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The Truth about Modern Class D

All my amps right now are Class D. ICEpower in the living room, and NAD D 3020 in the bedroom.

I’ve had several audiophiles come to my home and not one has ever said "Oh, that sounds like Class D."

Having said this, if I could afford them AND had the room, I’d be tempted to switch for a pair of Ayre monoblocks or Conrad Johnson Premiere 12s and very little else.

I’m not religious about Class D. They sound great for me, low power, easy to hide, but if a lot of cash and the need to upgrade ever hits me, I could be persuaded.

The point: Good modern Class D amps just sound like really good amplifiers, with the usual speaker/source matching issues.

You don’t have to go that route, but it’s time we shrugged off the myths and descriptions of Class D that come right out of the 1980’s.
erik_squires
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
4,637 posts
 
@ricevs says.....

“The "truth" about class D is that it is all over the place.......just like all the other classes.”

Perfectly stated as the universe of Class D or any class of amps is far too big for over generalizations to apply. Experience has shown me that tube amp sound is all over the board as well as Class A/B etc...
The power supply employed in a Class D design can all by itself dramatically change the sound. So many other aspects can change the sound of a Class D amp such as design, build and parts quality differences.

We should also throw in pure digital powered dacs as they offer tremendous sound quality with the added option of room correction and SOTA volume control. We have so many great choices today.  


atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
7,068 posts
 
We should also throw in pure digital powered dacs
Just to be clear: all forms of class D are analog devices. I know, switching this, digital input that and on and on but class D is still analog. Just so there's no confusion :)
mdeblanc's avatar
mdeblanc
58 posts
 
I’ve had my Class D Cherry Amplifiers for a yr now and I’m extremely happy. I don’t ’hear’ anything that sounds like a bad-purchase, and I listen Friday / Saturday nights from like 8P to 2 or 3AM. Will I trade them some day? Probably, like I trade cars. But I do believe Class D’s time has not just ’come’ but is here to stay. My Cherries were preceded by a First Watt J2 which was preceded by a Yamamoto A-08S which was preceded by a long list of amps. For reference, my system to-date is as follows PS Audio DirectStream Memory Transport> PS Audio DirectStream DAC > Cherry Amp DTM 60V > Reference 3A MM de Capo BE.
timlub
1,649 posts
 
I have built some mono amps from Abletec modules.  They were actually quite good.  I don't know if they were "World Class" or not, but you know what, they played music and they sounded like music.  I did sell them, but not because I didn't like them.  I simply had an old Audiophile buddy that had his amp go down beg to get them from me.  
erik_squires OP
5,268 posts
 
@timlub 

Parts Express is now selling ICEpower modules directly and for cheap. :) 

Best,

E
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