@georgehifiBut it still does not compete with the best linear amps.
I definitely don’t think there’s a need to wait for GaN semiconductor technology to ’trickle down’. As I believe you’ve already discovered, good class D performs exceptionally well.
I am also in this camp. As a builder of audio components my partner and I have discussed making Class-D amps or anything similar. So far, we cannot come up with anything that is better. We recently built a pure class A power amp about 30wpc and it was killer. Cost me about $600 to build one.
I recently heard the NuFocre (not the newest model) but an upgraded (with 5 watt power supply) and it was supposed to be really good. But in direct comparison in my system it lasted less than a minute. Just did nothing special and was not very musical. Just my two cents.
If I was going to by a Class-D amp I would buy one that was reliable, could be serviced is needed and spend the least amount of money on it. But that's just me, I'm cheap!
Happy Listening.