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

mapman Yes TI appears to have GaN based Class D modules now and can’t imagine those cost much more than their others. Anyone know of amps that use these?

Thanks for that info.
Didn’t think it would be long before big companies like TI (Texas Instruments) got into GaN for audio use, others like Motorola ect will follow

Here is a snippet from TI’s propaganda on the GaN technology.

"GaN FETs provide superior switching characteristics, which enable even higher efficiency, better thermal sinking reduced size and weight, as well as reduced distortion for Class-D audio solutions.

GaN’s inherent characteristics provide a more ideal model of a small-signal PWM, driving the output filter. Along with this, the absence of a body diode eliminates reverse-recovery charge, which enables increased output linearity. Both characteristics allow GaN to minimize THD and ultimately create higher-quality sound."

Cheers George

Not sure if you are intimating that it is the ICE tech that is an issue (to you) or if the SMPS is not a problem to you.

I have not, and will not, use the term SMPS to refer to a power amplifier in general, since the last two initials stand for "Power Supply." To use SMPS to refer to a switching audio amplifier in total is incorrect. It negates several components entirely, and fails to acknowledge the improvements that have been made to make it wide band.


ICEpower refers to a particular brand of Class D which is owned by B&O. ICEpower 250 ASP is a specific model of amp which includes a power supply in it, and it is what I have the most amount of experience with.


To repeat my original message: The tropes about the terrible sound quality of Class D amplifiers are not supported by any of the many reasonably good Class D amplifiers out there. Nor is there any evidence that you can hear the switching noise anymore. Not for decades.


If we want to talk about the positives, and negatives, we have to stick to experience and specific models. All amplifiers have a negative. All have something they could do better or differently. Seeing 1 measurement and going "look look, Class D is terrible" is not scientific. To close the loop, you have to connect it with listening. And that’s where a lot of anti-Class D bias looses all of its wind.

Again, referring back to my original post. I like this specific model of Class D better than some linear amplifiers, but not better than the Luxman I'm listening to now.

With this specific example, and I don't think it was by any means the best available today, I never heard anything that said "Class D."  So I imagine that not only are there a lot of other Class D amps that don't sound bad, but that they've made significant strides.

Best,

E

And that’s where a lot of anti-Class D bias looses all of its wind.

And in your forceful statement with the heading to this thread

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

means what most of us who feel Class-D has problems in the mid/highs, think what we're hearing is wrong!!!!
Good luck with that one Eric.

George hi fi says 

Yes expensive also but they are the new GaN Class-D technology, stuffed inside a stupid tube housing, to keep the tube guys happy.

This is hilarious. You must live in an all grey world

While it's true that the tubes do nothing, they are pure marketing genius. The tubes have probably done more to draw attention to GaN tech then anything on the market

And as I understand it, the parts in those tubes make up the main portion of the GaN tech, and as such, when the tech improves, these can be simply pulled out and replaced, instead of having a door stop or spending lots of money returning to manufacturer for upgrades 

A few years ago I did a local sale on a Conrad Johnson tube preamp which was connected to a Class D amp. When the buyer came over for a listen his first question was, what kind of amp is that? He then went on to point out how impressive the two sounded together and yes he did purchased the preamp.