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Class D amps,bang for your buck ones

Hello

First off,

I don't know much about class D amps, I did buy a Sonic Impact T-amp from Parts Express once to play with, I returned it because I don't have the speakers for it.

I did manage to hook it up to a pair of BIC Venturi horn speakers, and was floored with the clarity of the amp.

Those speakers had so many problems that I just didn't want to monkey with them, bad x-overs with busted pots,only sometimes could I get them to work right.

So, this leads me to my question.

Whats a high value class D amp with some hp/balls to drive normal speakers?

I'm looking for the Forte 4 of class D's, assuming (class D)is a tripath based/type amp.

Any suggestions or comments welcome.

I have an Accuphase pre and a minimax pre to use.

Thanks
mcgarick
magfan
1,583 posts
 
I haven't read EVERY word in this thread, but has anyone mentioned the DIY aspect of the question?

Hypex 'd' amps and power supply parts are available and can turn into quite the nice amp.

International Rectifier makes a 'd' amp....which also needs a PS. I think the are an OEM supplier to a few manufs.

B&O doesn't make modules available to the DIY crowd. I suppose if you were willing to buy hundreds...if not a couple thousand, arrangements could be made.
jedinite24's avatar
jedinite24
1,503 posts
 
Regarding Magfan's 12-10-10 post

Definitely check out the Hypex Class D modules and power supply parts. If you are a DIYer you can build yourself a pretty sweet sounding amp. I'm not a DIYer but I purchased a someone elses DIY effort using the Hypex UCD-100 module with beefy power supply and transformer and the amp sounds great. LF is excellent with my KEF 104/2 speakers and the mid-range and treble are just right. Before this I was using a pair of Outlaw Audio M2200 monoblocks and the music seemed kind of lacking all around.
mcgarick OP
277 posts
 
The Virtue Audio ONE.2 with the input caps upgraded to Sonicaps, sounds wonderful.

It's smooth, dynamic and musical, very transparent. I would say it is one of the best amps I've had so far.

It's been breaking in for 10 days or so and I expect it to get even better with more time on the unit.

I would like to try some other Class D amps just for fun. like the Nuforce power amps.

The real upgrade with this amp (beside the Sonicaps) was the power supply I'm using.

It's an Astron LS-10A power supply and it maxes out the voltage the Virtue can handle, and makes it sound very powerful. It's funny how this little amp puts out a huge sound,but I guess the power supply is also part of the amp, just separated by a power cord. But, you can hide the power supply and just have the little Virtue exposed and blow peoples minds with it.....
fun amp.
mcgarick OP
277 posts
 
For anyone investigating the Virtue amps, I recommend getting the TWO.2 amp instead of the ONE.2, because the TWO.2 will already have the better caps in it.

I personally thought the
Virtucaps that come with the ONE.2 and holds the amp way back.

The TWO.2 comes with Auricaps, which are superior.

But, I'm glad I got the Sonicaps, the sound is totally open with them.
magfan
1,583 posts
 
Has anyone but me noticed that the W4S looks nearly identical to the PSAudio GCC series? I just looked at a backpanel photo from W4S and the differences are tough to spot.
Do (did) these amps come off the same line? Same sub? Did the PSAudio guys sell the 'rights' to the design to Wyred?

I'd like to compare the Wyred to my PSAudio in my system. Wouldn't surprise me to learn the differences could be covered by a single finger.....
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