Is solid state on the brink of extinction?

Slappy, I guess you're just pretending not knowing about digital amps.

Class "D" is pulse operated amplifier. Pulse generator with pulse freequency F is usually placed before the output stage that is nothing else as transistors connected as complementary pairs like in class "B" operation i.e. the amplifier is actually solid state. This dictates high efficiency of the output stage, less demand on quality of the output devices, less sophisticated power supplies(theoretically no clipping!)

The downsides are:
very high distortions at low volume levels; some of the models are highly affected with radio freequencies.

Marakanetz, I have heard those criticisms before concerning some digital modular designs. The field is in it's infancy, and will grow unevenly.

Tubegroover, I understand. My eAR has not been around much. On some Martin logans, it was matched against Sonic Fidelity. The eAR equaled the SF in musicality and involvement, but went further in uncovering the real thing, and expressing bass passages.

I think you might be on to something about my speaker's synergy with the eAR. The Scinnies are notorious amp benders. The eAR seems to ignore impedances. Although it was a revelation on my system, the SF/Martin Logan are quite enjoyable.

That same ML owner went tubes, after I demonstrated valves on his solid state system. I really thing tube components are going to survive.

Thsalmon,
I think when Muralman1 is referring to digital vs solid state, he’s referring to “digital switching” amps compared to linear SS amps. You’re correct to point out that not all “digital” amps can accept a digital input signal, and that switching amps can employ either an analog or digital modulation control method. However, the key thing that they all have in common is that in the power conversion stage, the output devices in a digital switching amplifier operates in either an “on” or “off” state, and it is thus “digital” by definition. It is this function that gives switching amps their superior efficiency compared to linear amps.

Muralman1,
I’m glad to see that you’re enjoying the eAR amp, especially since I’m one of the guys that recommended that you try it. To answer your question, no I don’t think conventional linear SS amps will be doomed to extinction, at least not quite. Audiophiles are a diverse bunch of highly passionate and idiosyncratic people – and I say this in the best possible way since I’m included in this description :) - who know what they like, plus we tend to be fiercely individualistic in our tastes, and we do not necessarily follow the mainstream. For the same reason that tube gear continues to flourish in audiophile circles, SS will remain as long as there is a market for people with a taste for it. Having said that, I think it’s inevitable that digital amplifiers will do to linear amps what the transistor did to the vacuum tube. I say this because IMHO, the most impressive achievement of digital switching technology to date is that it has demonstrated how true high-end performance can be delivered, even at the technology’s infancy, at a heretofore unheard of price point. Furthermore, as you and I have discovered, when it is put into a no-compromise design, the outcome can be magical.

But back to my original point, it’s clear that once you’re able to put an amplifier on a chip, and thus replace hundreds of discrete components with a single inexpensive part, the market will inexorably move to adopt it, especially in the mainstream. However, in the high-end market things are different because here it is viable to survive with low volumes and high margins, for as long as there are still people that want to buy it.

Muralman1,
I realy meant no criticizm of the gear rather than simply describing what class "D" means.

I have a sample of each type amp in my home;Digital (Spectron Musician II), SS linear Bryston 4BSST, and OTL tube (Atma-Sphere M60 Mk II). After spending weeks optimising the cable/speaker/room/sub for each amp here are the standings:
#1)Atma-Sphere M60. Utterly transparent and deep,informative soundstage. No effort,music just lives and breathes. Bass is organic and holistic. (For you new-agers out there. You know who you are). Does require the assistance of the Zero's on my system to match my 645's to the amp. Useful for winter heating.

#2 Bryston 4BSST. This amp is only slightly less musical and clear than the M60. Detail is great, dynamics are great, sounstaging is only slightly less, bass is also great....though it doesn't quite "breathe" the way the M60's can. Musical with great tonality. A very easy amp to live with.

#3 Spectron. Used to be #1 until I experimented on optimising for the other amps. Slightly more open on top than the Bryston and originally had a better soundstage. A bit dry in the lower midrange, lacks the tonality of the Bryston. Great bass. Great dynamics, just doesn't do the fade to silence decay thing nearly as well as the M60. That dryness just seems to take something out of the voice...but really only if you compare to the other two amps after being optimised. Still a great amp. Coupling with a Bryston preamp brings in more tonality on the low-mids and bass.