"Also can you please advise on why you moved on from the ClassD Audio SDS-440-CS and the pros and cons that you experienced with it."
Hi daywalker702,
It was mainly out of curiosity and a desire to gain more experience with class D amps that I moved on to different amps.
But, I think I was also spurred on to try another D amp by the fact I wasn’t thrilled with the physical looks of the ClassD Audio SDS-440-CS. It’s got a basic and utilitarian appearance that reminds me of Soviet Russian styling even though its sound quality is very good.
This is a somewhat embarrassing admission since I do consider myself a serious audio enthusiast concerned mainly with sound quality. However, I’m not blind and I also appreciate good styling, especially in a component in my system that is visible on a constant basis.
So, I used the SDS-440-CS to drive the rear surrounds in my combo music and ht system, replacing an older Adcom GFA-335 class AB amp located behind a closed door in my system rack.
Next, I bought the Emerald Physics EP100.2SE stereo class D amp rated at 150 w/ch at 4 ohms and within a much more attractive chassis.
This amp had all the good qualities of the ClassD Audio amp (good bass response, very low distortion,a dead-quiet background noise level, a highly detailed but still very smooth mid-range/treble response and a very neutral overall sound quality) but it lacked the powerful dynamics on my Magnepans that I found so natural/realistic and enjoyable using the CassD Audio.
So, I decided to use the Emerald Physics in bridged mono configuration (350 w at 4 ohms) to drive my Magnepan CC3 center channel spkr, replacing an older Adcom GFA-545 class AB amp also behind a closed door in my system rack.
Based on very good pro reviews, I then bought a pair of D-Sonic M3-600-M mono blocks rated at 1,200 w at 4 ohms within plain but attractive chassis.
These amps had all the good qualities of my first two class D amps but with significantly better bass response and dynamics than either. The D-Sonic monos are the best amps I’ve ever heard thus far on my Magnepan 2.7QRs by a wide margin.
So, I mounted them on matching maple isolating amp stands with brass cone footers and placed them on the open top walnut shelf of my system rack. They sound and look great and I’ve seriously enjoyed these for about 3 yrs now.
A Goldilocks ending to a class D journey. But a journey that’s likely to continue given the seemingly constant improvements in class D technology and performance.
Sorry this was so long but I wanted to give a thorough response to your question.
Tim
