Which Class D Amplifier? PS Audio, Ghent, Nord, Merrill or other???


I’m looking for a new amp & want Class D.

I’ve seen various brands mentioned, such as PS Audio, Ghent, Nord, Merrel to name a few, but I’ve not heard any of them.

Which company is producing the best sounding Class D?
Which models should I be looking to demo?


Thanks



singintheblues
I listen to all of my music streaming Tidal hifi (non MQA) with my Notebook with Audinirvana+ and Dirac Room Correction software (very recomendable).
From the Notebook, I have the Audioquest Jitterbug (not a big improvement), then the Wyred4sound USB Reclocker with a Linear Power Supply (a very nice improvement), the Gustard U16 USB converter (an incredible improvement, I still cant believe it), then with a HDMI cable to my Audio-gd R8 Ladder DAC (a very nice and extremely detailed DAC), connected via ACSS cables to my Audio-gd Master 1 preamp (another great piece of gear), then with XLR cables to the Nord (no words needed), and then Kimber Cables 8R to my Q Acoustics Concept 500 tower speakers (amazing ones).
Everything is connected to a Bada LB-5600 Power Filter with DH Labs AC Power Plus Cable and three PS Audio Noise Harversters.
I use in all my connections Sylclear Contact Enhancer.
Im about now to try the Synergistic Research HFT (10 Pieces). We’ll see if they are as good as some people say!!

selecthifi,

     Very good news that a completed class D amp using Hypex's top NC1200 modules and powered by their top Hypex SMPS1200A700 PSUs will be available soon from Nord for 3,995 pounds ($5,214 usd).  
     With class D amps using the new faster GaN FETs availability increasing and entry prices decreasing, I doubt Hypex's decision to now allow Nord the use of their top NC1200 modules is a coincidence.
     This new amp from Nord raises a few interesting questions:

Why has Nord limited the class A output current of their custom buffer feeding the NC1200 module in this new amp to 250mA? 

Is Hypex clearing NC1200 module inventory prior to introduction of a new top module, or even series of modules, utilizing the faster GaN FETs?

What are Hypex designer, Bruno Putzeys, opinions on the new faster GaN FETs and does he plan to incorporate them into his future class D module designs?

Tim

     
Im about now to try the Synergistic Research HFT (10 Pieces).
You had me reading up till then, lucky it was your last sentence and not your first, if it was I would have ignored the rest of your post, I hope directional ac mains fuses aren't next? 

Cheers George
Hello George
What about the HFT? Have you tried them? If they are snake oíl, I guess I should find out soon. What if they are not? 

Thank you ricevs, Tim, and Jetter... Admittedly, I have been soaked in music since I was a tod... The only reason why I did not become a professional composer is that my retinas failed me in the late 1970s and could no longer use pencil and paper, so I switched major and took a degree in Comp Sci instead.... Good move, as I managed to make a reasonable living with the maddening machines until I retired at the end of '18. Yet, throughout all this time, music has continued to be an integral part of my life in one way or another.

 

I have no idea if I have expertise beyond anyone else, or if my ears are good or not, but they are the primary tool that I use to perceive the World... What I sometimes post are the stories about the beauty of music and sound that my ears tell to me... It is my joy to continue to share with you Audiogon friends the tonal magic that I hear through my system.

 


Saluti, G.