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


And what were the reason you did a backflip back to S/S or tube.
As there are a few pro Class D threads being hammered at the moment, I thought I'd put this up, to get some perspective.

Cheers George
georgehifi
guidocorona
4,114 posts
 

Thank you George, yes I have heard the screaches you describe, as well as the dark uninvolving sound several times at RMAF.... Quite consistently from some class D brands, and unfortunately equally consistently from some brands that produce otherwise well regarded class A, A/B, and a variety of OTLs and other tubed amps 


Luckily none of the amps of any class that I have owned since I sold an Aragon 4004 Mk.2 in the late '90s have had an even remote propensity of creating such audible horrors.


Somehow, my home is blessed by marvellous music... Yes, I hear music that is congruent with the sound of live acoustic instruments that I have experienced since I was six years old.


Can it be enhanced further? ... Of course!



georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi OP
4,966 posts
 

Can it be enhanced further?

Yes it can and soon I think, and I'll be there when it does, as soon as I see the technology about to become available from the big multinational component manufacturers, to supply the Class D manufacturers with. 

I'll get the jump and flick my expensive power hungry potential boat anchors before it's too late, and wait for the 2nd generation Class D to appear, even if it means I'm without music for a while.


Cheers George 

kuribo
80 posts
 
2nd generation is already here. Ableteck, Pascal and Hypex are all making 2nd generation class d amps that are competitive with nearly anything ss or tube based at less than ridiculous prices.

There is no issue with the switching frequency nor the filtering in these modules. None of these produce any audible distortion products at the tweeter. I have heard all three. They are all excellent and have been well reviewed.
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi OP
4,966 posts
 

Your saying is that there will be no higher switching frequency developed in the near future, because there is no issue with at the moment, you need to re-think that one big time, seriously. 


Cheers George  

kuribo
80 posts
 
Have you heard an Ncore, Pascal, or Abletech based amp? I have. They have all been reviewed very positively with no complaints about switching frequency artifacts. Perhaps future products will operate at high switching frequencies, but that is no panacea as high rates introduce other issues. Read Putzey’s papers on class d design. He addresses switching frequency. With the audio quality attained with these modules, your switching frequency concerns are a solution in search of a problem....
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