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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
ketchup
459 posts
 
Elizabeth,
Maybe, just for kicks, you should try a high powered Class D amp on your Maggies and see what happens.

Please do, then I wouldn't have to.  There just doesn't seem to be a lot of people switching over to class D.  Most of the hype seems to be coming from the manufacturers only.
sthlm78's avatar
sthlm78
24 posts
 
Thx guys for help :)
Refer to the discussion, as a class D lover, I don’t have any knowledge to engage in technical facts! But give me some names in class A or A/B  that produce same amount of power as middle range class D amps in the same price range !
I had 2 famous class A amps and tested them against class D in the same set up that costs much much less and class D was a winner!
Refer to HIFI magazine reviews, sadly my experience always does not agree with them and I think they are not honest to the end consumers so try not to love/hate something base on their advertising pamphlets;)
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
No problem. Someone buy a really good Class D amp, and then ship it to me, free. No problem on my part. I would certainly plug it in and see. Oh, you want me to BUY one.. Oh.. Yeah. OK.. On my to do list, down just below 'Kissing the Blarney Stone' at 2,837,103 from the  # one on my list.. which is, as usual, listen to some music..If I live to be 284 years old.. I will definitely get to it.
miveraaudio
111 posts
 
@ clearthink:

What I’m contributing here is industry standard data, combined with subjective client feedback. This is the kind of stuff that is encouraged to be discussed on audio forums. What you are contributing here is personal attacks, that have nothing to do with industry standard data, or client feedback. And is exactly the type of commentary that is discouraged on audio forums. Perhaps you have forgotten about proper forum conduct after all your years of experience?
clearthink
672 posts
 

miveraaudio "What you are contributing here is a personal attacks... exactly the type of commentary that is discouraged...Perhaps you have forgotten about proper forum conduct after all your years of experience?"

I understand that you are hurt that I do not accept, embrace, or promote you're personal brand of religion but that is really not my issue if you are offended, insulted, or injured by my honest, straightforward, independent reasoning then I suggest you turn to your closely held, fervent, cherished beliefs for solace. 
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