Class D amps,bang for your buck ones


Hello

First off,

I don't know much about class D amps, I did buy a Sonic Impact T-amp from Parts Express once to play with, I returned it because I don't have the speakers for it.

I did manage to hook it up to a pair of BIC Venturi horn speakers, and was floored with the clarity of the amp.

Those speakers had so many problems that I just didn't want to monkey with them, bad x-overs with busted pots,only sometimes could I get them to work right.

So, this leads me to my question.

Whats a high value class D amp with some hp/balls to drive normal speakers?

I'm looking for the Forte 4 of class D's, assuming (class D)is a tripath based/type amp.

Any suggestions or comments welcome.

I have an Accuphase pre and a minimax pre to use.

Thanks
mcgarick
Markalarsen
I now have had an opportunity to upgrade to the NuForce Reference 9V3SE and allow them to burn in. Burning in was critical. What incredible amps. I doubt you will be seeing any of these on the used market.

Let me be the first to take that bet please. This is Audiogon after all. :)
FWIW.
I have a pair of the Wyred SX1000 monos and a Mcintosh MC352 which I've been listening to back and forth with different speakers.
Both driven by a Lavry DA10 DAC.
The wyreds sound great with my B&W 801 Matrix2, but I preferred the MC352 on my Dunlavys SCIV4a's. The Wyred are a bit more forward with better LF control to my ears and the MC352 is smoother. Both in the same league, just different flavors.
The Wyred are a bit more forward with better LF control to my ears and the MC352 is smoother.

Trinculo,
Does it mean that the W4S sound loser to the Rotel amplifiers when it comes to Trebal/mid-range? Are they more analytical?
I haven't compared the W4S to any Rotels so I can't comment to that.
Compared to the Mcintosh MC352, particularly on the Dun's the W4S sounded more aggressive in the hi mids. I would in no way call them "loser". My impression is that they are very fast accurate amps. Tight would be the adjective I would be more inclined to use. They sound great on the B&W 801's in my studio.

The Mac on the other sounds great on the Dun's, but is a bit wooly on the 801's.
Another vote for the Onkyo A-9555. I've had mine for 1-1/2 years. It is very fast and clean, yet not etched or irritating. The speed and low noise floor enable me to hear much more continuity to the music and bloom and fade in the individual notes. It's very dynamic, both for slam and for nuance. At its list price of $799 it's a good value; at its typical <$550 street price it's ridiculously good.

Only caveats:
1) It doesn't have pre-outs. You have to use it as an integrated unit. Fortunately it makes about 85/170 watts into 8/4 ohms and sounds more powerful than that with lots of slam and bass extension.
2) The built-in phono preamp is decent, but eventually you'll want at least a Cambridge 640P to add some slam and dynamics to LPs
3) The speaker terminals are those wimpy ones that accept only bare wire or bananas. The amp sounds so good this is a minor inconvenience. I'm using locking bananas and they're just as secure as spades and a lot easier to use.
4) You'll get a jump in sound quality with an aftermarket cord. Switching amps are pickier about the AC quality.
5) Must give it 100 hour break in or you'll think the A-9555 enthusiasts are deaf or masochistic.

Its low level resolution is very nice; it even warmed up my CDs.

Both TAS and Stereophile gave it positive reviews. S'phile gave it a class C recommended rating; based on the other class C selections, I'd say the A-9555 is borderline class B.