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This is all great discussion but doesn’t it come down to your ears, budget and preference for the love of music."
Yes, bluesy41, it does all come down to what equipment enables one to most enjoy reproduced music in their rooms based on their ears and budget.
I think it's generally known and accepted that great sounding systems can be assembled using tube, class A and the best class AB amps. But these amps are not only very expensive they are also very large, heavy, electrically inefficient and emit a lot of wasted energy in the form of heat. However, nobody can accurately claim that they don't sound very good.
An underlying theme of this thread has been the revolutionary and egalitarian nature of good class D amps. More Individuals are now able to attain 'hi-end' sound quality at an affordable price. The fact that these amps are relatively small, lightweight, electrically very efficient and emit little heat are all just additional benefits to the very good sound quality
In the not very distant past when good class D amps didn't yet exist, those not able to afford the steep price of the best amps were limited to finding an affordable class AB amp they liked. It still comes down to your ears and budget, class D has just expanded everyone's options.
Tim