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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
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
audiothesis
128 posts
 
I've heard about five different versions of Class D over the last few years and they all disappointed in one key area - naturalness.  There was always something artificial sounding that never let me engage with the music.  In all honesty, the Pioneer SC series receivers impressed me with their presentation.  It was still a receiver, but I found their amp sections to be almost unparalleled in that application.

I haven't given up on the technology yet regardless of the above.  I understand it might simply come down to finding the right specimen to hook me.
gammajo's avatar
gammajo
798 posts
 
Grannyring+1. I have the Nuprime Reference 20 monos modded and compared the other half dozen class D that I have heard and many conventional amps, they are up there with the best. Liquid, natural, transparent, killer bass, and zero edginess, tizzy, or glassey,
audioman58's avatar
audioman58
1,219 posts
 
There are many excellent Class D amps out there. To say good class D is bright means you are not very well versed in quality class D. I have the Danish built Gato 400S  which has a Very natural character musical with nice image depth.
Mark Levinson, Jeff Roland , And a bunch of others have custom. 
Built  Analog input as well as output stages. These amps are all
in the $6k or better range . Their distortion is far lower ,run cooler 
and no where as heavy . Unless you have heard the best digital 
from at least 4 Tom name brands then you can’t speak with any 
valid experience . As all Audiophilesit is just your opinion.
these Class -A rated amps or preamps have arrived .research 
digital has indeed arrived including recordings  when done properly.
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