Class D amps that are superior to all or most?

While the 1.5m SE 6 was much better, I went for the Pangea XL. It sounded better than the 1.5 , but I then saw the XL was only $150, so I returned the 1.5m SE. It took about 50 hours to break in. WOW. By far the best $150 Ive spent in many years

said it before, will say again

class d is a technology... a designer can use and harness a technology towards a certain end, the designer can make a class d amp sound dull, bright, lively, smooth, sizzly or bottom heavy -- just like designers of class a or ab solid state amps have voiced their amps to their tastes for years and years

each technology has its strengths and challenges (eg, tube amps’ bass, ss a/b amps’ imaging depth, class d’s decay and harmonics) which set some broad sonic parameters, but there is wide wide latitude in the sound of the finished product, and a good designer can overcome the shortcomings

specificity matters here for class d units, like anything else...

-- w4s st series is voiced warm and smooth as silk, maybe even a little dull, by ej sarmento
-- devialet amps have flat extended frequency response up top, with a bit of spotlit richness in the midrange and mid bass
-- nad’s amps are leaner and sounds quick and boppy but not much body nor saturation
-- agd (just got a pair of audions, now listening) is extended, clear, yet has body and weight where needed - they are truly excellent btw, won’t belabour that here

just like a parasound sounds different from a hegel from a belles from a naim from a mccormack from a pass

just because you tried one class d amp recently or some time ago and came away with an impression does not qualify you to make blanket pronouncements on all of them out there

Speaking of leaving your amps on or off:

From my own experience and several other A'goners, some Class D amps take a good 2 days of being on before they sound their best. If you listen to them in a store or turn them off while you are away keep this in mind. In my case I use IcePower 250 ASP amps which I know have this issue. You don't have to play music, just keep them on. 

Best,

E

Hey George,

You've written like twenty thousand posts bashing Class D.

How many minds have you changed?

2?

Best,

Erik