savdllc,
You stated: "
but if one is chasing greater efficiency than Class A without sacrificing as much fidelity as Class D tends to do, Class G and H amplifier tech would seem to be the best choice."
This statement implies that class D requires you to sacrifice significant fidelity when compared to class A/B. As a user of various decent quality class A/B amps exclusively for about 30 yrs (beginning with Adcom and then McCormak and most recently Aragon) before trying various good quality class D amps (beginning 2 yrs ago with a budget ClassD Audio SDS440SC then an Emerald Physics EP-100.2SE and currently D-Sonic M3-600-M mono-blocks), I can assure you I never felt I was sacrificing any fidelity with class D.
With all 3 class D amps I actually experienced quite the opposite; immediately noticing significant improvements in noise level, bass response, mid-treble fidelity being very similar to class A/B with my initial budget class D and clearly superior to my former class A/B amps with my admittedly better quality most recent class D amps.
I know there are many here on Audiogon who have discovered switching to class D is all gain with honestly no pain. I'm concerned that comments like yours, and other posters earlier in this thread, may give readers the false impression that switching to class D involves some sacrifices in sound quality.
I want to make it clear to everyone considering a switch from class A/B to class D amplification that these sort of comments may have been accurate for some early lower quality class D amps but are definitely not valid for current good quality class D amps.
Once you've experienced the extraordinary improvements a good recent class D amp will make in your system, you'll begin to realize how inaccurate, no longer relevant and simply untrue these types of comments are.
I can only rationalize these sorts of comments by assuming that these individuals have obviously never auditioned a recent good quality class D amp in their system or anywhere else. Although it's possible they're just parroting comments they've heard years ago about early examples of class D.
I'm grateful I ignored these class D myths and opted for an open minded home trial and suggest others do the same.
Concerning class G and H, I have never heard either but I'm interested in hearing them. Being an extension of class A and A/B amps, however, I would expect them not to have the same advantages of reduced weight and size that class D allows.
Thanks,
Tim
