Class D = Trash?

Madavid0 - 

Have you considered the possibility that A) you have very neutral and revealing speakers plus B) a highly detailed and resolving amp could mean that C) perhaps you're just now able to hear the quality of the source recordings that you haven't before?

I remember when I first setup my highly revealing and resolving system how many recordings I used to enjoy sounded poor (accurate) and how many I had previously dismissed sounded great (accurate).

Give your ears time to burn in as well.

Greg

Everyone in audio has a different opinion on what sounds good and what does not. There are many factors that influence your opinion on equipment and its associated technology. Understanding the technology is interesting but, for me, how a piece of equipment sounds in MY system is more important.

After some discussion, my friend loaned me his James Romeyn "Class D" mono block power amplifier and I liked them very much. They sounded much better than my Luxman 590ax Class A integrated amplifier (solid state). The music was more open, detailed with much improved bass. I was very surprised and could not believe it. And, yes, I was hearing sounds that I have not heard before.

I consulted with James and decided to buy his Hypex NCore NC400 dual mono block class D power amplifiers ($2,980) with 2 NC400 amplifiers per side with the NC1200 power supply. He highly recommended his Class D dual mono version for improved sound quality and power.

The amplifiers finally arrived and they were a huge step above his mono block power amplifiers. The sound quality from my Hypex NCore NC400 Class D duel mono block power amplifiers is amazing.  Burn in time was about 3 weeks but they sounded very good out of the box.  However, as I was instructed. I made no judgement until after the 3 weeks.

My sound system sounds much improved over my Luxman 590ax Class A integrated amplifier.  I mentioned this before in previous posts but we removed the R141 chip from the 4 NC400 amps that allow increased volume setting from my Bricasti M1 SE DAC.  My DAC is going direct to my Hypex NCore NC400 mono block power amplifiers and I am not using a pre-amplifier.  I am using the James Romeyn Pure Balanced POWer Fully Balanced Interconnect cable with Cardas Rhodium XLR Connectors. The Rhodium connectors took several weeks to burn in and sounded horrible out of the box.

I am hearing details, imaging and bass that I have not heard before. My system now offers breath taking detail, transparency, lack of noise, and excellent dynamics that I did not hear with the Luxman 590ax Class A integrated amplifier.

I purchased the Hypex NCore Class D amps from James Romeyn Music and Audio, LLC (James). He was very helpful answering my many questions and I suggest you contact him for more information on his assembled Hypex NCore Class A amplifiers (he offers 3 models).  Please see this link:

http://jamesromeyn.com/product/hypex-professional-build-service/#tab-description

Very interesting point about switching frequencies… What is the acceptable switching friequency range is targeted by the pundits?

Below is a quote from George from the Class D technology thread. 

The day will come when Class D will compete and very well be better than any linear amps tube,s/s, class A, AB or whatever, BUT!!

 Class D needs much higher switching frequency (needs to be at least 5 x higher) technology isn't there yet but in the future it will come, only then will ClassD become a contender. Till then good for budget hifi and subwoofer/bass amps.

Technics has progress the Class D race and developed 2 x the present switching frequency with their own made components, in this amp but it’s very expensive $20-30k
https://forum.audiogon.com/posts/1334662?highlight=Technics

When the switching frequency is 3mhz or better, then it can be called hi-end, and will own it myself, then my linear heavy boat anchors will be sold or become door stops.



Cheers George

Guido, is there any scientific explanation behind these Class D break in numbers? I can see speakers maybe needing a bit of time to break in....but transistors???

Given that break-in of a class D power amp ranges from 600 hours to approximately 1500, asking a manufacturer to exercise the device for upwards of a couple of months before shipping it to a dealer may be woefully unrealistic… Of course, everything is possible…. For a commensurate list price uplift.

 

G.