2. amps-preamps
  3. 165466-4741

Class D for a Tube Lover

First, I'm sure this has been asked many times but searching the subject wasn't too helpful to me.

So apologies in advance.

I enjoy tubed electronics and class A amps, which tend to be a bit warm.  My current Cary 805s warm my small (12x16) music room even in the cool/cold of winter.  I've got other amps that don't produce much heat, but am looking for something that produces no heat.  Living in a home with no central AC the room gets uncomfortably hot during the summer months.

So...I'd like to try some Class D amps.  Stereo or mono is just fine.  And my speakers aren't difficult to drive so I don't need a thousand watts.  But if that thousand watt amp sounds great, I'm not adverse to that, either.

I'd like to keep the price under 2k used.  

Please help.

Thanks.


128x128audiodwebe
whoopycat
169 posts
 
I would also concur with SPEC amps.  As Bjeisen said they are not cheap.  Also they like a higher impedance load.  I would not describe them as tubey but they do sound richly toned with higher impedance speakers like Zu Omen and DeVore O93.
mofojo
2,300 posts
 
IME class d does not like difficult loads. If you have semi efficient speakers with a fairly benign impedance curve will sound good especially with a tube preamp. 
I had the Lyngdorf integrated and it was an amazing product....... for certain speakers. Ran out of gas on some Dynaudio C20s I had and just sounded soso on some Focals. On some Tektons it was a match made in heaven. I think the amplification section was nothing special but the room correction was fantastic. 

I’m currently looking for a preamp with room correction to pair with my Parasound A21. 
tcscata's avatar
tcscata
16 posts
 
Why not try the VTV 1ET400A Amplifier with VTV Vacuum Tube Buffer. Granted it’s between $2,229.00 – $2,279.00 new, but you do tend to get what you pay for...
mglik
908 posts
 
I have always admired the Cary 805. I would put the money into NOS or quality new stock tubes. The sound of the 805 is definitely warmish and musical. In many ways it is the opposite of a Class D amp. If you like the 805 sound, don’t loose it. Especially changing to a Class D for $2K or less. You are almost guaranteed to go down in SQ.
yyzsantabarbara
4,865 posts
 
I decided to sell my KRELL K-300i integrated today so that freed up the long speaker cables I need to test out my new Class D stereo amp.

https://www.d-sonic.com/product/m3a-800s-stereo-amplifier/

It is now connected to my difficult to drive Thiel CS3.7 floor stander. I first tried my new Gustard X26 Pro (an incredible DAC) into my Benchmark HPA4 preamp and then to the D-Sonic amp. It was more powerful, detailed and a touch warmer than my regular Benchmark AHB2 monos (my reference). However, there was a little edge to the sound that I noticed that is not there in the all Benchmark stack.

I then removed the preamp and went direct to the D-Sonic amp. That edge or hardness was reduced, almost eliminated. I always prefer the volume control on the HPA4 preamp but the Gustard DAC was not bad as a preamp. The D-Sonic benefited with HPA4 removed removed. The Benchmark and D-Sonic do not seem to mix well.

So I now have a $1500 amp with a $1500 DAC and the sound is almost as good as the $9000 of Benchmark gear + $1500 for Gustard  I had before. I think the D-Sonic amp is better served on the Thiel’s than the AHB2 which are not officially rated for 2 Ohm speakers in mono.

I have a SET based preamp coming next week (I hope) that should be great with the D-Sonic. Anyways, this amp has given me confidence to move my great Benchmark stack to my living room system with a speaker that maybe is a better match for the AHB2 specs.

As I mentioned in a prior post the D-Sonic was bought to be used with RAAL SR1a headphones which needs a warm amp to tame that beast. It did do that and now I tested it on the floor stander which was also a winner.
More to discover