Really? Just because it uses a linear rather than a crap SMP power supply, doesn't mean it's not Class-D
From Stereophile:
" Although the SE-R1’s huge twin output meters and beautiful anodized-aluminum finish were visually distracting, the marketing of a Class-D amplifier as a separate high-end component was important. This amplifier delivered some of the best reproduced sound at CES 2017. I persuaded Bill Voss to rip the contents of my copy of Rutter’s Requiem to his media server’s solid-state drive. The broad and deep soundstage, imaging, upper midrange detail, and bass extension were thrilling during the system’s rendition of "Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace" and "Pie Jesu." I appreciated the work done by the Technics staff to prepare their exhibit suite with recessed sound-absorbing panels. I left wanting to hear more."
From Audioholics:
" On the amplifier side, the SU-C700 and SE-R1 are utilizing advanced Class D topologies, featuring a couple new acronyms, JENO and LAPC. JENO (Jitter elimination and noise shaping optimization) provides clock regeneration for low jitter switching in the amplifier stage, sample rate converter, as well as a pulse width modulator that feeds the output stage. LAPC (Load Adaptive Phase Calibration) on the other hand is designed to maintain frequency and phase response regardless of loudspeaker impedance, which is a weakness in some Class D implementations. Finally, the output stage utilizes gallium arsenide FETs (field effect transistors) with a claimed switching speed of 1.5MHz."
From Audio Aficionado:
" .I read a blip in The Absolute Sound that the Technics SE-R1 power amp ($18,000.00) is Class D. It uses a linear power supply rather than a switch mode power supply to produce 100 watts per channel. That’s a lot of money for a 100 w/p/c Class D amp. Along with the Technics SE-R1 Class D amplifier they also introduced the SU-R1 Network Audio Control Player preamp ($9000.00) and new SB-R1 Reference Speaker ($27,000.00). Technics calls this system the R1 Reference System."
Cheers George
