2. amps-preamps
  3. 1425163644

Class D at low volume

Hi,

How do class D amps behave at low volume levels?  My question is general rather than related to a particular amp.  I know there are exceptions, but as a rule, SET’s and class A SS excel at low volume.  What about class D?  Is low volume performance of class D predetermined, all else being equal? Do class D amps have a comfort zone?  Do they distort more at low volume or is it uniform throughout?  For the purpose of this question I am only referring to analog input amps and not the ones that take in PCM (e.g. NAD M2).

The second part of my question is as follows.  I’m interested in some higher end commercial class D amps from the likes of lab.gruppen, powersoft, mc2, XTA, etc. due to their network-ability as in, I can control them, DSP them, and stream digital, all via RJ45, at the same time dispensing with all the extra boxes and cables.  But, they are all of very high power from 100‘s to 1000‘s of watts.  Does this mean that in a domestic setting at low volume they operate much closer to their noise floor or is this different with class D?

Thanks
serge_s
scm
107 posts
 
When I want a nice listening session, the gear is warmed up already but not my ears.
I like to listen at a lower level for a little while as my ears get acclimated (warmed up too I suppose :) )

I`ve been noticing that I`m listening much longer at the lower level before I actually come to realize it...and the remote is sitting right next to me ! This Class D Audio 470 sounds great across the board no matter what volume and that`s a first for me !!
Ag insider logo xs@2x
mesch
1,679 posts
 
Been traveling w/o computer. Upon return I have found this to be a very interesting and educational thread! Thanks to everyone.
psag
450 posts
 
Performance at low volume is more determined by the sensitivity of the speakers than the design of the amplifier. Having said that, class-D performs fine at low volume, no better or worse on average than other types of solid state amplification.
chrshanl37
622 posts
 
I have tried many solid state and tube amps and was never able to achieve good low level dynamics until I got a class d sds 470c. In fact I find that I do not listen nearly as loud as I used to.
serge_s OP
20 posts
 
Tim, my comment on getting off topic was tongue-in-cheek in reply to your comment. This thread is educational and I appreciate yours and others contribution.

Re my looking into pro amps: It is for home use. The ones I listed are of interest to me due to their ability to accept digital input from PC via RJ45. Since I started the tread I came to conclusion that at low volume a thousand watt amp will operate too close to its noise floor and will be unfit for my purposes.

Thanks
More to discover