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Class D amps seem poised to take over. Then what?

I am certainly biased by my lifetime final amp being a Class D. But I know that after 30+ years of development, Class D seems to be on a high plain. I know there are now many, many companies focusing on Class D and, maybe, a good handful already as good as it gets. My Class D amp is as smooth and beautifully musical as a great tube amp and as punchy and detailed as a great SS amp. I am satisfied and done with my search. A class D amp has effectively taken me off the amp merry-go-round. It’s about time after 50 years. And, for me, this Class D is a milestone. Will all other classes of amps fade away?
mglik
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
I hate it when people talk about subjects they know nothing about.
You need to hate yourself then, as you have no idea about the performance of Class-D even when using GaN Fets into 8 4 2 and 1ohm at it’s "current ability" (wattage doubling) at these loadings. And how those Wilsons demand it to get the best out of them.
Next you’ll say an OTL of Ralphs can drive those Wilsons to their best properly, because they too will stay stable into them and not oscillate.🤷‍♂️
rixthetrick's avatar
rixthetrick
1,060 posts
 
@georgehifi - wouldn’t it depend on the original rating at 8ohms, the power supply rating that feeds the class D modules?

I’m not pretending to know, I’m just posing the question: if the power supply is engineered to supply enough current at 1ohms impedance seen by the amplifier, where is the limitation?
Could it not be possible, to double to 1ohm?
Is it a lack of efficientcy, I mean there’s less loss by creating heat.

It might be a lengthy topic to answer, if you know of an article I could read about it perhaps?
rh67
307 posts
 
WOW! You know what my system sounds like yet you have never heard it.

Now your a mind reader knowing what i will say next. Bravo!

I was in the industry for many decades, building and designing, amps, pre amps and speakers so it's easy for me to tell who's winging it and those who know their stuff, keep winging it george i know better.


rixthetrick's avatar
rixthetrick
1,060 posts
 
@georgehifi - to be clear here, I saw the post after mine (above this) and I wasn't be combative, I was giving you the benefit of the doubt.

I know a bit more than Ohms laws, so I have genuine interest as to the limitations. Which there very well may be.
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
@georgehifi - wouldn’t it depend on the original rating at 8ohms, the power supply rating that feeds the class D modules?

No, although it to needs to be beefy, look at any Class-D that has been independently wattage tested into 8ohm 4ohm 2ohm regardless of powersupplies (most won’t get test into 2ohms), they are fets, and fets can’t do doubling of 8 to 4 to 2ohms (current) like complimentary bi-polars (bjt) can do like in the the Gryphon Antillion, bigger Krell, D’Agostino Boulder, etc etc etc

Also look at my post in the  "Pass X260.8 vs Bryston 7B3" thread

Cheers George
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