The Truth about Modern Class D

Not to steer this off topic, but no system can produce a convincing life-like sound, partly because the recording equipment cannot capture it.

I've seen systems belie this statement. In particular, a direct microphone feed driving headphones can fool many audiophiles with great ease. I advise actually working with good mics and recording gear and see if you still say this.

I agree with @erik_squires, you can’t make blanket statements that class D is “totally mediocre”. Have you heard Mola Mola Kaluga’s for example? We know somebody who moved over from the much regarded Soulution 710 to Mola Mola  Kaluga's. The MM’s cost one fifth of the price and they drove his speakers effortlessly. Lansche and Manger among others choose to use MM amplification  at the Munich High End Show. Not without reason.

Absolute Sound March of 2016 compared the Audio Alchemy components to Soulution quite favorably

Granted the AA amp is a hybrid, but, $4K vs unobtanium. I bought them and am extremely happy

Hey Folks.  Interesting discussion to me as I've had the NAD M2 (not Dad's NAD 3020... $6K) for several years, now.  My "flavor" of sound is the sound of vocals and un-amplified instruments in an actual space, my having grown up around lots of live music.  I am an "ANTI-RESONANCE" disciple since the mid 1990's, using the Marigo Audio Labs tuning dots expertly applied by Rick Taylor on all serious gear, internally and externally.  Out of the box, there was some dryness and coldness that I do not favor.  The M2's cabinet is horribly resonant and needed addressing.   The tuning dots on the cabinet and exposed electronics brought things much closer to my liking.  My "perfect world amp" would be the best of modern tubes and solid state merged.  The beauty of modifying a single box approach like the M2 is that everything improves, pre/dac/amp.  Upgrading the isolation feet and the power cord on the M2 came next, followed by Synergistic "blue" fuse.  To begin to approach "world class" my DSP expert and I went to work on my small dedicated studio.  Well done Class D begins from a very silent noise floor and terrific capability for high resolution with great sources.  We can make 1/10th of a decibel adjustments and add a "taste" of tube harmonic sweetness.  For hard core "purists"...lets not forget this is all "illusion."  Again, not Dad's slider EQ at work here. 
As a 72 year old, passionate music lover of all genres, with knowledgeable friends using NCore amps, great sound is available using Class D...with a little work and great cost effectiveness.  Good power, dedicated lines, upgraded outlet(s) good wire can approach world class outcomes.  Cheers, Norm

@pinthrift
I would have to agree, "with knowledgeable friends using NCore amps, great sound is available using Class D...with a little work and great cost effectiveness. Good power, dedicated lines, upgraded outlet(s) good wire can approach world class outcomes"

Well put Norm. especially about the "auxiliary" equipment to allow the Class D units to sound their best. 

And just to note, the supportive/auxiliary gear (conditioners, etc) I ORIGINALLY used to make my transistor and tube gear sound better. But then all I did was exchange the SS/tube gear for Class D with the same conditioners, etc, and I got BETTER sonic outcomes with the Class D. 

In other words, if someone wants to make a case that "Class D only sounds better with cleaner power, etc"-- I am saying, that is not generally true. 

E.g:
1.  Clean Power: I use a transformer isolator and a small conditioner for my front end gear. No etch or grain in the sound.
2. clean power cords: I'm now using a power cord from Triode Wired Labs for Class D units that removes any digital etch. 

Last, I've found that I can have "better" Class D sound with a hybrid design. E.g, I have a Cherry Ultra Class D amp (Digital Amplifier Company in PA) that uses an 1800w transformer with Class D for transients and big bands, and I'm hearing instruments and nuance I never heard before. also, with a more balanced and larger soundstage