Comparing a Yamaha s301bl to a rega elicit mk5 - a/b on some paradigm 800fs and they sound the exact same. Looking at the specs it makes sense - I don’t know why I’d ever use the full wattage of even the Yamaha without getting hearing damage and the THD being 0.019% vs 0.004% makes no functional difference. Are high end amps the new snake oil? What exactly are you getting for 10x the price here (besides the rega having less features and the rega brand name?)
In fact, I have Paradigm Premier speakers.
2x 200B, a 600c, and 2x Ultracube 10’s. (plus 8x Paradigm MilkeniaOnes for surround/ceiling speakers.
I’m not particularly surprised.
It’s taken me years to learn the nuances of listening to high end music.
I’m not sure I’d qualify the Paradigm Premiers to have enough quality to discern the difference between those 2 amps without giving the rega elicit mk5 time to break in for at least several weeks and a lot of playing to break in.
Although I think breaking in speakers is more about a person getting used to listening to new speakers: (I might be wrong, but it’s too minor for me to care), other equipment, especially amps, do need a breaking in period before it will perform to it’s best capability.
But I still think it’s overkill for the Paradigm premier line, as far as the rega elicit mk5. I’m not sure the Paradigm Premier line would find much improvement over the cheaper amp.
Paradigm Premier speakers are excellent, but I’m planning on far more expensive speakers for my music only zone 2.
But not snake oil. Buying better amps and any other part of a system is an elegant dance of trying to bring out the best of what your system can do without over indulging in any single component.