Class D is just Dandy!

Thanks for the reflections that might help me dial in my speakers/system from an amplification angle.

So, this is where I am (1): just bought and have been using the XTZ A2-300, which runs off IcePower. Amazingly, the sound signature is NOT much different from my NuForce STA200. It may be, in the Nuforce, that the midband is slightly more rich, more lustrous, but in normal listening, where I’m more into enjoying than critiquing, the differences quickly fall away.

The new XTZ runs cool, supplies more than adequate juice (up to 470@2.7ohms), seems to provide a little more shape to instruments within the soundstage than the Nuforce. For instance, the dimensions of the drum set in my favorite ’instrument’ reference CD, Harry Connick Jr’s "Lofty’s Roach Soufflé" is more realistic.

I’ve also noticed micro-dynamics from the XTZ that seem a little more glossed over in the Nuforce. Unfortunately, I think there are huge psychological impacts that arrive with a new piece of gear, and the mind/ears are more vigilant and likely make a bigger deal over presumed new discoveries that might have been equally attractive if someone had fooled me and placed my previous amp in the chain before playing a song I have been cycling for the past several months.

I'm all too familiar with my enthusiasm for the new sexy thing that arrives in the post and how that enthusiasm carries me through the opening phase or two with that sexy new thing.

So, here is where I am (2) ... I’ve paid $500 for the XTZ. It’s great, no problem. However, I know it’s definitely a bargain audiophile product and while it is amazing for the money, I’m wondering if anyone can speak to how IcePower compares to the Purifi module, or the Hypex modules, or Pascal.... I mean, if I can pay an extra $1000 or $1500, would I hear substantive improvement in soundstage, tonal accuracy, vocal purity, etc., or am I just about ’there.’

I know it’s only I that can say for sure, but have any of you studied the differences between these amps and found significant distinctions from one modern class D amp to the next?

Thank you,

Just got my PS AUDIO M1200 monos this week probably will be trading my Nord One Up monos with Rev D input boards in on them unless someone makes me a good offer on them

Hello listening 99,

     There are certainly several excellent class D amp bargains currently available for attaining very good performance at very reasonable prices. It sounds like you just purchased a prime example.
     I’ve owned and have heard a wide variety of class D amps in the past 10 years and I’ve noticed some come common qualities shared by the entire group regardless of price. These general qualities are very solid and taut bass, very low distortion, an extremely low noise floor, very good detail and a very neutral overall sonic presentation, with seemingly nothing added or subtracted from the inputted signals.
     I’ve found the most obvious benefit of the better, and more expensive, class D amps is the quality of their mid-range, treble and holographic imaging abilities.
     Currently, some class D amps rival the performance of the best amps available, regardless of amp type. Unfortunately however, the prices of the best class D amps also rival the prices of the best traditional amps.
     Because of this, when I felt the urge to upgrade, I decided to restrict my budget to an amount I could afford but also decided not to restrict my search options to a particular amp type. I still thought a mid priced class D amp, a pair of D-Sonic M3-600-M mono-blocks with Scandinavian Abletec power modules for about $2,100/pr, performed best driving my speakers. I also knew for certain through in-home auditions, that this was thousands less than comparably performing traditional amps.

Tim

Class “D”ull while pushed through major companies, is still sub par to my ears!

 A class D a o into 2 Ohms or less is just ear bleeding, cynical, no depth, headroom is nonexistent,
 devialet, and all this super high dollar stuff is just bad!

ive heard, seriously listened, and given numerous chances.

 There’s always something missing!
if you’ve spent 10K or more on a devialet, or another class D amp, and you love it, kudos, enjoy it.

ill stick with my class A  - A/AB/H amps. !

the emotion is just not there. 
My McCormack / Odyssey / Sunfire amps I’ll put up against any class D stuff.
 Hell, even my aging onkyo tx-890 receiver at 125WPC receiver I’ll put up against the class D amps.

 Cheers to all.
my 2 ¢

 

@arctikdeth I want to invite you to take a particular (Class D) amp you have auditioned and give us a clear evaluation of your experience. I've had my first class D amp for about ten days and I have a very hard time equating your summary point or points with my experience. I tend to be interested in different points of view, but more detailed evidence is needed, if you really want to make a solid case... otherwise, I'm just hearing a very strong opinion; we could all benefit from a carefully constructed and amply (NPI) supported viewpoint...