Which Class D Amplifier? PS Audio, Ghent, Nord, Merrill or other???


I’m looking for a new amp & want Class D.

I’ve seen various brands mentioned, such as PS Audio, Ghent, Nord, Merrel to name a few, but I’ve not heard any of them.

Which company is producing the best sounding Class D?
Which models should I be looking to demo?


Thanks



singintheblues
-10 George and Calendar for being less than truthful, mischaracterizing other Audiogon members, including myself and projecting.

I've never attacked you personally, show me a place where I have, George?

Nor have I thought your war of web links was constructive or useful.

In fact, George, you personally asked me to let those who enjoy their audio enjoy it and let them be at peace, while you attack everyone who likes Class D as having poor hearing and owning "junkers."

So, George, why haven't you let those who enjoy Class D as it is today, enjoy it? Wasn't this what you asked me to do? And are you not pretty much telling us we must not have very good hearing if we like it?

I'm describing your behavior, by the way. That's not a personal attack. That's a summary.
Hello georgehifi,

     I can not only handle the truth, I respect it and have a habit of speaking it. Can you claim the same?
     It is true that you did post about the newer GaN technology a while ago and their potential beneficial potential for audio amps and I found it very interesting and promising.  Thank you.
     I have no issues with you touting the potential benefits of faster switching GaN transistors that would result in reduced dead-time and reduced distortion.  GaN transistor technology is a few years old and their potential for improved solid-state audio amp performance are well understood and mainly agreed upon.
      My main issue with you concerns your claim/theory that current class D carrier frequencies are too low and result in sonic shortcomings in the audible range. Unlike GaN technology, the potential benefits of higher switching frequencies for improved class D amp performance have not been researched and, therefore, are not well understood or agreed upon.  The truth is that It also has never been proven that current level switching frequencies are too low and result in any sonic shortcomings in the audible range.
     Yet, you seem to believe it's just a matter of opinion as to whether these sonic shortcomings exist in the audible range. I believe this has yet to be decided empirically.
      My take on this issue is a bit involved but not really complex.
      My reasoning is that,if your theory of sonic shortcomings in the audible range are someday proven to be  false, then that nicely explains why I and many other users of good class D amps have failed to hear them since they don't exist.
       If your theory of sonic shortcomings in the audible range are someday proven to be true, however, then that would verify their existence but present a whole new issue of why I and many other users of good class D amps are unable to discern these now proven sonic shortcomings. 
      I.can state with absolute certainty that I cannot discern any sonic shortcomings on any of my 3 good quality class D amps that all have switching frequencies in the 600 KHz range. 
     If your theory is someday proven to be true and sonic shortcomings actually do exist in the audible range due to the switchng frequency being too low, I'd be very concerned about why I wasn't able to discern these now proven sonic shortcomings.
     I'm now 60 and have never considered myself  to be a 'golden ears',  But I believe I still have good hearing, I'm able to discern the differences between various power cords and interconnect cables I've compared on my class D amps and think I'd be able to hear any sonic shortcomings on my system if they existed.
     After I initially read of your theory concerning the switching frequencies on class D amps being too low and being audible, I was a bit alarmed because I could not hear any sonic anomalies on my class D system.  So, I spent most of a Saturday listening to my system trying to detect any sonic shortcomings in the midrange and treble but failed to identify even a hint of any sonic anomalies.
     Ultimately, I had no choice but to conclude that no sonic shortcomings existed on my class D system.  The only other possible conclusion is that I, for some unknown reason, am incapable of perceiving these sonic shortcomings.  But I consider this a bit of stretch with the current lack of research supporting this premise.
       
    So, I'm going with the conclusion that these supposed class D sonic shortcomings don't actually exist until proven otherwise.  

 Tim
I threw my hat into the ring here quite a few pages back suggesting initially that the Anthem M1 be considered for audition as my personal experience is that I like far better than my very well received Parasound A51 Halo, which of course is Class A/AB depending on the output level.

However as with so many other forums online in various other areas of interest, they often degrade into nasty commentary.  I blame the lack of face to face interaction as I don't believe people would speak this way to someone's face in person (there is too much risk of getting punched).

Anyway, I keep it simple, I stop following any threads I don't find are productive any longer and I guess its time to do just that.