Class D is just Dandy!

Erik,
I too am a big fan.  I have a PS Audio DirectStream DAC, but found it didn't sound so good decoding MQA (even when Tidal did the unfold), so I bought a Brooklyn for MQA.
I hope they will have a booth or a dealer at the Capital Audiofest, plan to attend this year, hope to hear the new amp, if it's on display.
Evan

Erik, and all the contributors,
After having read this thread from top to bottom - lots of good information - my question is: Did someone compare the amplifiers from Class D Audio to the ones from Ghent Audio? Because most likely I will order one from these two.

I have been running an old Class D Rotel RB 1072 for years.  I slowly upgraded everything around it by adding

Sonos (wyred4sound mods)
Wadia 321 DAC
Rouge Audio RP1 (tubed pre)
Focal Aria 936

Each of the upstream upgrades were a long range plan to try and stay with a class D amp.  Finally about 3 weeks ago I tried the new PS Audio Stellar S300 amp.  I just called them to inquire but when they offered a good price on the Rotel as trade in I took the hook.

I think they got one of the engineers from Classe' to do the ICEpower implementation.

I am completely satisfied with the improved sound (proly a slam dunk considering where I was).  I have pretty much turned off my Velodyne Micro V.  Enjoy the tone and increased realism and sound stage.  Running a little warm but nothing like a class A/B Unit.  Now I can turn my attention toward my TT or SACD player.

If you have an amp to trade in, the S300 can be a real value.

Let the crack habit continue.

I experimented with two Class D amps in my system; Merrill Audio's Taranis and Digital Amplifier Company's Maraschino Monoblocks. My system consists of an Esoteric X-03 SE CD/SACD player -> PS Audio DirectStream DAC -> amp -> Reference 3A DeCapo BE. 

I chose Tommy O'Brien's Cherry Amp Maraschino monoblocks over the Merrill Audio Taranis. Nevertheless I found both amps to be detailed, powerful, and musical...albeit the Taranis more powerful at 400WPC. The Cherrys are small, efficient, and at 6"x6"x8" easy to move around; the Taranis is a single-chassis configuration. However the Taranis' single-chassis configuration did not figure into my decision-making.

Tommy encapsulates his Maraschino models in their own shielded enclosure, mounted atop a marble block for stability, and separate from their outboard power supply. I like that the amp is contained in its own housing. IMO it minimizes interference between the amp and power supply. Taranis probably does as well but w/ the Cherries, I can verify the separation.

Each Cherry amp was meticulously packed, w/ its accompanying ps, in separate boxes. DC cables (ps to amp) are included, as is a pair of RCA to Balanced adaptors...how thoughtful is that?

Neither the Taranis or the Cherry amps sounded their best out-of-the-box. However after 48hrs of continuous power with about 10hrs play-time in between, the rough-edges were gone. That's when I realized Class D was worthy of my serious consideration...ymmv.

Will these be the last amps I ever own? I don't know. I'm the unsettled-type who likes buying new gear periodically. For now, I'm happy with my purchase. If I could want for anything, it would be an increase in gain from 22db to at least 26. But I trust Tommy knows best. After all, he's likely forgotten more about amplifier design than I will ever know.

In closing, if you're considering evaluating a Class D amp, I think you'll be surprised. It ain't the undeveloped technology it may have once been. Pick one of the brands bandied about here, give 'em time to break-in and make up your own mind. PM me if you want to hear more about the Taranis.