Expensive amp or cheap classdaudio?

Thanks to all who have posted responses. I didn't start the thread. Just thanking all of you who successfully got me interested in further research on this subject! A bit of audio purchase angst has returned! Oh boy.......You all provided much appreciated user information which I what I pay close attention to. Onward...! :) Happy Holidays!

NuForce Ref9 V2SE's and a TRL Dude, unbelievably sublime sound.

If you want to learn more about classdaudio, notably how it compares to a W4S amp, i suggest you to go on the audiocircle website,tapewrite " classdaudio" then go to the thread "120w.classD amp 175$" ,160 pages of tests and comparisons.

At home, it compares fully to my AYON TRITON II,extreme transparency,black silent background,extremely wide and deep scene,any very small mod of my system immediately audible,no need for a preamp, directly connected to my Weiss DAC2,tuby sound, no lack in high frequencies under the condition of a good choice for interconnects and ls cables ( low capacitance litz, unshielded)
The use of a mains cable made in litz wire instead of the standard one led to a very slight improvement in definition.

This amp is a pure bargain and those who believe this is a kind of compromise or only a good quality on price ratio are not right,this amp is so good that if you come to my home ,yu'll think this is a great named amp which is making music.

I love my Nuforce Reference 9 V3SE's, and find them better in many ways than more expensive and heavier (in weight and cost) amps. The comments about cleaner,clearer, and quicker, with excellent bass dynamics and control are spot on. Also leaving them on all the time at 2 watts idle allows near instant listening. Many friends with great ears also agree and have traded high dollar stuff and kept these. But there is a substantial psychological barrier that heavier, more expensive and more inconvenient must equal better sound. Also greater attention needs to be paid to vibration and clean power with these light weight designs.

A very short note about digital amps:
As they become more popular they become to sound better by consumer's perception.
In reality having a Sunfire SRA model built in 2004 and comparing it with later class D models found no substantial performance difference. Another words couldn't say which one is definitely better.

Hadn't seen the classdaudio products before. Good to know about.

I believe Class D amps in general are a game changer in the hifi world moving forward.

I read a review of the STI-500 and the reviewer bought the amp he liked it so much. Actually, most of the reviews of Wyred 4 Sound amps are stellar. My local shop is a dealer (The Analog Shop in Victor NY) and I might have to go for a listen.

I've compared W4S ST1000 monos class D with Tripath Sunfire SRA with Aerial 10t speakers:

They both sounded great in general with slight differences:

W4S: More definition, bass controll, precision.
Sunfire: More music, less bass controll, but more depth and warmth,

Plato,

How does the sound of the Wyred compare to the TriPath amp?

Yes, I have a slightly modified TriPath Class D amp rated at 60 watts/channel @ 4-ohms and 100Wpc @ 8-ohms. The power supply caps were replaced with higher capacity capacitors and it sounds wonderful. In fact, it replaced my QuickSilver GLA tube amp driving my Magnepans... It plays louder without strain and sounds as good if not better in some ways. I do use a VTL 2.5-TL tube linestage into it.

My other system is totally solid-state (except the phono preamp) and uses a Wyred 4 Sound STI-500 ICE-Power amp, which sounds better than any other amp I've tried in that system... including a Cary Audio CAD 120S tube amp and some very good solid-state amps.

I believe the digital amps are the future and they don't need to cost a ton of money to sound great. They are incredibly fast and ultra-detailed, low-noise, and can be just as musical and engaging as other types of amps. Plus they're lighter, smaller, and way more efficient than conventional tube or solid-state amplifiers. It's a win-win, in my view.

Can you compare how the Class D sounds compared to the other amps you have had? Strengths and weaknesses of each.

I do have my eye on these, as well as the recently released Hypex NCore modules (first run already sold out).