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I went from Class D to Luxman A/AB - And most of what you think is wrong

Hi everyone,

As most of you know, I’m a fan of Class D. I have lived with ICEPower 250AS based amps for a couple of years. Before that I lived with a pair of Parasound A21s (for HT) and now I’m listening to a Luxman 507ux.


I have some thoughts after long term listening:
  • The tropes of Class D having particularly bad, noticeable Class D qualities are all wrong and have been for years.
  • No one has ever heard my Class D amps and gone: "Oh, wow, Class D, that’s why I hate it."
  • The Luxman is a better amp than my ICEPower modules, which are already pretty old.

I found the Class D a touch warm, powerful, noise free. Blindfolded I cannot tell them apart from the Parasound A21s which are completely linear, and run a touch warm due to high Class A operation, and VERY similar in power output.


The Luxman 507 beats them both, but no amp stands out as nasty sounding or lacking in the ability to be musical and involving.


What the Luxman 507 does better is in the midrange and ends of the spectrum. It is less dark, sweeter in the midrange, and sounds more powerful, almost "louder" in the sense of having more treble and bass. It IS a better amplifier than I had before. Imaging is about the same.


There was one significant operational difference, which others have confirmed. I don't know why this is true, but the Class D amps needed 2-4 days to warm up. The Luxman needs no time at all. I have no rational, engineering explanation for this. After leaving the ICEPower amps off for a weekend, they sounded pretty low fi. Took 2 days to come back. I can come home after work and turn the Luxman on and it sounds great from the first moment.


Please keep this in mind when evaluating.


Best,

E
erik_squires
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
Hum class D....should I sell my 300B???
Not unless you have quite a few $K for the latest GaN ones at this time, still I would think is the Technics SE-R1. As they have fully utilised the higher switching speeds GaN technology has to offer.

From Audiophile Review.
In fact, that transistor technology is available today and is increasingly being used by manufacturers to create near perfect sound quality for Class D audio systems.

The greater switching speed of Efficient Power Conversion’s (EPC’s) eGaN® FETs allow amplifier designers to increase PWM switching frequencies, reduce dead-time, and drastically reduce feedback; in turn, producing a sound quality previously limited to large, complex, heavy Class A amplifier systems.

A high-definition eGaN FET-based system with higher PWM switching frequency, reduced feedback, and higher bandwidth produces the sound that has the warmth and sonic quality that audiophiles demand; while actually improving upon the power efficiency of traditional Class D.

 There's your lovely 300B sound, + some more.

Cheers George

toetapaudio
474 posts
 
@georgehifi, I can only take your opinions about GaN seriously if you have actually listened to some GaN amps compared to other class D amps. We know of somebody in the industry, who’s opinion we respect, who has compared top flight class D including GaN types and the GaN model was second from best. It also cost quite a bit more than the top design. 
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
@georgehifi, I can only take your opinions about GaN seriously
I don’t really don’t care, what I post is for others to read, from people far more knowledgeable than you, as you just push what you sell.
tweak1
3,733 posts
 
George

You have made your position on Class D perfectly clear. It would be nice if you would take a time out from the back and forth, especially since you haven't actually heard the newest offerings

Bottom line is, currently GaN offerings are quite expensive for the average audiophile. 

I am confident I am not alone in saying GaN is well beyond my budget, as are even 'reasonably' priced Van Alstine amps.

Considering that I am quite pleased with my Audio Alchemy DPA-1 (175 wpc) but appreciated the much needed SPLs in my 19 x 34 room that the  350w PS Audio M700s did, I am excited to hear Ric Shultz's EVS 1200, dual mono @ 600 wpc, which is affordable at $2200 including shipping AND 30 day money back guarantee

I suggest you get one before continuing your ad nauseum mantra
viber6
2,454 posts
 
tweak1,
The latest TONE Audio review of Van Alstine SET 400 suggests it is somewhat tubey and forgiving.  Since the SET 600 is merely a bridged version of the 400, the sound quality should be similar, although more powerful.  The AVA site also describes the SQ of these amps as forgiving.  There are plenty of amps with forgiving SQ, so even at $2K for the 400, this is nothing special.  I seek accuracy, so I am with Ric Schultz who believes that for comparable money, accuracy can be achieved.  
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