Class A or Class D solid-state amplifiers (modern designs)

But..no. Typical corporate systems, is what most innovators will run into. A given boardroom of ass-wipes who are paid for how aggressively they can steal from and malign any innovator who is foolish enough to get close to them.

For Purifi and Atmasphere at least, the “ass-wipes,” are simultaneously on the board and also the ones in the lab.

@holmz 

Same applies to AGD. 

What is AGD?

https://agdproduction.com/

HAving owned MANY class D amps over the years, and especially in the last 4, the LSA Voyager 350 GaN amp is fantastic and a uber bargain MSRP $3000, but often on sale

Every time, and I mean every time, I put my Musical Fidelity A1-2008 Class A SS amp back in the system (replacing either a QUAD 909 or Transcendent Sound T8-LN OTL tube amp) I listen for about 10 minutes and then say "holy crap!" I forgot how incredible this sounds!

Pretty amazing when a solid state amp can equal or even in some areas even best t a high end OTL Tube amp.

I just spent several months comparing the AGD Audion mono blocks to my Coda #16 amp and have made my choice. The AGD’s are very, very good. I think they sound spectacular but my Coda has something that I prefer. There is a deep dynamic snap that the Coda produces that I love. It is the best SS amp I’ve ever heard. There is a considerable price difference here and the 110 lbs of the Coda means I’m not moving it by myself.

My dealer says he’s bringing the AGD Gran Vivace over for a listen so we will see how it stacks up to the Coda. Price wise it’s more apples to apples.

You owe it to yourself to listen to a Sugden A21, pure class A solid state. 

In the last 5 years I have owned quite a few class D amps, the EVS 1200 being the best of them, but when I tried the LSA Voyager 350, I was shocked and remain very happy 1.5 years later

@lancelock

My dealer says he’s bringing the AGD Gran Vivace over for a listen so we will see how it stacks up to the Coda. Price wise it’s more apples to apples.

Did you ever do the comparison of the Gran Vivace to the CODA #16? I also own the #16 and a PeachTree GAN1 (modded). The modded GAN1 is almost as good as the #16 but a real PIA to use because it is more than an amp.

I am looking to get a GAN amp and the Gran Vivace is something that I am considering. Main reason for the GAN decision is because the Peachtree GAN1 sounds really good, and I need something with a very small form factor and some power behind it.

The CODA #16 will stay in my office system. I need an amp for my Livingroom system.

AGD will be at THE SHOW next month, you could ask Alberto for a home trial.

That will give me a reason to go to the LA show. I used to go to all the shows, but I am now almost done shopping for gear so the desire to see new gear is not so great. 

Just need a DAC and amp.

Yeah, i just go for something to do. Sound is sometimes wanting at shows even the best equipment can sound so so at a show.

There are some great dealers in the LA area. One year I was at the LA show and had a big room with KEF Blade 1 (my fav) and Hegel monos basically all to myself. The lady in charge played over an hour of music on the Blades. 

+1 Sugden a21se

@yyzsantabarbara 

I was never able to hear the AGD Gran Vivace but the Audions were superb. I now have custom modded Altec Lansing 1570B mono blocks.

I'm upset because I just found out you can't run a Class D amp in pure Class A

Class D fan boys, say what you want about class A it’s still the benchmark. Read the interviews with Bruno and the boys and you will find out that unlike what Nelson does which is small adjustments they had to actually add and remove components to their modules to get them to sound so transparent to your ears. I would rather have someone making tweaks then redesigning boards. But the rubes will buy what the rubes will buy, cheap rules. check those power ratings, if they are higher than what your speakers are rated for you are in for a heap of trouble. No one needs 725 W or 1225 W unless you are a band in a concert venue

@kawzx7 Your post doesn't seem to make sense. Perhaps you could clarify? BTW, one common misconception about class A vs class D is the first Watt, having to do with how well the amp behaves at the zero crossing. Both classes of operation do this extremely well if properly designed. Class D amps are inherently incapable of producing crossover or notch distortion just like class A in this regard. So you can get an extremely good first Watt from a class D if properly designed.

They don't all sound the same, just the same as class A in that regard. So if you've heard one you certainly have not heard them all.