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Do all Class D amps lack soundstage depth?

Hello!
Recently I bought a class D amp for my friend from Audiogon - PS Audio Trio A-100. In general, I liked it sound very much. Compared to the power section of my much cheaper integrated amp (NAD C320BEE), Trio A-100 sounded fresher, more transparent, richer and juicier. NAD was obviously duller and more reserved. Trio A-100 seemed to energize the air with a sort of vibrancy, while NAD seemed more lifeless. (Of course, I am exaggerating the difference between the amps a bit to make it more clear how they differ from each other.) However, Trio A-100 lacked one parameter, which is very essential for me and without which I cannot truly get lost in the music – namely, the soundstage was flat. It wasn’t absolutely flat, no – but NAD did so much better in this department. When NAD was playing, I heard which instruments and singers were farther from me and which were closer to me. When Trio was playing, everything seemed to be on the same line, equidistant from me.

The previous owner of PS Audio Trio A-100 had told to me about its sound before I bought the amp from him, and he frankly admitted that the soundstage was kind of flat. Before this purchase, I nearly bought another Class D amp – namely, Bel Canto S300. Eventually, this amp went to another buyer, but the owner shared with me his impressions about this amp and, among other things, he wrote: “There might be less depth with some recordings”.

So, at least two owners of Class D amps confessed that their amps lacked soundstage depth.

I wonder – are all Class D amps like that? Is the lack of depth something which is intrinsically inherent in Class D?

My second question is – what if I buy TWO Class D amps and use them as monoblocks – will it solve the problem with the flatness of the soundstage?

Any advice based on personal experience will be much appreciated.
ironmine
2chnlben
595 posts
 
The biggest criticism of class D has been that the regulating of power via switching modes results in greater distortion than what is typically present in good A, A/B designs; and that the necessary filtering processes utilized in class D aren’t entirely effective in resolving the issue of distortion. I have heard a lot of criticisms of the supposedly inherent problems with class D switching designs, but never relating to soundstage (inherent). I’m running a PS Audio GCC-250; I’m not sure what ICE module it utilizes, but I have always appreciated the wide and deep soundstage that my system produces. I did purchase a stage II mod on my amp, but I’m not sure if that resulted in an ICE module change. If you want to be certain that you don’t have “class D issues” you may want to stay with A/B, as there are some fine A/B amps for sale on the used market.

For what it’s worth, once I removed my component rack from between my speakers, I heard a real improvement in the overall soundstage.
jaybo
4,478 posts
 
change amps....move speakers
dcstep
1,518 posts
 
You guys aren't listening. He's happy with the imaging when using the NAB. It's not a speaker placement issue, it's an amp issue.

Dave
br3098
660 posts
 
Look guys, it's easy: not every amp mates well to every speaker. A typical audiophile setup is a hodge-podge collection of semi-compatible parts.

Try a different amp. What works for me or another guy on this thread may not work for you. Try a different amp. You have audiophile friends? Do you have local dealers? Many audio manufacturers have return or try and buy programs. Keep trying amps until you find one that works for you, with your gear, in your room, with your ears.
tholt
545 posts
 
To answer the OP's question -- no, not all class D amps lack depth. I believe it's a compatibility issue he's experiencing with his gear.

To answer his second question -- if there is a gear incompatibility, then 2 of the same incompatible amps will not solve the problem of imaging, though may sound better in other areas.
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