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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
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,198 posts
 
There are two reasons I will be keeping my Class D amps for a long time:


1) they work and sound great

2) the longer I wait the better (and more affordable) this still evolving technology will continue to get in years to come for many many reasons.

Same reasons I tend to hold on to most good quality digital gear (and cars) I buy for as long as I can as well.

BTW I believe it was Merrill Class D amps I heard driving German Physiks speakers at CAF 2017 and loved what I heard, not unlike what I hear with my Class D amps and OHMs at home.
tweak1
3,658 posts
 
piaga, for some reason I do not see your post which starts out ...

 01-03-2019 2:42pm EST hello brotw Sorry for the late response, this thread has come to large and techincal. I find it hard to follow.Well, my Nord NC500 One UP is just burning, but even out of the cage it sounded better... View full response →
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,800 posts
 
Bit late to the party Merrill already did it using the GaN transistors, I believe the SE-R1 does also.
Yes, there are a number of zero feedback class D amps at this point.
erik_squires
16,056 posts
 
Zero-feedback Class D would seem to be a unique twist.

It would, since feedback is how the switching is controlled, without feedback, there can be no switching. 

The Technics model is different though. It uses digital signal processing to compensate for the speaker load, and then is a pure digital amp with no feedback ( I believe )

Best,
E

toetapaudio
474 posts
 
Our experience with class D includes Nord’s and Mola Mola.

While Nord’s are good at their price point there is absolutely no comparison with the Mola Mola Kaluga’s sound quality. There’s an audiophile on YouTube that has a wonderful high end set up that sold his very high end Swiss class A amplifier (£50k) and moved over to Mola Mola Kaluga’s. Lansche, Manger and Vivid speaker manufacturers use Mola Mola amplification at the Munich High End Audio Show, not without good reason. The designer, Bruno Putzeys, has been at the forefront of class D design. While Nord’s and Mola Mola Kaluga’s both use Bruno’s Hypex class D modules, the sonic results are quite different.

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