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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
earlflynn's avatar
earlflynn
461 posts
 
@invalid.FYI.  These guys claim that wattage doubles (close enough) at 4ohms. 

Pathos Classic MK III
Specifications

Type: Integrated amplifier in Class A/AB, hybrid circuit with input tube stage, bridgeable
Output Power: 2 x 70 W @ 8 Ohm, 2 x 130 W @ 4 Ohm, 180 W @ 8 Ohm in bridged mode (mono)
Inputs: 1 balanced XLR, 4 unbalanced RCA
Frequency response: 2 Hz - 100 kHz
THD: <0.05%
Signal/noise ratio: 90 dB
Input impedance: 100 kOhm


Pathos LOGOS

The Logos uses MOSFETs in the output stage, known for their tube-like transfer characteristics, in a design that attempts to come sonically as close as possible to Pathos’ patented InPol circuitry. InPol is the only amplifier design, hybrid or solid-state, that gives the full glory of a tube amplifier but with control. Look at the numbers: 110 watts per channel into 8 ohms, and an amazing 220 watts into 4 ohms, with full bandwidth


georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
Output Power: 2 x 70 W @ 8 Ohm, 2 x 130 W @ 4 Ohm


It wasn’t mentioned
Let see what happens into 2ohm un-bridged. (bet they can’t handle it) and those Wilson’s mentioned hit 0.9ohm!!!.

Cheers George
rh67
307 posts
 
You keep mentioning Wilson's as being hard to drive, where does this come from? I have owned Wilson's from their beginning starting with the original Wamm's and i have never found them difficult to drive even using 300B tube amps. It seems that you lack personal experience with Wilson. https://www.stereophile.com/content/wilson-audio-specialties-alexandria-xlf-loudspeaker-measurements
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,493 posts
 
Things always get better....I remember when the new craze was introduced ...CD.  The sound was awful, until it got better.   If you live long enough there will also be something better waiting in the wings.  Digital can be excellent, but excellence comes at a price as does everything.
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
You keep mentioning Wilson’s as being hard to drive, where does this come from?

For someone who "says" they’ve owned Wilsons, you are not very au fait or even interested in how they measure or behave, in particular the loading they present for amps to see. And they have many models that are in that same low EPDR loading bracket.
From HiFi News Lab Report
Impedance phase is quite well controlled but still the EPDR falls to a low of 1.2ohm/67Hz, with further minima at 129Hz (1.8ohm) and 410Hz (1.9ohm). So the Alexia 2 presents a challenging load to the amplifier, albeit not so much as its predecessor Mk1 (min EPDR 0.9ohm!!!!).

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