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The Truth about Modern Class D

All my amps right now are Class D. ICEpower in the living room, and NAD D 3020 in the bedroom.

I’ve had several audiophiles come to my home and not one has ever said "Oh, that sounds like Class D."

Having said this, if I could afford them AND had the room, I’d be tempted to switch for a pair of Ayre monoblocks or Conrad Johnson Premiere 12s and very little else.

I’m not religious about Class D. They sound great for me, low power, easy to hide, but if a lot of cash and the need to upgrade ever hits me, I could be persuaded.

The point: Good modern Class D amps just sound like really good amplifiers, with the usual speaker/source matching issues.

You don’t have to go that route, but it’s time we shrugged off the myths and descriptions of Class D that come right out of the 1980’s.
erik_squires
erik_squires OP
16,368 posts
 
Again, calling all Class D amps the same, or blaming them all for the failings of one specific model is just prejudice.

@jdl57 - I've run much less expensive class D through incredibly revealing speakers and not heard the problems you experienced.

Best,
E
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,413 posts
 
None of my 3 Class D amps sound "hard and grating". In fact the exact opposite..... Smooth and detailed....most non-fatiguing.

ieales's avatar
ieales
1,201 posts
 
IMO, one should examine the cable/speaker impedance curve when choosing ANY amplifier. Class-D can be more sensitive due to the low pass filter.

Tweeter resonances may be exacerbated with an ultra sonic rise in the filter response due to the impedance curve.

Back in the day when dealers abounded, it was often more productive to talk rather than listen at expo/shows. An audition in a well set up salon would often be diametrically opposed to the show horror.
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jdl57
37 posts
 
I have heard this amp touted as the best amplifier ever made. By contemporary standards it is not horribly expensive, but it is also not cheap. Through most of it’s range it was absolutely beautiful. I listened for a long time because the system sounded so good, although the soundstage was ridiculously huge, as were the speakers, so I blame them for that. If the harsh notes had happened only once or twice, I would have blamed the recordings, but I heard it again and again. I was actually left with great hope for Class D, but this isn’t the amp. I have moved to all Class A amps, I assume I am sensitive to switching distortion and Class A has no switching distortion. Class D also has no switching distortion, but there is a lot of signal manipulation going on in a Class D amp, maybe too much. This amp uses the much touted Gallium Nitride transistors, and is indeed state of the art. http://gan-fet.com/2014/02/13/rock-solid/#more-204
luisma31
516 posts
 
I am just waiting for Ralph to announce his new class D amp, hoping to try or get an early prototype, owning his AB tube amps and him betting on class D I'm sure that would be something to have. We will see. He is been pretty quiet (not like others touting whatever they sell) 
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