All, Over the last 30 years, I have owned a variety of high end amps, running in low bias class A/B (Aragon 4004), high bias class A/B (Rowland M7, M625, M725), and class D (Rowland M312, M925).
My current amps are the $58K Rowland M925 monos which amongst their many technologies use the Hypex NCore NC1200 modules in their power conversion components. I adopted these 4-chassis monos because of what they "do for living" in absolute terms. In other words, they totally enchanted me. ANd excepted for 160 Lbs per side being more than what I would have liked, their ability to make music the way I like exceeded nearly every statement-level SS, or tube amp I heard at RMAF, running in class A, A/B, D, or tubed triod... for example De Agostino, VTL, ARC, Krell, Levinson. Why "nearly"? Because I enjoyed the music from Solution amps as much as from my monos.
Class D amps today range from relatively entry level amps priced below $1K, to reference-level devices costing $60K or more. You will find in the mix amps that may wow you, amps that seem to be very competent at their price range, and amps that make you run away from the listening room wondering if the designer should get their hearing examined... Or perhaps are terminally tone death *Grins!* ... In other words, class D amps are Just like any other classes of amplifiers, having amongst their midst the Great, the good, the fair, and the horrid.
One fair comment to make about class D amp is that their break-in process may be a little more frustrating than with other classes.... Often they sound very dry, limited and uninvolving right off the factory floor, and the break in may extend a little beyond the 1K hours mark.... And what is more annoying is that the break-in is filled with temporarily discouraging performance dips.... Thankfully these gradually taper off past the midpoint. In other words... Breaking in a class D amp is not for those seeking instant gratification... Patience of such audiofool best remain steadfastedly Golden.
Note that there are on the market many entry level class D amp that are worth listening to and are likely to make you fall in love.... Magnificent performers beyond their pricepoint. I am thinking of the D-Sonic M3 series based on Pascal M-Pro2 and X-pro2 modules... Visit D-sonic.net for info and pricing. Or the Merrill Teranis, just to name a couple.
Concerning Rowland: his designs are class-neutral. While most of his current amps are class D designs, the M625 S2 stereo and the M725 S2 monos run in high bias clas A/b.
Finally.... As for the original conjecture of the OP.... A crash of pricing for non class D boxes is unlikely.... Ideological biases apart, there are as many sonic/musical preferences as there are audiophiles.... There is room for every audio-taste imaginable in audiophilia nervosa.
Saluti, Guido
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