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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.
townshend-audio
townshend-audio's avatar
townshend-audio OP
49 posts
 
Boys why do you not all agree to disagree, if people want to rant on about their yesteryear amplifiers let them,

SS amplifiers are getting so damn expensive they are becoming way out of reach of most and due to the fact manufacturers are selling less of them the asking prices are going up threw the roof, 

If you want to buy the best sounding amplifiers of 2019 at realistic prices choose a class D amplifier because they sound as good as any higher priced SS, and are much cheaper to run, its not rocket science.

You cant blame the messenger if your front end is not up to it anymore, maybe if you spent less on your SS amplifier, you could address your front end problem and achieve better sound at a still overall lower price, come on can you really justify spending /20k/30k/40k/50k on a SS amplifier when there are 10/20 times cheaper and better sounding alternatives.(class D)

Come on everyone use some common sense, lets all move on to newer and better things, support class D the now and future of state of the art amplifiers, better sound, better prices, cheaper running costs, its not rocket science.


miveraaudio
111 posts
 
No need for class D in headphone amps either. Extreme fidelity is already available from tiny 3.5x3.5mm IC's. And they have 1.5w output in that size. Smaller yet if 1.5w isn't needed. I think that's small enough. 

https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/texas-instruments/TPA6120A2RGYT/296-38029-1-ND/4965625
miveraaudio
111 posts
 
@select-hifi:

You got that right. Great quote from my forum:

"On Sunday I only get to listen 1 system .it have no problem pushing revel sablon ,the guy couldn’t tell the difference between pass lab 250.8 and Mivera amp.The amp sound better and after a week i have so far.plus i just add 2 Furutech fuses to the amp.the bass improve on the lower end."

https://www.miveraaudio.com/forum/purepower-amplifier/purepower-icepower-1200as2-amp-listening-impre...
Post removed 
helomech
766 posts
 
I think the fact that for around $1K can get you the level of sound that’s only possible from $20K+ class A or A/B amps, also gives them an advantage.
Nonsense.

This is the sort of thing class D owners tell themselves so they can sleep well at night when they spent $1K on an amp that’s the same as a $50 Chi-Fi piece.

I’ve heard $30K class D monoblock amps that were trumped in every SQ metric by a $2.5K class AB integrated. I’ve owned the $3.5K Rogue Pharaoh which was embarrassed by my $400 Yamaha A-S500 in many regards, especially the bass extension.


I’ve heard class D amps from Bel Canto, NAD, Peachtree, Devialet, PS Audio, Rogue and many others. Not one came remotely close to a good tube or class A amp. Sure, they can be detailed, but dollar for dollar, that’s the full extent of their list of strengths.

I’m all for green energy. If class D amps actually sounded good, I’d certainly use them. Unfortunately, every single one I’ve encountered sounded as though the 200 to 500Hz range had been dropped 3+ db through an equalizer. Their sound never has "meat on the bones." Couple that with an overall lack of musicality and you have the signature class D sound. For the typical $1K class D amp, add "etched" highs to that description.

Funny, even the designer of Ncore said their only advantage is efficiency, yet the zealots persist with claiming class D is all-around superior.
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