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The Future of Audio Amplification

I have recently paired an Audio Research DS225 Class D amplifier with an Audio Research tube preamplifier (SP8 mkii). I cannot believe how wonderful and lifelike my music sounds. The DS225 replaced an Audio Research SD135 Class AB amplifier. Perhaps the SD135 is just not as good as some of the better quality amps that are out there, but it got me thinking that amazingly wonderful sonance can be achieved with a tubed pre and Class D amp. I have a hunch that as more people experience this combination, it will likely catch on and become the future path of many, if not most audiophile systems. It is interesting that Audio Research has been at the forefront of this development.
distortions
erik_squires
5,268 posts
 
I encourage everyone to listen for yourselves.


While there are lots of fun puzzles left in the world of audio technology, solving them may or may not have appreciable benefit to end listeners.


That’s something only listening for yourself can decide.


Selling you a problem you didn’t have in the first place is what drives the industry.


The trouble with the Techniques amps is that  you can't attribute their sound just to 1 technology. This is a pretty remarkable amp, but there's also DSP speaker impedance correction going on. You cannot say "great amp, must be the super fast switching speeds" unless you can eliminate other variables.

Are fast transistors cool? Of course they are. But great Class D amps have been around for ages.

Yet here is George, standing outside an airport with a sign saying "Planes can't fly!"


Best,
E
guidocorona
4,114 posts
 

George, Merrill is not so much interested in achieving high switching frequencies. He seems to be using GaN to reduce dead states.


BTW, here is the latest Merrill newsletter, where he talks about the Element 116, which he will sell for about $22K. a further trickle-down Element 114 will eventually retail for about $12K.


https://www.dropbox.com/s/awhxdl5my0z4ycg/Press%20Release%20Merrill%20Audio%20Element%20116%20Advanc...


Saluti, G.


kosst_amojan
2,095 posts
 
@erik_squires 

Sorry, but we wouldn't even be having this discussion if great class D amps had been around for ages. 

Judging by the measurements I keep seeing, great class D amps still haven't arrived. Most of them have issues with ringing. All of them have ultrasonic noise that sits on the outputs like standing DC. Upwards of .8 volts of noise!?!?!? That's hifi, is it? A 1kHz sinewave looks horrible through those things. For all intents and purposes, it's made entirely out of high frequency noise. Some around here have said that the HF is easily filtered out. If so, why is JA always running low ass filters on his AP to get a sine the doesn't look like a scared porcupine? 

I'm with George 110%. Class D isn't bringing anything new or great to hifi. Efficiency, yes, but they're technically inferior to class A. 
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
4,966 posts
 
Yet here is George, standing outside an airport with a sign saying "Planes can't fly!"
Here it is, not just Technics but now Merrill using the 2-3 x higher switching frequency, and you still deny it, smacks of 
 https://wonderopolis.org/wp-content/uploads//2015/03/1425_3.jpg

Cheers George
erik_squires
5,268 posts
 
I'm happy for manufacturers to be pushing the envelope.  That's great.
All I'm saying is that the idea that the next great thing is just around the corner and it's the end of all audio is a little over hyped.

There's always a next-great thing. In the case of fast transistors, cool. Show me an audible benefit that everyone can hear before I get that hyped up about it.

Best,
E
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