forum "Solo's will not drive everything" and I can confirm that is also what I found.
Another thing I learned, these Solo's came from a full aktiv 8x Solo Komri setup, and had been powered off for 8 months before I got them. They sounded quite unpleasant in the first 2-8 hours, as in: not joyful. The stereo image even drifted between L and R so there was definitely something going on there. This all settled.
I am quite used to the Twin now (6+ years) and would never have thought that such a big step up would be even possible. In my 2nd system, which is based on small (near field) speakers (Infinity Infinitesimal 0.1's), KDS/3, and KK/1/D, I would often switch between solid state and tube power amps. Mostly for fun, just to try different combinations. However now with the Solo's I feel no urge at all to make any changes. It appears a lot of the good stuff that I thought was exclusive to tube amps (3D), can indeed be had from a solid state amp as well. This is something I did not get out of the Twin.
One thing I am wondering about in particular, and which I am still unsure about, is whether or not these amps give me some extra 'goodness' after a certain amount of time / warming up, let's say after 30-40 minutes?
It could be just how my brain works and gets into the right flow. I could accept that. Let me try to explain what happens ... it's all very very good for the first 1/2 hour, but after a while it appears the music comes in even more 'effortless' and it becomes easier to 'understand' everything that is happening in terms of the soundstage. It's not like the soundstage changes, it doesn't get any bigger or deeper, it's just a lot easier to follow all that's going on.
I am happy to learn (from other people's experiences) if this is just my brain adjusting, or if this is a real thing (e.g. warming up of the electronics). Or could this be a sign that these Solo's would benefit from a re-cap, I just don't know?
Long story short: I love these Solo's.
