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The Truth about Modern Class D

All my amps right now are Class D. ICEpower in the living room, and NAD D 3020 in the bedroom.

I’ve had several audiophiles come to my home and not one has ever said "Oh, that sounds like Class D."

Having said this, if I could afford them AND had the room, I’d be tempted to switch for a pair of Ayre monoblocks or Conrad Johnson Premiere 12s and very little else.

I’m not religious about Class D. They sound great for me, low power, easy to hide, but if a lot of cash and the need to upgrade ever hits me, I could be persuaded.

The point: Good modern Class D amps just sound like really good amplifiers, with the usual speaker/source matching issues.

You don’t have to go that route, but it’s time we shrugged off the myths and descriptions of Class D that come right out of the 1980’s.
erik_squires
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
4,966 posts
 

You might dislike the whole lot instead *Grins!*

Why? ... "BECAUSE!"

G.



It's simple G
As it stands now the switching frequency noise output filter, has phase shift effects that reach right down to 5khz, that doubled for the worse at 10khz and doubled worse again 20khz. That's what many listeners find objectionable, in the upper mids and highs.

If the switching frequency is moved much higher from the present 400-600khz to 2 or 3mHz, then the filter can be moved up accordingly. So it has no phase shift effects down to 5khz, but only then at over 20khz instead where it really doesn't matter.
And the dead time will magically improve as well, it's a win win, for higher switching speeds that's why Technics with the SE-R1 persevered to get it, at a cost rrp $30k aud. 

Cheers George
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
4,946 posts
 
This has morphed into one of the more interesting and informative Class D threads I have witnessed.
I wish I had something technical to contribute myself but I do not, however that is why i peruse these forums, to increase my own personal database of knowledge.
But we do seem to have two diametrically opposed schools of thought of late, Switching Speed or Dead Time.
Now just what is an outsider supposed to believe here? How do I choose which path is best to follow? Does one wait for the various technologies to duke it out and see which becomes victorious.
Think VHS vs Betamax although maybe a poor analogy as the real winner did not win.
It seems Class D is ready to come of age if you like but in what way, shape or form?
Difficult choices ahead possibly
guidocorona
4,114 posts
 

Ah George, I was just trying to say that the three brands mentioned make some extraordinary products, but inevitably, there will be audio lovers who prefer the more lushous tone of classic tubes, or the starker tone of some SS.... And there is nothing wrong with that!


But you are reverting instead to your single track paper-bound comments a priori of any live experience... I can only shake my grizling head *Rolls eyes!*


G.


georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
4,966 posts
 
But you are reverting instead to your single track paper-bound comments

Only because of those "looking for confirmation" to what they think that Class-D is finally Hiend.
It hasn't changed that much since it's inception, many you will find are buying Chinese modules some modded via Pascal EU, just more and more trying to make "big bucks" out of what is essentially very cheap to make, if you take away the "glitzy chassis" they have.

NP: Personally I think it’s a miracle that they work at all. I am not tempted to go in that direction.    



Cheers George 
mapman's avatar
mapman
15,679 posts
 
I have Bel Canto ref1000m in main system and C5i in second system. Both are fast and clean but sound different.  Each is hard to fault and sounds perfectly lovely matched into the right system. I will probably never own anything other than Class D amps moving forward. If the C5i did not work out I was ready to move to a modest power tube amp in my second system moving forward but the need for that never developed. Both are absolutely wonderful pieces of technology and worth every cent.

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