D-SONIC SOA Class-D Core Amps. The best Class-D ?

Audiozen,

Thanks for the interest. Yes 8k input impedance is low but not too terrible low. One has to be a bit judicious in choosing the preamp. Of course, most if not all solid state preamps will drive the amp fine. The only exception is those with open loop design and/or some tube units. Changing input impedance is certainly an option but I'm not equipped to work with surface mount components. But more importantly, Raising the impedance would introduce more noise, plus I like to keep the original designer's intent of how it should sound. I have not tried either Abletec or the Hypex, though I have customer who have listened to the Hypex Ncore so I have a very good idea of how they sound. I have intention of getting a couple the Hypex Ncore to try but discourage as the lead time is exceeding long, plus the fact that that the modules are extremely expensive so I have put it off so far. Someday I might try it. So currently I'm still using the Ice modules without the integrated switching mode power supply. I use traditional linear power supply for my design.

Interesting Henry..I noticed your Fire preamp has a very low output impedance of 20 ohms, which matches perfectly with your amps. Never seen a Preamp with an output impedance that low.

Since this thread is focused on Abletec/D-Sonic, as well as Hypex and other's, another newer Class-D switching technology just popped up. Phew!! hard to keep up with.
The Jeff Rowland Group had a private showing of their new Class-D integrated amp at CES, which is called the Continuum Series Two. No longer using B&O Ice Amps that where in the Continuum 500. The new integrated will be using the new Pasquale Class-D amps, exclusive only to Rowland. Rowland said at CES they are far superior to the B&O ICE technology. The integrated will be released in April and will put out 400 watts into 8 ohms.

Not all B&O icepower modules are the same. Some are newer, some are older. SOmetimes, different ones are used in teh same line at same time, like BC ref500m versus ref1000m.

Have not kept up on new Icepower development though. Have they stopped refining Icepoweer at this point? Certainly there is more and more competition all the time now it seems, which is to be expected. The landscape might be totally different in just a few years. Not uncommon for companies that forge new frontiers to fall by the wayside over time as others follow.

It appears that B&O has not moved beyond pulse width modulation, which is the area that amp enigineers have focused on in recent years claiming that PWM has hit its limit regarding the problems with PWM such as feedback and noise in the upper frequencies, as well as RFI/EMI problems. The only Class-D company that has fallen by the wayside and gone out of business was TriPath. Abletec, Hypex and the others are doing very well. Lets see whats in store for Pasquale. It appears based on my discussions with these company sources, that newer, alternative modulating techniques have resulted in zero feedback, much better linearity, and lower noise bringing Class-D much closer to the very best Class A and A/B SS and tube amps.