Again the topic of weight of amps

I remember enjoying the tight bass but have to now agree it sounded a bit tauter than natural bass heard live.

^^ This. Overdamped speakers have been a common problem in high end audio for some decades now as most solid state amps overdamp the speakers for which they are intended. No speaker made needs more than 20:1; when damping factors are excessively higher the bass is 'tighter' than real life. To me tight bass is a coloration of sorts; when there is tight bass, bass definition suffers and so does the wallop.

Hello atmosphere,

     I've only become recently aware of the consequences of overdamping on bass performance. Thanks for your additional useful info.
    Like I previously stated, this makes a lot of sense to me when thinking of my experiences with class D amplification.  As I'm sure you're aware, class D amps typically have very high damping factors, my current D-Sonic mono-blocks are >1,000. I always thought high damping factors were a positive factor but now understand it's probably best in moderation.
     Luckily, I utilize the same Swarm 4-sub bass system as you that powers all 4 subs with a 1K watt class AB amp that I perceive as having a lower damping factor.  Do you think I'm correct in assuming the high powered 1,200 watt class D monos with damping factors >1,000, that power my Magnepan 2.7QR main speakers, could be beneficial on the leading edges of bass notes and, combined with the more natural bass note decays reproduced by the Swarm/class AB amp, provide the best of both worlds with a more balanced and natural overall bass presentation? 
     I guess since it sounds like that to me,  that's what's important and I answered my own question.  But I just wanted to know if this makes sense to you or if I'm just fooling myself.

Thanks,
 Tim 

Count me as skeptical of the notion that damping factors much over 200 are meaningful much less desirable. As with so many other things there are diminishing returns at best. In some ways, as hinted above, the yield curve reverses and as such I'm skeptical for two different reasons.

Do you think I'm correct in assuming the high powered 1,200 watt class D monos with damping factors >1,000, that power my Magnepan 2.7QR main speakers, could be beneficial on the leading edges of bass notes and, combined with the more natural bass note decays reproduced by the Swarm/class AB amp, provide the best of both worlds with a more balanced and natural overall bass presentation?
    I guess since it sounds like that to me, that's what's important and I answered my own question. But I just wanted to know if this makes sense to you or if I'm just fooling myself.

@noble100  If you wanted to point to a weakness of class D amps- this is very likely it. To get better specs, class D amps benefit from faster switching output transistors. But these output devices have a much lower ON resistance (GaNs are typically 60milliohms or less) resulting in an insanely low output impedance- and so higher and higher damping factors as the technology evolves. I'm very unconvinced that ultra high damping factors are good for any loudspeaker. I'm sure that using the Swarm does help you though- as getting bass off of the Maggies will reduce Doppler Effect distortion.

Hello atmosphere,

     Running my Maggies solely with a pair of 1,200 watt class D amps and damping factors over 1,000 produces a tautness in their bass, down to their 35 Hz limit, that I have ever experienced with any other amp I've used, mainly high powered class AB amps. The taut bass actually sounds good but it is too tight for natural.  I now better understand the effects of ultra high damping factors on speakers and agree with you that it's best avoided.


Thanks for your help,
          Tim