Class D is affordable and sounds as good or better the SS/Valve why buy anything else ?


I have spent a fair amount of my hard earned money on big ticket brand new SS and VT/Valve amplifiers over the years without hesitation, with state of the art 2019 class D amplifiers becoming cheaper and sounding better, i wouldn't join in again.

For older technology amplifiers SS VT/Valve to compete with State of the art class D, Their prices are going up and up.

One example is Pilium Audio from Greece or Bulgaria their Divine Line the prices are all over £100,000 for their pre amps and power amps, I know the UK importer he said they sound OK,

Another example FM Acoustics again up to and over £100,000 for pre and power amps. i have owned FM Acoustics pre and power again their OK,

I am not saying they do not sound good, i am saying why spend this much when state of the art class D probably sounds as good now and can only improve with the GaN capacitors and is nearly up to 100 times cheaper.

Is there still a market for multi thousand £$s SS or VT/Valve amplifiers ?

When class D finally overtakes SS VT/Valves what will people do with their multi thousand £$ amplifiers, keep them knowing there is something better ? Or will we see the market flood with exotic used amplifiers ?

Digital technology is rapidly growing pace and becoming cheaper, with GaN capacitors being introduced the sound is going to get better and better and will slowly or quickly become even more affordable.

If you had 50,000 to spend on an Amplifier, would you buy a high ticket SS amplifier and hope for the best ?

Would you stay safe and go with high ticket valve amp, class D can never match good valves right ?

Or would you sit tight and see how the GaN capacitors can further improve the performance of state of the art class D ?

Please feel free to join in, everybody is welcome, i think its a very delicate/touchy discussion for some people with big bucks invested in older type amplifiers.
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Mike,

If you had a scope and looked at any waveform coming out of the amp you will see the 500K switching noise riding along.  ALL class D amps have this.  Is it audible.....maybe not....does it look gross.  yes.

You think everything is an attack, that is your problem.  I was just describing (very fairly) your behavior (past and present).  I mean you no harm.  I hope you can take the feedback and grow up.  If not, then wherever you go the same story will ensue.  You cannot keep doing the same behavior and expect different results.

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Specs, measurements and such done right provide useful clues to what to expect from a product only. They help people make informed decisions.

But as is always the case, one never knows what something actually sounds like until they give it a try. So glad I did that a few years back with Class D. It helped me get to my happy place in hifi much sooner rather than later. Nowadays, I read these discussions but spend as much of my spare time as I can just enjoying the music, now more than ever.


I follow you around.......yes, Mike I am a stalker.  Yes, your threads get a lot of traffic (because of the drama...hey, who doesn't want to watch a good fight?)......till they are deleted.  And how has that benefited me?  I don't lie. I heard a pair of your amps with the best jacks and wire and run mono with $225 fuses.....I never said they were SE....they are your one quarter inch thick versions.  Now, you will state that your one half inch thick versions sound way better so my A/B is nonsense.  My chassis is one eight inch thick......he he. My "hacked science project" is just your jealousy for not being able to make the modules sound better.  So, now you are attacking........you see, it is a never ending spiral with you.  You cannot let go.  Everything is an attack to you, so you keep swinging your sword.  I will not respond to anything more you say as I have stated my truth and it does not need to be repeated.  I hope the thread continues as it is an important view to discuss.  I bless you and wish you happiness and peace.