Who tried Class D only to return to S/S or Tube

Hi Tim and AIT, I more than sympathize with your shell-shocking experience with class D.... AIT you summarize it best when you describe the NewForce monos as "awful - harsh and screeching "... That was exactly my impression.... Let us not forget cardboard-like bass and completely lifeless treble... That is whenever treble does not screech to high heaven instead. As for Wyred4Sound, Tim you are being kind IMO... I tried to listen to the brand several time at RMAF, and the things were yowling like bobcats with ingrown claws... I typically resist a couple of minutes in the suite... As for Flying Mole... Meh!

It is funny how exactly the same module will make fab music in one amp (Bel Canto REF1000M), and screech in another amp. But after all, we should not be surprised... There is quite more than bare modules in Bel Canto amps... Those little boxes are designed by John Stronczer, an engineer/designer who has a profound understanding of what music sounds like.

Besides, Mapman is 100% correct... No matter how wonderful some class D amps might sound to some of us, their relative neutrality will make them inherently unpalatable to the lovers of much warmer sound... And... Vive la difference, n'est pas?!

Guido

I've owned Densen B-350 Class A mono-amps, Classe Audio (Class AB), Parasound A21(Class AB), Peachtree Audio(Class D), Jeff Rowland M525(Class D) and have tried the Bryston 4bsst2 (Class AB). I currently own the Jeff Rowland Class D Continuum S2 and submit it's the most musical amp that I've owned. In addition, I love the fact that I can leave it on 24 hours a day and it doesn't get hot. I'm currently debating the Jeff Rowland 625 S2(Class AB), not because of my dissatisfaction with Class D, but my own stupidity. Unfortunately, I keep trying to go to the next level and incremental improvements are expensive!

It's interesting to follow the development and different incarnations of Class-D amps, and lately Devialet and in particular the NCore-based solutions have caught my attention the most - sadly not via auditions in my own setup.

To me though the choice of amp comes down to the choice of speakers first and foremost, and being that I favor speakers of high(er) sensitivity (not necessarily as a means in itself, but as a function of their design/principle and the sound this produces), I'm not sure generally high-power Class-D is the best option. Here the first watts or less are what counts, and Class-D topology seems to be "more happy" going beyond these lower thresholds.

Interesting as well is reading the notions of the supposed "neutrality" of Class-D amps, which appear to be influenced to some degree by an array of their measured performances as an "objective" criteria. The criteria essentially can only be what is actually heard, and if what is heard distances itself the most from any mechanical, dynamically restrained and tonally inauthentic imprinting, the more natural and "neutral" it is in approximating a live, acoustic sound, to my ears.

The development in my setup, as per before mentioned desirable sonic traits, has lately gone from Class-D to SS Class-A, and who knows whether a 3-4 watt SET would take the reign in the near future to come. Certainly not a "modern" development, indeed it's rather old fashioned, but why should one care? On the other hand, should a Class-D based iteration cross the way and level the Class-A/SET alternatives with high sensitivity speakers of choice, well then, it's a hassle-free and greener solution for sure.

I played with the Devialet amps today. It was very enlightening for me to hear what a great class D amp can do. It was warm, smooth, very clean and tight. In other words, I couldn't find any faults (except the price).
This is the first time I've liked Class D when compared to class A or tubes.

My goal is to eventually have a top tier tube amp , a/b, a, and class D . Switch things up as i feel so inclined . They all have there sonic flavor and who likes to only eat vanilla ice cream .