Hi all,
Well, I actually received my M3-600-M completed amps back from D-Sonic Saturdrday. Before I go into more detail, I first want to respond to a few recent posters:
10-31-14: Njs
"Dollar for dollar you will be far more rewarded (and financially solvent) prioritizing: 1) speakers and their appropriate placement, 2) quality sources, 3) preamplifiers, and 4) appropriate room treatments ahead of amplifiers.
With that said, I am enjoying the holy hell out of my new D-Sonic amplifiers."
Njs,
I agree with everything you posted. I am still thrilled with the performance of my speakers, Magnepan 2.7qr, for both ht and 2-channel music. They are older speakers but are in like new condition and I think I have their positioning dialed in since they have that disappearing quality where you tend to forget the sound is coming from two 6ft tall and 2ft wide panels. I position the speakers 3 feet out from the front wall for ht/tv/background music listening and about 5 feet out for optimal sound staging for a more enjoyable music listening experience that gives a solid 3-D illusion that is wide and deep and gives the sense that the performers are in your living room or you've been transported to their location.
I previously upgraded my source from an older Sony DVD-7700, a very good cd/dvd player that had served me well for 10 yrs, to a more up to date Oppo 105 blu-ray player. I also added a laptop running JRiver Media Center controlling a 20TB Synology NAS that's backed up by a 20TB Seagate hard drive. This brought me into the 21st century utilizing computer audio playback. I now have my entire cd collection residing on the NAS, along with a number of hi-rez 96khz/24 bit FLAC music files, which are wirelessly streamed to the Oppo that serves as both a Media Renderer and Media Player. The Oppo also serves as a very good internal DAC, utilizing Saber 9018 dac chips, that converts the incoming digital signals to analog and outputs these to my amps via balanced XLR outputs and cables.
Lastly, the Oppo contains a very good internal surround processor and preamp section. This allowed me to eliminate my external surround processor and tubed VTL 2.5 preamp, with ht bypass, from the audio chain.
I was amazed, when comparing my system with and without the VTL included, that the sound without the tubes and VTL sounded just as sweet only utilizing the Oppo's completely solid-state built in preamp section. I thought there's no need to include the additional VTL preamp in the audio chain when its only purpose would be as a moderately expensive tube buffer that's not needed.
I want to note, however, that the combo of my beloved VTL preamp, having NOS Mullard tubes and an upgraded power supply, with my ClassD Audio 440CS amp produced excellent results. I would definitely suggest any class D amp owners, or those contemplating buying one, would benefit by pairing it with a tubed preamp.
As fortune has it, I just happen to have a nice one for sale if anyone is interested in buying it. It's a black unit, with HT Bypass but no phono section, that is in like new condition with zero flaws. I bought it new in 2006 from a local dealer (msrp was $2,500 at the time) here in central Indiana near Indy. I sent it to VTL this year due to noise in 1 channel. It turned out to be a bad 12AU7 Mullard tube. VTL replaced both 12AU7 tubes with new standard issue tubes and also upgraded the power supply to the current model's improved supply for $200.00. I have the original box, packing, manual and remote and am asking $1,050.00. Send me an Audiogon pm if interested.
The only priority I haven't addressed from Njs's list is room treatments, which I plan on looking into soon.
Mcbuddah,
You seem to be another very satisfied D-Sonic customer with your well broken in pair of M2-600-M amps, especially since you were coming from such a well respected Atma-Sphere amp. I believe your amps use the identical Abletec1000-1300 modules as my M3-600-M amps. I hope I am as pleased with mine as you seem to be with yours.
Sebollo001/Sebastian,
I'm pleased, and more than a bit relieved, to report that the Oppo has no impedance matching issues with the D-Sonic amps. I've already discovered, although thus far only with satellite tv audio as a source, that the D-Sonics possess the same smooth mids to treble attributes of my former ClassD Audio amp but with even more detail present.
You initially had me a bit concerned so I asked D-Sonic about this. They didn't think I'd have a problem since other customers have used their amps direct from Oppos with no issues. But thank you for your subsequent clarifying post.
Mdemaio,
Thanks for the info on the new Red Dragon amp but I'm now committed to the Abletec/D-Sonics, at least for a while.
Guido,
You can always be relied upon for accurate and up to date class D information, thanks.
Okay, now back to my D-Sonic adventures:
The new amps are now installed in my system with my existing cabling. I have each mono on a Steve Blinn maple platform with 4 brass spiked footers on each, The stands/amps are positioned within 6" of the inside edge of each speaker on the carpeted floor.
I let the amps sit for a few hours after unboxing to let them adjust to room temp before installing. After startup, I just eased them in running satellite tv sound through the rest of Saturday's day1 with a 2 hour exception that night: we had friends over and watched "Lone Survivor", an action film with plenty of combat scenes, gun fire, helicopters and explosions. I'm now using my prior class D amp, with 220/440watts @ 8/4 ohms to power my 8 ohm passive sub and 4 ohm center channel and retired my former older class A/B Adcom 100 watt amp from the same duties.
I did crank up the volume to theater level for the movie and the performance of the new amps was outstanding. Overall, I noticed improved dynamics, improved details and a generally even more immersive quality in my ht system. However, l believe the increase in power and quality of the sub and cc amplification ( older adcom 100 watts to newer ClassD Audio 220-440 watts) was also a big contributor to the improved system performance, along with the increase in power and quality of the front L+R channel amplification (ClassD Audio/ IRS amp module at 440 watts to D-Sonic/Abletec ALC amp module at over 1,000 watts into my 4 ohm speakers) that clearly improved detail retrieval and bass quality and quantity from my 2.7 speakers.
I'll be checking the new amps out with music in the next few days. I'll let you know my initial impressions soon and try to update as the amps break in.
I'll also give an update as to whether the James Romeyn custom cabling has any detectable affect on system performance, once they arrive and had a chance to listen for a while.
I'm very happy and relieved that my new amps are finally installed in my system. I've already determined that these amps are excellent performers as ht amps.
I'm now looking forward to just relaxing and listening to lots of familiar, and hopefully some new, music to determine how these amps perform with musical content.
Later,
Tim
Well, I actually received my M3-600-M completed amps back from D-Sonic Saturdrday. Before I go into more detail, I first want to respond to a few recent posters:
10-31-14: Njs
"Dollar for dollar you will be far more rewarded (and financially solvent) prioritizing: 1) speakers and their appropriate placement, 2) quality sources, 3) preamplifiers, and 4) appropriate room treatments ahead of amplifiers.
With that said, I am enjoying the holy hell out of my new D-Sonic amplifiers."
Njs,
I agree with everything you posted. I am still thrilled with the performance of my speakers, Magnepan 2.7qr, for both ht and 2-channel music. They are older speakers but are in like new condition and I think I have their positioning dialed in since they have that disappearing quality where you tend to forget the sound is coming from two 6ft tall and 2ft wide panels. I position the speakers 3 feet out from the front wall for ht/tv/background music listening and about 5 feet out for optimal sound staging for a more enjoyable music listening experience that gives a solid 3-D illusion that is wide and deep and gives the sense that the performers are in your living room or you've been transported to their location.
I previously upgraded my source from an older Sony DVD-7700, a very good cd/dvd player that had served me well for 10 yrs, to a more up to date Oppo 105 blu-ray player. I also added a laptop running JRiver Media Center controlling a 20TB Synology NAS that's backed up by a 20TB Seagate hard drive. This brought me into the 21st century utilizing computer audio playback. I now have my entire cd collection residing on the NAS, along with a number of hi-rez 96khz/24 bit FLAC music files, which are wirelessly streamed to the Oppo that serves as both a Media Renderer and Media Player. The Oppo also serves as a very good internal DAC, utilizing Saber 9018 dac chips, that converts the incoming digital signals to analog and outputs these to my amps via balanced XLR outputs and cables.
Lastly, the Oppo contains a very good internal surround processor and preamp section. This allowed me to eliminate my external surround processor and tubed VTL 2.5 preamp, with ht bypass, from the audio chain.
I was amazed, when comparing my system with and without the VTL included, that the sound without the tubes and VTL sounded just as sweet only utilizing the Oppo's completely solid-state built in preamp section. I thought there's no need to include the additional VTL preamp in the audio chain when its only purpose would be as a moderately expensive tube buffer that's not needed.
I want to note, however, that the combo of my beloved VTL preamp, having NOS Mullard tubes and an upgraded power supply, with my ClassD Audio 440CS amp produced excellent results. I would definitely suggest any class D amp owners, or those contemplating buying one, would benefit by pairing it with a tubed preamp.
As fortune has it, I just happen to have a nice one for sale if anyone is interested in buying it. It's a black unit, with HT Bypass but no phono section, that is in like new condition with zero flaws. I bought it new in 2006 from a local dealer (msrp was $2,500 at the time) here in central Indiana near Indy. I sent it to VTL this year due to noise in 1 channel. It turned out to be a bad 12AU7 Mullard tube. VTL replaced both 12AU7 tubes with new standard issue tubes and also upgraded the power supply to the current model's improved supply for $200.00. I have the original box, packing, manual and remote and am asking $1,050.00. Send me an Audiogon pm if interested.
The only priority I haven't addressed from Njs's list is room treatments, which I plan on looking into soon.
Mcbuddah,
You seem to be another very satisfied D-Sonic customer with your well broken in pair of M2-600-M amps, especially since you were coming from such a well respected Atma-Sphere amp. I believe your amps use the identical Abletec1000-1300 modules as my M3-600-M amps. I hope I am as pleased with mine as you seem to be with yours.
Sebollo001/Sebastian,
I'm pleased, and more than a bit relieved, to report that the Oppo has no impedance matching issues with the D-Sonic amps. I've already discovered, although thus far only with satellite tv audio as a source, that the D-Sonics possess the same smooth mids to treble attributes of my former ClassD Audio amp but with even more detail present.
You initially had me a bit concerned so I asked D-Sonic about this. They didn't think I'd have a problem since other customers have used their amps direct from Oppos with no issues. But thank you for your subsequent clarifying post.
Mdemaio,
Thanks for the info on the new Red Dragon amp but I'm now committed to the Abletec/D-Sonics, at least for a while.
Guido,
You can always be relied upon for accurate and up to date class D information, thanks.
Okay, now back to my D-Sonic adventures:
The new amps are now installed in my system with my existing cabling. I have each mono on a Steve Blinn maple platform with 4 brass spiked footers on each, The stands/amps are positioned within 6" of the inside edge of each speaker on the carpeted floor.
I let the amps sit for a few hours after unboxing to let them adjust to room temp before installing. After startup, I just eased them in running satellite tv sound through the rest of Saturday's day1 with a 2 hour exception that night: we had friends over and watched "Lone Survivor", an action film with plenty of combat scenes, gun fire, helicopters and explosions. I'm now using my prior class D amp, with 220/440watts @ 8/4 ohms to power my 8 ohm passive sub and 4 ohm center channel and retired my former older class A/B Adcom 100 watt amp from the same duties.
I did crank up the volume to theater level for the movie and the performance of the new amps was outstanding. Overall, I noticed improved dynamics, improved details and a generally even more immersive quality in my ht system. However, l believe the increase in power and quality of the sub and cc amplification ( older adcom 100 watts to newer ClassD Audio 220-440 watts) was also a big contributor to the improved system performance, along with the increase in power and quality of the front L+R channel amplification (ClassD Audio/ IRS amp module at 440 watts to D-Sonic/Abletec ALC amp module at over 1,000 watts into my 4 ohm speakers) that clearly improved detail retrieval and bass quality and quantity from my 2.7 speakers.
I'll be checking the new amps out with music in the next few days. I'll let you know my initial impressions soon and try to update as the amps break in.
I'll also give an update as to whether the James Romeyn custom cabling has any detectable affect on system performance, once they arrive and had a chance to listen for a while.
I'm very happy and relieved that my new amps are finally installed in my system. I've already determined that these amps are excellent performers as ht amps.
I'm now looking forward to just relaxing and listening to lots of familiar, and hopefully some new, music to determine how these amps perform with musical content.
Later,
Tim