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
The evidence of my ears are telling me Class D must do distortion right. Go figure!

Dead quiet. 
Very dynamic and nuance/detailed yet smooth and lush. 
Soundstage and imaging to kill for. 
A touch warm even.  

Where is the distortion?   Must be there somewhere....
The evidence of my ears are telling me Class D must do distortion right. Go figure!

Exactly.

I’ve also heard megabuck class-A amplifiers around the time I got my Class D.

Honestly preferred the Class D.

I’ve had several audiophiles in my home and no one has ever said "Oh, wow, that hypersonic distortion is killing me, this is class D".

In fact usually what happens is when they are getting ready to leave they ask "Oh, by the way, where are your amplifiers??" because they are so small and easy to miss.


I’m not asking you to love my amps, but the idea that Class D are not competitive with the best Class A is nonsense.


I am as big a fan of metrics as the next guy but fact is they never tell the whole story.

So glad I do not let naysayers detract me from trying well documented real and factual new technology innovations. I have yet to regret it. I’d still be living within the outdated constraints of the 20th century if I did.

Thank God Erik and Mapman showed up. I was starting to think I saw a horse & buggy go by.

The resistance to innovation on this forum is frightening. People talking about things they've never listened to, others talking about measurements as if that is hearing. Some serious audio fruit loops going on around here.

Happy New Year! I hope you guys stick around, it was getting a little scary.

MG

The resistance to innovation on this forum is frightening.
There’s a reason for it, it’s there and real, and if you can’t hear it, fine. But please, don’t tell others they can’t, when they can, and the measurements back them up.

And you can’t refute the amount of listeners that can hear the problem with the upper mids and highs. Even the very best of manufacturers have said so, no need to paste up that list again.

Some here that have a monetary gain in Class-D and others that own them, refuse to believe that other can hear a problem.
They can keep their
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