Discussion of Class D Amps Application & Experiences

@falconquest
As a manufacturer of class-D and hybrid class-D amplifiers I suggest that auditioning is important. Buy only what sounds good to you. Many brands use the same OEM boards and power supplies. Some just stuff them in a fancy box and others add tweaks. Some sound very similar and other have their own flavor. Some companies design their own. I suggest looking into all brands within your budget. Some of the expensive units use the same boards as some of the lower priced units. There seems to be a greater emphasis on eye candy than innovation these days.

Typically the shortcomings of class-D amplifiers come from inferior power supplies and a mediocre input stage, not from being class-D. This holds true for many SS amplifiers too.

The input section design can affect the sound quite a bit. For example our hybrid class-D amplifiers and our SS class-D amplifiers share the same power supply and output/power stages. The hybrid has a discrete tube input stage including its own power supply and the SS class-D is all SS. They have similar sound in some ways but are different overall.

Power supplies are very important in all equipment. We use very robust and independent (still in the same box) power supplies that are well shielded. The entire front half of our amplifiers is PS. I suggest not getting caught up in switching PS vs linear PS. They each have their strengths, as long as they are designed properly.

@kren0006 I appreciate the heads up about this topic which is why I requested to not get involved in class warfare! ;-) I would just like to hear about the experience people have had with moving to class D from A, A/B. I did read through the thread you mentioned.....or part of it. I gave up when I no longer found useful information.
@arion Thank you for your insight as well as others who have contributed. The more the merrier so long as it remains informative and civil.

I have had amplifiers from Class D Audio, D-Sonic, Mivera, and Peachtree.  The Mivera was most disappointing.  Total lack of detail and depth.  I popped the top and discovered that there was nothing in the box but the IceEdge board and the on-board power supply.  The D-sonic M3-1200S is an exceptionally fine amp, a real bargain on the price/performance scale.  Like most everything in this addiction, er hobby, it is totally subjective, but the D-Sonic amp is wonderful to my ears, and will drive any complex load without complaint.  The Class D Audio 470C also is a very good performer with very good sound.  Both amps have absolutely no background noise.  There are a lot of excellent, and not so excellent brands out there, but the search is both fun, and enjoyable.  I really don't care about an amp's design topology, class A, AB, or D.  All I go by is how it sounds to my ears.  Good luck in your pursuit.     

I am in high anticipation of receiving LSA Voyager GaN amp 100wpc $2500 (sold through Emerald Physics)



In the mean time I love my Ric Shultz EVS 1200, which is a 600wpc dual mono IceEdge 1200AS2 class D modules plus lots of Rics pixie dust < $2500

I see the class D crowd is alive and well, GOOD. I’ve have Ice units
Wyred 4 Sound SX1000 and Rs, Powerful but really lack the luster of the Hypex units. Though when coupled with a lively valve preamp it does help a lot.

The stock Hypex boards came with options that Ice boards didn’t have at the time without mods.

Hypex NC500/1200 and NC2k have buffer boards that come from the factory with standard op amps and voltage regulators,
Nord and VTV, BOTH offer bufferboard upgrades on their unit.
It is night and day with discrete class a op amps and discrete voltage regulators. The upgrades are 175-425.00 depending on the op amps you choose per monoblock unit.
It also gives you the option to customise your units with op amps rolls.
Sparco, Sonic Imagery, VTV, and a few more. Usually 150-350 for a pair of tricked out, op amps. If you already have the socketed boards

I had both with and without, the board upgrades. All of my units now have
the rev. C or D from Nord. The revision D from Nord or VTV (VTV have a gain select option) have dual sockets
(2 different footprints) for more versatility.

I only look at who made the boards, who made the case (do you like the design and case options, trigger, XLR and RCA, binding post) and do they have optional bufferboard. If they don’t, it’s simple, don’t buy them.

I opened 4-6 of the better known brands, all have either soldered in a different (not always better) opamp or bought buffer boards from, (LOL)
Nord or VTV.  Normally at 2 to 3 times the price, TO YOU..

A Hypex MB should be from 850.00-1500.00 depending on wattage, option on the bufferboards, and case options.

A shinny case alone can cost you 2000.00 more, and get a whole lot
LESS under the hood so to speak.

The boards are the same...Make sure you get the largest PS options too, it’s only a few buck and a few of the big names squeeze there, LOOK make sure..

Your budget will get you a long way into a great system, with valves included. A pre with valves or a combo of both. Tube front end sure sweetens the mix for sure. I love um’ ZERO floor noise.

Enjoy