Class D is affordable and sounds as good or better the SS/Valve why buy anything else ?


I have spent a fair amount of my hard earned money on big ticket brand new SS and VT/Valve amplifiers over the years without hesitation, with state of the art 2019 class D amplifiers becoming cheaper and sounding better, i wouldn't join in again.

For older technology amplifiers SS VT/Valve to compete with State of the art class D, Their prices are going up and up.

One example is Pilium Audio from Greece or Bulgaria their Divine Line the prices are all over £100,000 for their pre amps and power amps, I know the UK importer he said they sound OK,

Another example FM Acoustics again up to and over £100,000 for pre and power amps. i have owned FM Acoustics pre and power again their OK,

I am not saying they do not sound good, i am saying why spend this much when state of the art class D probably sounds as good now and can only improve with the GaN capacitors and is nearly up to 100 times cheaper.

Is there still a market for multi thousand £$s SS or VT/Valve amplifiers ?

When class D finally overtakes SS VT/Valves what will people do with their multi thousand £$ amplifiers, keep them knowing there is something better ? Or will we see the market flood with exotic used amplifiers ?

Digital technology is rapidly growing pace and becoming cheaper, with GaN capacitors being introduced the sound is going to get better and better and will slowly or quickly become even more affordable.

If you had 50,000 to spend on an Amplifier, would you buy a high ticket SS amplifier and hope for the best ?

Would you stay safe and go with high ticket valve amp, class D can never match good valves right ?

Or would you sit tight and see how the GaN capacitors can further improve the performance of state of the art class D ?

Please feel free to join in, everybody is welcome, i think its a very delicate/touchy discussion for some people with big bucks invested in older type amplifiers.
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What do you think i advertising ?

I am offering opinions regarding class D amplifiers using 

http://www.ti.com/power-management/gallium-nitride/overview.html 

Do you not want better sound at hopefully cheaper prices ?

I know i do,

I have no financial gain from any class D amplifiers,my only hope is the amps using GaN Devices improve the amplifiers performance,

And become more affordable which is a good thing right ?

I just want to chime in here that I don't believe amplifier class bigotry helps us.

I mean, if the goal is to get sound we are in love with for the least amount of cash outlay, talking in absolutes about any class of amp is not really useful.

I've heard terrible Class A I really really disliked, and great Class D, and vice versa.

The most important thing in my mind is for consumers to listen with their own ears and buy for their own pleasure.


Best,

E
@stevecham +1, for the GaN device correction. 

@erik_squires +1, for the general statement against class design bigotry.

A lot of designers are doing wonderful designs with all of these topologies. It’s a cause for celebration.