Class D = Trash?

georgehifi,

      Yes, Nord does cut costs and prices to customers by selecting op amps for their input boards that they like the sound of rather than the much more expensive method of designing and building their own.
       Class D power module manufacturers typically utilize the more expensive but high quality discrete MOSFET transistors in their output stages.  I've read that there's recently been a lot of effort in the transistor industry going into developing even faster switching MOSFET transistors expressly for use in class D switching amps.  Are class D amps becoming so popular and mainstream that their manufacturers' needs are now influencing the direction of transistor r&d?  I believe the future of class D certainly looks very promising.

Tim

Modern Op amps are very good implemented correctly. Most music is produced with tens of them in the signal chain at least. There's no way to avoid them entirely.

Almost all DAC's rely on them, if not external, then implemented in the filter chips themselves.

Power supply and supporting part quality matters.

Best,

E

georgehifi,

     Here's a link to what I was referring to in my last post about reading of faster switching mosfets:

http://audiophilereview.com/cd-dac-digital/why-well-soon-be-living-in-a-class-d-world.html

      This transistor technology is called Gallium Nitride (GaN) and is poised to uproot the high-end audio world.  There's even mention of your favorite subject, higher PWM switching frequency, and how these new GaN FETS will enable it.

Tim

@pcrhkr - I had a crown xls 1500, which was the first gen if they're more tech. It was a great amp, especially considering it can be had new for not much more than $300. 

I recently bought a used pair of class d monoblocks by Ghent audio.. they are noticeably better than the crown. Just putting that out there.

Hi Tim,

Thank you very much for your understanding the tip on the Abletec power amp modules.  Unfortunately, I think all modules being offered by Abletec has built-in SMPS and there is not really a way to bypass/separate the SMPS from the amp section.  Even if that is possible, it would not be practical and/or economical.  This is the very reason I have gravitated toward icepower and Ncore so far, as these can be used with power supply of my own design.

I am aware of products being offered by Nord from England.  I believe, and I maybe wrong on this, that there is a misconception about the input buffer in most instances, in that it is choice rather than a necessity.  In reality, I believe it is a necessity first and foremost since most of these amp modules, may have a very low input impedance, in fact even lower than in the case of icepower 8 kohms in most modules, which is very low compared to the industry's standard.  One example would be in the Abletec's case, where if the module is being implement as is, its intrinsic input impedance is less than 2 kohms which is so tough drive properly for any preamp, except a very few preamps, and one being my Fire Preamp.

From what I have heard with the Ncore400, realizing that it is not the Ncore1200 which may sound completely different, Still, I believe that the Ncore technology is most appropriated to be mated with a tube preamp, and maybe preferably, a non-negative feedback design for best result, at least to my ears and in my system.  Thanks

Henry