Hypex N core module

In what would be considered a "relatively affordable price range"...what is that then differentiates the Nord Acoustics from a PS Audio Stellar 300 from a Merrill Audio Taranas from a Benchmark ABH2 as they all have been given accolades for great sound at less than the price of a small car??

@snapsc 
 
Check all prices on Nord site, the multiply 1.3  plus  $ 100 shipping
and VAT  , it may be custom charge, 

PS Audio Stellar 300 is not Hypex N-Core , the get MOSFET output
stage,   Benchmark ABH2 is Class D , but dont mention which
module they used , i think no N-core.Just only Taranas  from Merill use
N-core, The sound excellent 

@merrillaudio +1

In the future when technology allows the switching can then be much higher to allow the output filter to do it's job properly and cut out all the switching frequency noise without effecting the audio band.

This statement is false. The filter can do its job properly at current frequencies. There is an advantage to going to faster switching frequencies- lower distortion. But by switching faster, you either have to have faster and more expensive output devices and deadtime to allow the outputs to switch. Deadtime increases distortion. So there's a bit of a carrot that is being chased.

@merrillaudio  would you be interested in a circuit that bypasses the need for deadtime?

Hi bache,

Sorry, I haven’t heard any of the Nord amps but I’d really like to.
I believe such a class D amp is possible because the inventor of UcD and Hypex NCore technology, Bruno Putzeys, has stated he can design his class D amps to sound like any type of amp.
I think the use of class A circuitry before class D power modules has a lot of promise. A well designed one could result in an amp that closely resembles the very good sound characteristics of a good class A amp without the many downsides typical of class A amps: big, heavy, inefficient, expensive and hot running.
In my limited experience with class D amps, I would describe the overriding sound characteristic of the 3 versions I own as extremely neutral.   My examples do not add or subtract anything from the inputted signal that I’m able to detect. There are other obvious common characteristics I notice such as a very low noise floor, wide dynamics and a high level of detail, but I still consider a neutral presentation as their main quality; very similar to the Absolute Sound’s description of an ideal amp: "a straight wire with gain".
I’ve found this neutrality has allowed me to quickly notice the affects of all upstream changes to my system, such as components, cables, power cords and the quality level of recordings played.
I fully expect Nord’s placement of class A circuitry in sections prior to the power modules to affect their amp’s overall sound. Whether this results in a sound that closely resembles that of a high quality class A amp can probably only be answered by auditioning one in your system.
I’m going to search for professional reviews of Nord amps with class A circuits.

Tim