Digital, Low Mass, ClassD, Less expensive, Let it happen!


Well here we are! Not that you can't go back and buy boat anchors, but now we know sound is better with low mass designs. Digital source? Yep, the tide has turned. ClassD amplification is also here to stay. Lower mass speakers, on their way back too. The audiophile hobby is getting less expensive and better sounding.

I guess we can debate this, but it's happening anyway. The hobby is simply growing up and becoming more aware of how to get great sound, and get it smart. There has been a lot of myths passed down when we only had paperback magazines, mostly for marketing, but the internet has finally caught up with audio reality. Instead of $20,000.00 components we have $20,000.00 whole systems (including all the trimming). Shoot, there are $5,000.00 systems that excel. The Trade Shows are changing, the market is changing and we are changing. Want to stay old school? No problem, there will always be old school and plenty of used gear (at least for our lifetimes). There will also be smaller niche companies that spring up to tempt us.

The hobby is entering a new era for the extreme listener. It will be a hobby of doing and exploring Electrical, Mechanical and Acoustical as equals. Components will be much smaller and more flexible, and more time will be spent on playing our whole music collection, and not just a few recordings. Many HEA debates will be making their way to the archives as the hobby grows closer to mainstream. Mainstream as in higher quality audiophile mainstream.

Are you ready? I sure am!

Michael Green


http://www.michaelgreenaudio.net/

michaelgreenaudio
Kosst's assessment is correct, methinks, however again I caution against making broad claims about a class of amplifier being better or not than another.
Amplifier class bigotry is short sighted in both directions.


Best,

E

Just wrapping up a listening party we had tonight at TuneLand Vegas. Folks went between 3 suites here, each using my systems. The Class D amps made a big impression. One fella asked to borrow one of the amps to compare vs his tubes and two of the listeners were ladies, which was pretty cool. They (the ladies) spent a lot of time in the chair but also were into the stage from general positions. Their comments were interesting saying the whole room sound was much better than many systems they listen to. One said she was not able to sense a sweet spot shift that was obvious. This was one of her beefs with HEA systems being too sweet spot sensitive and then falling apart out of the sweet spot. This didn’t happen here. Was nice to have both male and female audiophiles here, all having the same level of listening skills and interest. Darn good food too from my favorite local chef.

mg

Ten years ago class d was relegated to subwoofers and pro audio. Now it has made its way into the mainstream. I suspect that ten years from now it will have a much bigger share of the market and a much larger number of happy owners. 


Often times, the end result... what we hear...is the result of synergies between sources, amplification, speakers and rooms that weren’t anticipated up front. There are many people who own various amplifiers for just this reason... go over to audio circle and read what owners of Cherry amps have to say ( full disclosure, I own a Halo not a Cherry).


I’m just saying that science and measurements don’t always explain preferences or where things will be a few years down the road.