Class D Technology

Nonsense.  Not only that I don't know what they mean by "Pumping back the energy" in half bridge configuration (that I use all the time) but at least they don't mention limited resolution.  Such statements:

However, the differential output structure of the bridge topology inherently can cancel even the order of harmonic distortion components and DC offsets, as in Class AB amplifiers. A fullbridge topology allows of the use of a better PWM modulation scheme, such as the three level PWM which essentially has fewer errors due to quantization.

are gibberish.  Just in case your'e interested Icepower is Full Bridge while Hypex is Half bridge.  Which one is better - let your ears to be the judge.   Full bridge places half of the supply voltage on the speaker wires all the time. Look at incredibly low THD and IMD specifications (and measured data) of class D amps - not possible with non-linear amplifiers.  In all this discussion about errors (power supply voltage or dead time) author forgets about negative feedback (dual in Icepower amps).  Without this feedback class AB amps would sound like shit.

Their conclusion:  

Highly efficient Class D amplifiers now provide similar performances to conventional Class AB amplifier

Has anyone heard or used the Devialet integrated amps? And their "Hybrid" class D technology?  They have received some great reviews.   K

Devialet, hah, if you enjoy overpaying by %900 for a basic low level all in one which sounds no better than a Best Buy receiver at 300$, go ahead.  

Local stereo shop has these, they are seriously nothing special, I have heard them with those big$$ Cremona speakers, Martin Logan ES speakers, sure the Martin logans go a little louder due to more watts, but those watts are poor.   

I must have spent 4-5 hrs in the shop that day as I bought a new CD player, and listened to every room they had. McIntosh monos' , devialet, NAD, A pair of tube amps by McIntosh that were restored by the owner, and 3-4 other amps, several speakers, etc etc.  I was not impressed, but my son was, who fell asleep listening to Pink Floyd through the McIntosh/Cremona combo.   

If you need small footprint, and are financially stable, go ahead buy them, you will be fine, but there is WAY better for far less, and goosebumps do come with other brands free of charge. 

Just my worthless two cents. 

-MY humble opinion-




i don't want to come off as a di*k, I'm not, this is only my opinion of my listening experience, if you like them, buy them. 
I would personally go with another Sunfire Signature 600, send to bill flannerys for a update/overhaul, and be happy for 15+ years. 

how did such an uninformed person get an article into the EE Times?

Regarding the EE Times article, I took a look at some of the many patents that were issued to what was then the author’s company, JAM Technologies. It appears that most or all of their amplifier designs were intended for applications in which the amplification circuitry is provided with digital inputs, and operates exclusively in the digital domain until low pass filtering is applied to the pulse width modulated signal at the amplifier’s output.

Given that, the references in the article to jitter and to quantized output levels seem understandable, but along with the rest of the article would seem to have little if any relevance to class D amplifiers that are driven with analog inputs.

Also, JAM Technologies was described as a fabless semiconductor company (the word "fables" appearing at the end of the article is an obvious error or typo). Their designs appear to have been mainly intended for flat panel TV, PC audio, and personal media player applications, not for higher powered audiophile-oriented applications.

Some additional background I found that may be of interest: The company was founded in 1998 or 1999, and no longer exists. The author of the article was a co-founder of the company, together with another gentleman who was its chief technology officer and the inventor named in most or all of its patents. Both gentlemen left the company within a year or two after the article was published in 2005, and their subsequent professional endeavors have been unrelated to audio or consumer electronics.

Regards,
-- Al