Class D is affordable and sounds as good or better the SS/Valve why buy anything else ?


I have spent a fair amount of my hard earned money on big ticket brand new SS and VT/Valve amplifiers over the years without hesitation, with state of the art 2019 class D amplifiers becoming cheaper and sounding better, i wouldn't join in again.

For older technology amplifiers SS VT/Valve to compete with State of the art class D, Their prices are going up and up.

One example is Pilium Audio from Greece or Bulgaria their Divine Line the prices are all over £100,000 for their pre amps and power amps, I know the UK importer he said they sound OK,

Another example FM Acoustics again up to and over £100,000 for pre and power amps. i have owned FM Acoustics pre and power again their OK,

I am not saying they do not sound good, i am saying why spend this much when state of the art class D probably sounds as good now and can only improve with the GaN capacitors and is nearly up to 100 times cheaper.

Is there still a market for multi thousand £$s SS or VT/Valve amplifiers ?

When class D finally overtakes SS VT/Valves what will people do with their multi thousand £$ amplifiers, keep them knowing there is something better ? Or will we see the market flood with exotic used amplifiers ?

Digital technology is rapidly growing pace and becoming cheaper, with GaN capacitors being introduced the sound is going to get better and better and will slowly or quickly become even more affordable.

If you had 50,000 to spend on an Amplifier, would you buy a high ticket SS amplifier and hope for the best ?

Would you stay safe and go with high ticket valve amp, class D can never match good valves right ?

Or would you sit tight and see how the GaN capacitors can further improve the performance of state of the art class D ?

Please feel free to join in, everybody is welcome, i think its a very delicate/touchy discussion for some people with big bucks invested in older type amplifiers.
128x128Ag insider logo xs@2xtownshend-audio
Highly regarded back in 2001? Or today’s best class D? Today’s best class D is not based on technology from over a decade ago. In fact there's not a single dealer on the planet who is currently selling todays class D. Only available from direct sellers. The dealer sold manufacturers need to blow out their old inventory before introducing this technology. So could still be 1-2 years before you see this in Stereophile. 

Brewmaster,

No cardboard in my new 1200AS1 dual mono amps.  But, if you like I will put some in for you. 

Who cares about 127dB dynamic range? Seriously. Especially if the first 2 watts are colored by switching noise distortion, like every single one I've ever seen measurements for is. Sorry. Class D isn't high fidelity. Not even remotely interested in an amp that's belting out .05% switching distortion at 1 watt. 
kosst_amojan

Good point regarding .05% switching distortion at 1 watt.

If that is the case then what i am hearing with my Class D amps is the best damn distortion i have ever heard.

I have sold off my SS Monos and VT stereo, i have now got the money put aside for my new Universal Disc Player, i have purchased new cables equipment supports, which has improved the sound even further, plus i have lots of spare money to buy more music i love collecting first press Japan cds and the mini lps with obi strips love em.

Most importantly for me is the improvement in sound quality of my system, when auditioning the class D amp nothing else had been changed in my system, the class D using Hypex NC500 out performed my mega buck SS and VT amplifiers in all areas.

Before investing in mega buck SS Valve/VT everybody needs to hear the very latest state of the art class D in their systems and trust their own ears, i am so glad i did.

If that is distortion i am hearing call me 100% all in, long live better sounding distortion and the good news is there is promise of even better sound using GaN Devices "times they are a changing".
latitk

Here is a list of class D with GaN Devices


The use of GaN-based power transistor tech is now emerging for Class D audio power amplifiers. Seems appropriate to devote a forum thread to this topic. At least 3 companies have commercial class D amps in their books:

Merrill Audio, with their model Element 118 ($36k per monoblock, 400 W into 8 ohms, 800W into 4 ohms), Element 116 ($22k per monoblock, 300 W into 8 ohms, 600W into 4 ohms) and Element 114 (coming soon).
https://merrillaudio.net

Review of Element 118 at this link:
http://www.enjoythemusic.com/superioraudio/equipment/1018/Merrill_Audio_Element_118_Monoblock_Amplif...

ADG Productions, with their Vivace Class D amp ($15k per monoblock pair, 100W into 4 ohms). (The designer emailed me indicating he has another product in the pipeline.)
http://agdproduction.com
Review of the Vivace Class D moniblocks at this link (warning: link might not work (1/11/2019)):
https://positive-feedback.com/reviews/hardware-reviews/agd-production-vivace-gantube-monoblock-ampli...

Technics SE-R1 Class D stereo amp ($17k per stereo amp, 150WPC into 8 ohms, 300WPC into 4 ohms)
Stereo Power Amplifier SE-R1 | Reference Class R1 Series | Technics US
Preliminary review of the Technics SE-R1 at this link:
Technics SE-R1 Digital Amplifier
Technics also has a lower priced GaN-based class D integrated amp in their catalog:
Grand Class Stereo Integrated Amplifier SU-G700 Hi-Fi Audio | Technics US