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I went from Class D to Luxman A/AB - And most of what you think is wrong

Hi everyone,

As most of you know, I’m a fan of Class D. I have lived with ICEPower 250AS based amps for a couple of years. Before that I lived with a pair of Parasound A21s (for HT) and now I’m listening to a Luxman 507ux.


I have some thoughts after long term listening:
  • The tropes of Class D having particularly bad, noticeable Class D qualities are all wrong and have been for years.
  • No one has ever heard my Class D amps and gone: "Oh, wow, Class D, that’s why I hate it."
  • The Luxman is a better amp than my ICEPower modules, which are already pretty old.

I found the Class D a touch warm, powerful, noise free. Blindfolded I cannot tell them apart from the Parasound A21s which are completely linear, and run a touch warm due to high Class A operation, and VERY similar in power output.


The Luxman 507 beats them both, but no amp stands out as nasty sounding or lacking in the ability to be musical and involving.


What the Luxman 507 does better is in the midrange and ends of the spectrum. It is less dark, sweeter in the midrange, and sounds more powerful, almost "louder" in the sense of having more treble and bass. It IS a better amplifier than I had before. Imaging is about the same.


There was one significant operational difference, which others have confirmed. I don't know why this is true, but the Class D amps needed 2-4 days to warm up. The Luxman needs no time at all. I have no rational, engineering explanation for this. After leaving the ICEPower amps off for a weekend, they sounded pretty low fi. Took 2 days to come back. I can come home after work and turn the Luxman on and it sounds great from the first moment.


Please keep this in mind when evaluating.


Best,

E
erik_squires
audioman58's avatar
audioman58
4,134 posts
 
Newer Class D is a totally different animal , in as good as most very good amps
muchmore efficient and much lower in thd. Jeff Rolands Top Digital is Excellent 
and uses custom Pascal  digital modules with custom input,output stages  
The modules are made in Denmark .my Gato 400-S also from Denmark 
make a excellent Digital product ,very natural ,Tube like - with tons of dynamics 
and musicality, at under $7k for a 400 wpc integrated is a bargain and 
a work of art  cosmetics wise.i hav3 owned everything from tubes,to classA ,class AB. I am very happy with this amp it just makes good sounding music.

laserjock1963
139 posts
 
@erik_squires have you tried a Benchmark AHB2 amp?

I see where it measures very well. 

Chris
erik_squires OP
16,049 posts
 
Hey @laserjock1963
I've seen the reviews but never actually seen one in person.
Best,
E
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,182 posts
 
Eric what specific Class D amp have you had and what speakers have you used it with?   

I have 3 Class D amps.   Each sounds different,  including 2 of the same brand.  

yMMV. 

Thanks.
firstnot's avatar
firstnot
248 posts
 
It is more than a bit worrisome that 99% of the opinions one reads 
on this forum espouse opinions and have use a blind tested. Can that
even be considered a valid test? Eric mentions he did it blindfolded.
Good for him.
Sanders makes a class a/b 500/wpc stereo amp which sells for
$5,000. Warranty is lifetime. Not that I don't enjoy the Danes
but hey, Colorado is closer!!
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