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Why no Class D integrated love? (from manufacturers)

Unless I'm mistaken, it seems that Class D integrateds are not receiving the same attention from manufacturers as a whole. Sure there are the Peachtrees and NAD's of the world but by and large it seems the better class D tech is going into separates right now and that's somewhat disappointing to me. It's easy to find affordable separates based on the latest Icepower and Hypex modules but almost impossible to find integrateds based on anything but the lower end modules, for example the Nord integrateds.  Perhaps I am missing something? It just seems like this is an area that is ripe for some innovation. Anyone making "affordable" integrateds based on Hypex NC500 or IcePower AS1200 for example?
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georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
Muti-inputs corrupt the signal to a degree and this is more noticeable with Class D because of it's purist design.
Please explain this in a more technical way why it is more susceptible to solid state Class-D than solid state linear?

Cheers George
sandbites
10 posts
 
are there any Class D integrated amps that put out 100 to 150W RMS per channel at USD$200 or below? I want to get a Yamaha R-S202BL Stereo Receiver but in lieu of that i want to try a class D instead.   
michaelgreenaudio's avatar
michaelgreenaudio
1,019 posts
 

Hi George

I'm not a fan of multi input devices period for purist listening, they're noisy. The amplifiers I have listened to using multi-inputs and the same amplifier with the inputs removed (except for one input), the single input sound far more dynamic and clean (effortless). This is true with all types, but I am noticing things with the chip amps and the way most of them are made on smaller boards that are audible. For example, add inputs to the chip amp too close to the chip itself and you can hear the distortion. Plug ICs in with nothing hooked up and you can hear it as well. Now go back to one input wired and there's more meat on the bones.

Another thing, I'm surprised these designers are making the boards as small as they are. My design is going to have the parts separated more from each other and I will also be using a different material for my boards.

These chips are sensitive and certain parts too close to the chip can make these amps sound odd. I'm not going to share too much because I'll be making my own, but these chips are fascinating when it comes to their surroundings.

I'm also not understanding why so many are putting these chips in aluminum chassis. These chips do not like being placed in aluminum enclosures. Again I'm playing with different types of chassis and metal seems to be a no no with these chips. I have a problem with chassis period and metal (including aluminum) close in the sound.

While we're taking the time to develop the chip amp we should also revisit metals and shielding, from a field and listening point of view. Now is the time to revisit theory making and get rid of this whole audio shielding thing. Audio parts being too close together and then throwing shielding in is a bad practice.

I don't know if I answered your question, sorry if I didn't. I'm use to listening to parts and pieces and that's how my mind works as I redo electronics.

mg

clarinetmonster2's avatar
clarinetmonster2 OP
201 posts
 
Off topic, but I borrowed a Naim UnityQute2 over the weekend that I ended up really enjoying with my Harbeths. I get the Naim/Harbeth love now, even with an entry level unit no longer in production.
One thing I noticed when A/B’ing with my setup is that things sounded cleaner and clearer at a microdynamic level, esp at low volumes when streaming Tidal. My SMS-200 into Ideon Audio 3R into the Job amp sounds impressively clean and spacious, for a USB setup but I feel like the UnityQute2, with just ethernet going straight in and no USB in the chain had some sonic advantages that brought it closer in some ways to CD or CD rips on a server. Anyone else have this experience? Makes me rethink everything really.
We buy all these high end cables and reclockers etc to improve the USB signal when just eliminating USB entirely from the chain seems, in my limited experience admittedly, to be the simplest and best performing option. I'm now looking at all in one options as potentially superior for those doing a lot of streaming. 

georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
Muti-inputs corrupt the signal to a degree and this is more noticeable with Class D
I’m not a fan of multi input devices period for purist listening, they’re noisy.

Sorry, but nothing you said gives a technical reason for you to say: 
"with multi inputs, a solid state Class-D is more susceptible signal corruption than a solid state linear amp is"
If you still believe this please show some distortion graphs proofs of both situations to explain to what seems to me to be a furphy.

Cheers George
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