2. amps-preamps
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Class D is just Dandy!

I thought it was time we had a pro- Class D thread. There's plenty of threads about comparisons, or detractors of Class D.

That's fine, you don't have to like Class D amps, and if you don't please go participate on one of those threads.

For those of us who are very happy and excited about having musical, capable amps that we can afford to keep on 24/7 and don't require large spaces to put them in, this thread is for you.

Please share your experiences with class D amps!
erik_squires
whitestix
386 posts
 
Gents,
I had a pal construct a Class D amp in a nice wood cabinet that set me back the princely sum for $125.  It won a blind comparison against a pricey Class A ss amp at a gathering of the Bay Area Audio Society.  I initially felt the sound of the amp was rather dry sounding compared to my tube amps, but upon further listening, I conclude that it has a very neutral sonic signature.  However, this 125 wpc amp, paired with a Don Sachs 6SN7-based tube preamp, is a wonderful combination.  It drives my Dali Zensor 3 speakers with ease with great detail and extension.

I believe Class D amps are clearly the wave of the future.  They run so cool and efficiently and the new wave of designs I suspect will be able to mimic attributes of the sound of tube gear that so many of us like.  
erik_squires OP
5,268 posts
 
Hi @roxy54

You know, I probably heard the same Class A amps @whitestix heard in the Bay Area and I have to concur. I re-iterate, blindfolded and level matched I don’t think I could tell them apart from the Parasound A23’s. Both are excellent, modern sounding amps via my reference speakers.

Negatives?
The ICEPower 250 ASP modules are in no way euphonic. They lack the utter calmness and dark backgrounds of the very best Ayre or Arcam systems. They lack the juiciness if not excessive boldness of the best big Conrad Johnson tube amps.

Despite all of this, they are very very engaging and when the music and sources are right just as compelling to listen to as the best amplifiers I have heard.

Unlike the worst SS amps, they also don’t sound thin, compressed, underpowered or grainy at all. I just listened to Trombone Shorty’s latest tracks via Jazz FM 91 and man, freaking awesome playback. Absolutely nothing was missing nor called attention to itself in terms of the amplifier.

Best,


E
erik_squires OP
5,268 posts
 
Hi randy-11,

If you mean the multi-channel amps with Hypex/nCore modules, YES THEY DO! 

I would just be sure to listen first. I have heard a couple of modern NAD gear and I didn't like it. This is a brand I really encourage you to listen / try out before committing.

Best,


E
whitestix
386 posts
 
Erik,
Great informative post, with accurate descriptions of the objective differences of the sound of Class D vs. other fine amps.   You nailed it.  Class D amps do not presently have the euphonic sound of the best Class A solid state or tube amps, but I think they are exceeding accurate, so one must pick their poison, so to speak.  I dig "green" gear that needs minute amounts of electricity to make my speakers sing and doesn't heat up my listening room in the blistering hot CA summers which was always the curse of my many tube amps, running a half dozen KT88's hard.  To my ears, a tube preamp and solid state amp, including Class D amps, is a match made in audio heaven.  Cheers.     
guidocorona
4,114 posts
 

Thank you Eric, nice to see an Audiogon watering hole for fans of good class D amplification. Over the years, I have had a variety of very fine amps.... Among class D designs I enjoyed for several years the Rowland 312 stereo based on ICEpower ASP1000, and the Bel Canto REF1000 MK.2 -- also based on ASP1000. I agree with Ghosthouse that Merrill makes wonderful amps based on NCore NC1200 and NC500... Worth not only listening, but also owning. Read my super-favorable review of Merrill's Veritas monos at on Positive Feedback No.68:


http://positive-feedback.com/Issue68/merrill_audio.htm


 My reference amplifier is the Rowland M925 mono, also based on NCore NC1200 modules, amongst its many component parts... It is an absolutely enchanting amp, which I have discussed elsewhere on this forum:


https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/experiencing-rowland-m925-4-chassis-reference-amps      


Yep, 4 years have elapsed since M925 has arrived at my doorsteps, and I am still in love with it.


Here is where you can find information on M925 design and architecture:


http://jeffrowlandgroup.com/kb/categories.php?categoryid=212


Saluti, Guido





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