How do Digital Amps Mfrs. compare in sound?

I have the PSAudio GCC250, also an ICE based product. The difference here is the 'gain cell' inputs, the claim being it is now a variable gain amplifier, not fixed gain with an attenuated input. My Magnepan 1.6s seem perfectly happy. I believe the ASP modules have an ON-BOARD PS...a fairly small and efficient SMPS.

All amps run off rectified AC with the exception of stuff like the Emitter and some preamps, which are powered by banks of batteries. The purity of pure battery power is tough to argue with.

I work for International Rectifier and we make a class 'd' entry, of which I have a reference board which I intend to make the core of a 2nd system. Power supply issues will be obviated by use of....you guessed it.....4x12 batteries on EACH rail. That yields +-50v or so. The amp is asking for +-55v maximum, so I should be safe. If, driving normal, mid sensitivity speakers, I use an average of 12 watts, that is a play time of 6 or 8 hours, using 10amp hour batteries.

Anyone try the panasonic XR series? I'm using the panasonic XR 57 with some mirage OM10's and I am impressed

Nospam is right in my opinion. ASP modules cannot compete with a very good analog power supply. What is the advantage of introducing a digital power supply into an analog amp? The answer is, to lessen the cost of production by the amp builder.

The HF from my speakers are silky sweet. It never brings attention to itself.

I have owned the CIA UcD D200s and have borrowed a Rotel ICE amp for a while, but these are both out-performed by the Digital Amp Company's Cherry and DAC4800. DAC uses proprietary ClassD guts - Not UcD or ICE.
Disclaimer - I know the DAC designer so take my comments as you will, but it won't hurt to check them out.
-Mike

Magfan said"

"All amps run off rectified AC with the exception of stuff like the Emitter and some preamps, which are powered by banks of batteries. The purity of pure battery power is tough to argue with."

Actually, the Power Factor Correction module converts AC to DC in the 312, Continuum 500 and most other current prodcution units that are used in connection with the outboard PC1 PFC module.

When I asked Jeff Rowland if the conversion to DC provided the Continuum 500 with the same benefits as battery power (removal of AC noise) he said, "exactly." Beyond that, all I know is the Continuum 500 is, by far, the best integrated amp I've heard for powering dynamic speakers like my Vienna Acoustics.

Dave