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.
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Showing 5 responses by elizabeth

My current amp is nine years old. I like it. I see no reason to go buy another brand of amp since mine sounds just fine. IF for some crazy reason I bought another amplifier. it would most likely be the same brand as my current one. Call me conservative. To me, buying an unknown Class D amp would be like asking me to jump off a cliff. Rave reviews mean nothing....
Class D reads like interesting. Sadly for Class D affectionados I would never buy one. Who cares? (other than me why? not your problem.) yes, go on, say I am x, y, or z, problem for 'failing' to realize just how amazing, wonderful, and amazing, did I mention amazing and wonderful?  Class D amplifiers are. Why isn't it sad all those other kind of amplifier makers just do not understand, and foolishly continue to build amplifier that are not Class D? what a pity.I hope all you Class D amp lovers can forgive us for failing to recognize genius.
wow.. I am the FAVORITE. Favorite anything is GREAT. Woo Hoo. Favorite hypocrite. Do I get a trophy? Pleeeese? Maybe a little one I can put on my stereo??? Pleeese?
Hah, talk about the pot calling the kettle ... Seems some folks love to whine they feel they have been insulted or just shown the error of their ways, discussing how bad it is to insult others, then go straight for the insults themselves. usually a sign they have already lost the battle, and are now fuming how unfair it is, since they are certain they are 100% right. After all, the MUST be right, since they think so. Right?
No problem. Someone buy a really good Class D amp, and then ship it to me, free. No problem on my part. I would certainly plug it in and see. Oh, you want me to BUY one.. Oh.. Yeah. OK.. On my to do list, down just below 'Kissing the Blarney Stone' at 2,837,103 from the  # one on my list.. which is, as usual, listen to some music..If I live to be 284 years old.. I will definitely get to it.