Class D Amplification Announcement


After 60 some odd years of disappointment, Class D has finally arrived. As per The Absolute Sound’s Jonathan Valin, the Borrenson-designed Aavik P-580 amp “is the first Class D amplifier I can recommend without the usual reservations. …the P-580 does not have the usual digital-like upper-mid/lower-treble glare or brick wall-like top-octave cut-off that Class D amps of the past have evinced.”

Past designers of Class D and audiophiles, rejoice; Michael Borrenson has finally realized the potential of Class D.

psag

@pehare 

That is some recommendation now - replacing tube amp with the Class D amp. Good to know that Ralph's Class D amps sound amazing.

I trust as genuine - because this comes from a member who has been on this site long enough and posts regularly unlike "fake" reviews, when a user registers and immediately posts a positive review and then 10 more users do the same.

So for me, it looks like Ralph's amps along with the AGD amps are the top ones to consider if and when I decide to change my amps.

Those two are both good I’m sure ( have heard AGD but not yet Atmas Class D) and popular brands on this site but by far not the only very good choices and for sure not the most cost effective, if that is a consideration. 

@mapman 

I am going based on solid user recommendations. What other choices in GaN amplifications are available? Will certainly be interested to know.

Well for GaN specifically orchid audio, Peachtree (what’s with all the fruit references ?) and Class D Audio come to mind. But the topic was Class D in general.  GaN may be a useful new technology but many modern modest cost Class D amp designs do things exceptionally well and are competitive.   I believe personal preferences will be the main deciding factor, as is commonly the case when talking about high quality products these days. 

**** The sound of a high rez two channel system sounds nothing like live music****

Three possibilities:

- The “high rez”’system is not assembled well; is not well balanced.

- Recordings being played are not very good.

- The listener is not familiar with the sound of live music.

A great recording played back on a well balanced (!) high resolution system can sound, while never exactly like, fairly close to the sound of live.

**** What we are looking for at home is a hyper real (as in unreal) experience****

No offense intended, but speak for yourself. That is not what many of us are looking for.

I suppose it’s a sign of the times. Hyper real flavors in food (way too salty). Hyper loud movies and concerts. Hyper fast, hyper personalized experiences. Hyper connectivity, and more. I’m old school, I prefer my music to sound as natural as possible; as close as possible to the real thing. Others may want a different experience. As far as I’m concerned Harry Pearson had it right. However, to each his own. Enjoy your music!