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Class D = Trash?

So, I'm on my second class D amp. The first one, a Teac AI-301DA which claimed to use an ICE module, was unlistenable trash. I burned it in for a few weeks, it just couldn't perform, so I sent it back. Following that, I tried the new Emotiva A-300 (class A/B). It was significantly better, but lacking in too many ways for my tastes. So I changed gears, got an 845 SET from China -- and it was an immediate and massive improvement.

So, before I went further down the SET road, I wanted to try a better class D product using a modern class D module. I settled on the D-Sonic M3-800S with the Pascal module and custom input stage. I read from reviews that these things like to have big cables, so I picked up an eBay 8 gauge power cable (Maze Audio, el-cheapo Oyaide copy plugs, braided 4-wire cable) to go along with it.

Mid-range GONE.
Soundstage depth CRUSHED.
Euphonics DISAPPEARED.

Yes, resolution went up. Driver control went up, allowing me to play compressed rock/pop and orchestra with the speakers being able to render it all. But enjoyment in the sound is basically gone. Using my best power cable (LessLoss Original) improved performance, but didn't fundamentally change the amp's nature. I ran back to my headphones (Focal Utopias) to detox my ear canals.

So, how long does a class D need to burn-in? I want to give it a fair shake before writing the technology off forever. 
madavid0
noble100's avatar
noble100
2,419 posts
 
Hi George,

    You asked:"why do you think Technics have gone to the trouble to advance the class!"?

   Most likely to sell them at $30k each to gullible buyers. that believe higher switching frequencies amps actually sound better than the $630-$3,000 competition , and have more dollars than sense.

If you get a few more dollars, this could be you.

Later,
 Tim

erik_squires
16,164 posts
 
Speaking of the Technics, seems the NAD M2 is also claiming some exclusive auto-correction features which are similar.

Best,

E
erik_squires
16,164 posts
 
So it is quite possible both the Technics and NAD M2 use ICEedge at their core, with the Technics having the most advanced correction system.

Cool stuff.
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
Most likely to sell them at $30k each to gullible buyers. that believe higher switching frequencies amps actually sound better than the $630-$3,000 competition , and have more dollars than sense.
Head in sand ,forest through trees.

Like I said protective owners like yourself will be one of the first to change, to higher switching frequencies when it becomes main stream. Even though at the moment they are blindly bagging it.
All your doing at the moment is trying to protecting your investment so it won’t take a monitory nose dive when this new technology becomes mainstream and finally puts Class-D into the hi-end Audio bracket, with today’s great linear amps
Keep that finger on the sell button and press it before they become obsolete.

Cheers George
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
So it is quite possible both the Technics use ICEedge at their core.

If your saying that they used a "similar" topology as Ice, that maybe possible.
But I doubt very much that Technics is using Ice modules or anything from Ice, even licensing permission, as they have always used their own development technology, and never relied on anyone else.

Cheers George  
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