2. amps-preamps
  3. 142263-123175

Which Class D Amplifier? PS Audio, Ghent, Nord, Merrill or other???

I’m looking for a new amp & want Class D.

I’ve seen various brands mentioned, such as PS Audio, Ghent, Nord, Merrel to name a few, but I’ve not heard any of them.

Which company is producing the best sounding Class D?
Which models should I be looking to demo?


Thanks



singintheblues
clearthink
1,421 posts
 
Class D audio amplification is a lot like electric cars they are both environmentally friendly and in some applications, uses, and products perform in a way that is at a minimum acceptable to a certain subset of users but the technology is still in its early developmental stages and not suited to the vast majority of installation and systems and I personally find that class D amplification sounds just dreadful to those familiar with the sound of real music, instruments, and acoustic spaces.
humbucker
4 posts
 
scratcha ,
I was having an email conversation last year with Ryan Tew from Red Dragon Audio. He is working on new amps and the old line is no longer being made. This is from an email last April:

We are going to clear out the current version to make way for the new MkIII version. I think we only have a few new S500’s left and some demo units that are undergoing refurbishment.
These will all be sold at a steep discount.

Estimated Pricing on MkIII Gen Amps:
$1299 Each M1000 MkIII
$1399 Each S500 MkIII *
$$TBD$$ Multichannel Amplifier **

M500 (discontinued)
* Relatively large price decrease as we revert this product back to Direct to Customer Sales model
** MC Amp price isn’t determined yet - however it will be offered in either a 5 or7 channel variant. Power will be 1200 watts for L/C/R into 4ohms and 600watts for surround channels into 4ohms.
*** Latest generation of ICEpower for the stereo, monoblocks and MC amp. No estimates on availability. Thanks,

Ryan Tew
President - Red Dragon Audio


As his ETA was sometime in the Fall I contacted him again in September asking how things were going:


Things are going good but we’re redoing the entire chassis which will take the longest due to machining new tools and setting up the new parts.
If you want to grab one of current amps before they’re gone, we can always do a trade in later when the MkIII’s are ready.

Thanks,

Ryan Tew
President - Red Dragon Audio

In January I asked if he was going to update his website. Never replied.
I’ve been putting off buying an amp for over a year waiting for his new line to come out. I’m not sure I’m going to wait much longer. I have a pair of Murano Audio P200 mono amps that are long overdue for retirement however With GaN technology Class -D amps on the horizon I think I’m going to hold off for awhile.
noble100's avatar
noble100
2,419 posts
 

Uh-oh, it sounds like clearthink isn't thinking too clearly.  Maybe his user name is satirical?

Tim
tweak1
3,668 posts
 
clearthinker? LOL  you go from first person to who knows whta to validate your personal opinion " I personally find that class D amplification sounds just dreadful to those familiar with the sound of real music, instruments, and acoustic spaces."

I am quite familiar with live and reproduced music via claas A, AB, tube, and 4 different class Ds (soon to be 5) . and while I somewhat agree, having owned earlier generations from W4S, my Audio Alchemy stereo amp sounds like real music, at least WHEN the recording is well done , but bad discs sound BAD. 
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 

Noble100+++


"class D amplification sounds just dreadful to those familiar with the sound of real
music, instruments, and acoustic spaces."


My experience with live music and spaces is puny... You are right ClearThink... heard a live violin for the first time when I was six years old.... So I decided that I needed to learn music.... Started to take piano lessons and at 16 I got a Steinway baby grand.... Started to attend classical concerts at 13 at the Sala Verdi and the Teatro Alla Scala in Milan... Became a member of the selection committee for the Italian Concert Season of the Gioventu’ Musicali when I was 18.... Briefly trained as a bass baritone, and sang in a variety of classical choirs... Studied phylosophy of music and composition at college..... Attended music camps where daily I listened to violins by Antonio Stradivari, Guarneri Del Gesu', and Guadagnini.... Coached my daughter for 12 years when she was studying cello... Wrote articles on PFO.... At 65 I play the euphonium, flugel horn, cornet, trumpet, flute, and baroque recorders....


But apparently I know nothing about acoustic music and live spaces, and that’s probably why I am fond of such class D amps as the Bel Canto REF1000M, The Merrill Veritas, the Mola Mola Kaluga, the Rowland M312... Even worse, I absolutely adore the Rowland M535 bridged amps, and my Rowland M925 monoblocks... Somehow I managed to delude myself into believing that I am experiencing musical nirvana.


Nothing wrong in not liking current class D amps, ClearThink... Provided you experienced at some depth some of the best examples out there... Just please refrain from passing judgement on people who feel otherwise.... Their musical experience might be very well as deep as yours, Yet they might have developed opinions very different from yours.


Regards, Guido


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