I experimented with two Class D amps in my system; Merrill Audio's Taranis and Digital Amplifier Company's Maraschino Monoblocks. My system consists of an Esoteric X-03 SE CD/SACD player -> PS Audio DirectStream DAC -> amp -> Reference 3A DeCapo BE.
I chose Tommy O'Brien's Cherry Amp Maraschino monoblocks over the Merrill Audio Taranis. Nevertheless I found both amps to be detailed, powerful, and musical...albeit the Taranis more powerful at 400WPC. The Cherrys are small, efficient, and at 6"x6"x8" easy to move around; the Taranis is a single-chassis configuration. However the Taranis' single-chassis configuration did not figure into my decision-making.
Tommy encapsulates his Maraschino models in their own shielded enclosure, mounted atop a marble block for stability, and separate from their outboard power supply. I like that the amp is contained in its own housing. IMO it minimizes interference between the amp and power supply. Taranis probably does as well but w/ the Cherries, I can verify the separation.
Each Cherry amp was meticulously packed, w/ its accompanying ps, in separate boxes. DC cables (ps to amp) are included, as is a pair of RCA to Balanced adaptors...how thoughtful is that?
Neither the Taranis or the Cherry amps sounded their best out-of-the-box. However after 48hrs of continuous power with about 10hrs play-time in between, the rough-edges were gone. That's when I realized Class D was worthy of my serious consideration...ymmv.
Will these be the last amps I ever own? I don't know. I'm the unsettled-type who likes buying new gear periodically. For now, I'm happy with my purchase. If I could want for anything, it would be an increase in gain from 22db to at least 26. But I trust Tommy knows best. After all, he's likely forgotten more about amplifier design than I will ever know.
In closing, if you're considering evaluating a Class D amp, I think you'll be surprised. It ain't the undeveloped technology it may have once been. Pick one of the brands bandied about here, give 'em time to break-in and make up your own mind. PM me if you want to hear more about the Taranis.
I chose Tommy O'Brien's Cherry Amp Maraschino monoblocks over the Merrill Audio Taranis. Nevertheless I found both amps to be detailed, powerful, and musical...albeit the Taranis more powerful at 400WPC. The Cherrys are small, efficient, and at 6"x6"x8" easy to move around; the Taranis is a single-chassis configuration. However the Taranis' single-chassis configuration did not figure into my decision-making.
Tommy encapsulates his Maraschino models in their own shielded enclosure, mounted atop a marble block for stability, and separate from their outboard power supply. I like that the amp is contained in its own housing. IMO it minimizes interference between the amp and power supply. Taranis probably does as well but w/ the Cherries, I can verify the separation.
Each Cherry amp was meticulously packed, w/ its accompanying ps, in separate boxes. DC cables (ps to amp) are included, as is a pair of RCA to Balanced adaptors...how thoughtful is that?
Neither the Taranis or the Cherry amps sounded their best out-of-the-box. However after 48hrs of continuous power with about 10hrs play-time in between, the rough-edges were gone. That's when I realized Class D was worthy of my serious consideration...ymmv.
Will these be the last amps I ever own? I don't know. I'm the unsettled-type who likes buying new gear periodically. For now, I'm happy with my purchase. If I could want for anything, it would be an increase in gain from 22db to at least 26. But I trust Tommy knows best. After all, he's likely forgotten more about amplifier design than I will ever know.
In closing, if you're considering evaluating a Class D amp, I think you'll be surprised. It ain't the undeveloped technology it may have once been. Pick one of the brands bandied about here, give 'em time to break-in and make up your own mind. PM me if you want to hear more about the Taranis.