The Truth about Modern Class D

I have Bel Canto ref1000m in main system and C5i in second system. Both are fast and clean but sound different.  Each is hard to fault and sounds perfectly lovely matched into the right system. I will probably never own anything other than Class D amps moving forward. If the C5i did not work out I was ready to move to a modest power tube amp in my second system moving forward but the need for that never developed. Both are absolutely wonderful pieces of technology and worth every cent.

Here is an interesting read for those at odds with what’s being presented here. Not just with the filtering of the switching noise, which I primarily "bat" on about, but also what is a secondary problem of Class-D advantages in the "dead time".
From the makers of the GAN transistors that Technics use in the SE-R1.

" EPC’s enhancement-mode GaN (eGaN®) transistors switch up to ten times faster than silicon MOSFETs, with ‘zero’ stored charge. The increased switching speed of eGaN FETs allows amplifier designers to increase PWM switching frequencies, reduce dead-time, and drastically reduce feedback; producing a sound quality previously limited to large, complex, heavy Class-A amplifier systems."

Also there could be a module for sale using these eGan transistors from Austin Texas.
Elegant Audio Solutions of Austin, Texas, has produced an amplifier capable of a continuous power output of 200 Watts into an 8Ω, or 400 Watts into a 4Ω speaker load, with THD+N as low as 0.005% and very low feedback. Moreover, this is done without the need for a heat sink and eGaN-based amplifier can plug directly into the standard amplifier implementation of many existing systems.
https://epc-co.com/epc/Portals/0/epc/blogs/elegant-audio-solutions-eGaNAMP2016.png


Cheers George

@uberwaltz
i agree, the tech specs presented have been informative. 
For me, The random nature of personal testamonials and anecdotes have been just as important to expand my own breadth of knowledge. 

e.g., @mapman — the BC Ref 1000m’s (and per a prior post- many are happy with them Only with OLDER Thiels). And the C5I. 

And I will just add that the $500 Napa Acoustics Class A, B, and D all in one amp, the Cask series, made the KEF LS50s sing more naturally and organically that any other amp I have heard running through the LS50’s. And the Class D mode sounded the best IMO.  And this was in a hotel room at this years NorCal CAS this year. 

https://www.napaacoustic.com/cask/

There are 3 ready made diy EVAL BOARD modules from EPC using the GAN transistors. Just add an smp, bung them in a box and away you go.
http://epc-co.com/epc/Applications/ClassDAudio.aspx

One the lowest power one available through Mouser for $1,388 usd each.
https://www.digikey.com/products/en?%20WT.z_cid=sp_917_0110_buynow&site=us&lang=en&mpart...

And the other higher power modules available "maybe"? through Elegant Audio Solutions of Austin Texas.
http://epc-co.com/epc/Portals/0/epc/documents/thirdparty/EAS_eGaN_2.0-Channel_EvalKit-010116.pdf

http://epc-co.com/epc/Portals/0/epc/documents/thirdparty/eGaNAMP2016_Consumer-123115.pdf

Cheers George.

I think both switching speeds and dead time have yet to be shown to lend any particular character to any particular amplifier.

Prove either is audible and unpleasant first. Then you might get me to care about either.