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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
noble100's avatar
noble100
1,093 posts
 
Hi Guido.
Thanks for the info, my friend. Very interesting about Bruno leaving Hypex to found Purifi.
The progress of class D technology continues to be very interesting and promising.

Tim

ricevs
190 posts
 

Tim,

The input stage on an amp is not an output stage.  Output stages have to drive a speaker, so you would not want current limiting.  The input stage is just an op amp.  Most integrated circuit op amps cannot drive over 100ma.  They are using a discrete op amp that can drive 250ma.  In fact, the circuit will never need much current at all.  As all that will come out of it is a few volts and driving maybe 5K load.  They are basically bragging about their discrete op amp.  The spec has very little to do with sound.  You could have a circuit that could only drive 50ma that could sound better.

noble100's avatar
noble100
1,093 posts
 
ricevs,

     Thanks for clarifying.  I knew it was a class A input buffer stage, which is good, but wondered if its 250mA class A operating limit would negatively affect sound quality performance.  I now understand it will not thanks to your very good explanation.

Thanks,
  Tim
noble100's avatar
noble100
1,093 posts
 
     It looks like Bruno Putzeys new company, Purifi, has more interests than just class D amps:

https://www.purifi-audio.com/index.php

Tim

georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
4,966 posts
 
What if they are not?
Like their directional ac mains fuse, there is only one answer to that.
More to discover