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The Future of Audio Amplification

I have recently paired an Audio Research DS225 Class D amplifier with an Audio Research tube preamplifier (SP8 mkii). I cannot believe how wonderful and lifelike my music sounds. The DS225 replaced an Audio Research SD135 Class AB amplifier. Perhaps the SD135 is just not as good as some of the better quality amps that are out there, but it got me thinking that amazingly wonderful sonance can be achieved with a tubed pre and Class D amp. I have a hunch that as more people experience this combination, it will likely catch on and become the future path of many, if not most audiophile systems. It is interesting that Audio Research has been at the forefront of this development.
distortions
shadorne's avatar
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shadorne
7,477 posts
 
A good tube preamp with tubes to taste and coupled with a great SS power amplifier is IMHO the best thing since sliced bread. It is like having your cake and eating it. Great SS amplifiers come in various topologies - overall design being most important - but I seem to like MOSFET output stages most and Class A.

As far as fuses go....well I stay clear of such garbage boat anchor components - anything that changes audibly due to a change of a fuse is obviously a hopeless design to begin with. Good luck to those who own such ridiculously finicky pieces of equipment.


tweak1
3,680 posts
 
shad,

Only of your system is 100% true balanced, but then you won't need tubes anyway. True (differentially) balanced cures a lot of ills. Sadly, most reviewers have no clue
tweak1
3,680 posts
 
I don't doubt the NuPrime is great, but how many of us have 8K for amps? If the tech interests you, check out Nord from the EU. Very reasonably priced and high quality using latest IcePower
tweak1
3,680 posts
 
https://www.nordacoustics.co.uk/icepower
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atmasphere
11,960 posts
 
There are also some amps like the latest Technics SE-R1, which are true digital amplifiers in that they convert everything from Analog to Digital, allow for phase and amplitude correction in the digital domain, and then produce an output based on a PWM output stage.
Just for the record Eric, such an amplifier is a hybrid. Pulse Width Modulation is an analog technique. In any Class D amp, some form of encoding is needed, and PWM is probably the simplest means.Even if the amplifier is computer controlled to adjust its encoding scheme to accommodate various codecs (in effect a DAC that can drive a speaker), ultimately its still class D and thus also analog.
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