Time to buy a class D amp?

noble100,

Thanks for your detailed, informative reply. Much appreciated.

Jeff Rowland is an excellent class D ICE POWER amp. Nice option. Very nice.
Try to listen, just it. 
Just it. Just listen.

Hello niodari,

     In retrospect, I’ve been so impressed with class D amps in general that I’ve consistently upgraded to better performing examples over the past 7 years or so. I began my class D journey with what I consider the budget king of D amps, the Class D Audio SDS-440-CS stereo amp, that was a good quality example at the exceptionally low bargain price of $630 at that time.
     Mainly out of curiosity a year later, I bought an even more competent class D stereo amp, the Emerald Physics EP-101.2-SE, on sale at the time for about $1,000 and a noticeably superior performer.
About another year later after reading numerous very good reviews, I bought my 1st pair of mono-block class D amps, the D-Sonic M3-600-M for $2,100/pair that were and are the best performing amps I’ve ever driven my main Magnepan 2.7QR speakers with by a large margin. I’m still utilizing these as my main speaker amps about 5 years later in my combo 2-ch music and HT system. My 2 stereo class D amps I purchased have been  used in my system as surround sound channel amps with very good results and are still going strong.
     So, I’ve been climbing the class D upgrade ladder for the past 7 years and enjoying the entire slow ascent continually along the journey. I’ve progressed from good performance rung to the better rung and I’m currently on the very good class D performance rung of the ladder. Now, I have a keen urge and curiosity about the prospects for my overall system performance quality if I climb another rung higher and purchase one of the best class D amplification examples currently available.
     I currently believe the current top rung of the class D ladder probably equates to the newly released Merrill Audio Element 118 monoblock amps or the Technics model which both utilize the GaN extremely fast switching transistors. Interestingly, I was talking to Merrill of Merrill audio recently and he stated he’s discovered the older GaN transistors sound better than the newest ones.
     However, being now retired and on a reduced fixed income, buying a pair for of either for about $36K/pair for them would likely entail me being required to dine on cans of cat food for my remaining years. As attractive as that sounds, I’ve decided to instead settle for the penultimate rung on the class D upgrade ladder by eating tastier meals and purchasing one of the following 2 preamp and amp upgrades for my system soon:

Option#1. For a total of about $10K, buying a pre-owned Levinson 326S preamp and a pair of Merrill Veritas mono-blocks. Merrill also told me he’s getting numerous pairs of Veritas back as trade-ins that he’s doing complete inspections on and reselling for about $5K/pair.
My requirements for a preamp are at least two balanced xlr inputs, at least one balanced xlr output, a convenient HT passthru capability, a precision volume control with 1db or less adjustments, under about $8K used and a good remote.

Option#2. For a total of about $12-$14K, buying a pre-owned Mola Mola "Suite" consisting of a Makua preamp and a pair of Kaluga mono-blocks.

     Both of these options are about 50% less than new and I’m currently in the middle of my search for units in very good condition and with a current preference for option#2. Unfortunately, I’m unable to audition either option in my system but I’m looking for dealers or individuals, within about a 100 mile radius of Indianapolis, who may have any of this gear available for demo and purchase.
     My goal is to purchase within the next month. I’ll also have a Parasound Halo P6 preamp w/remote and a pair of D-Sonic M3-600-M mono-blocks, both in very good condition, available soon for purchase at very reasonable prices if anyone’s interested.


Tim

Having owned 3 class AB integrateds before, I have started my class D journey with a pair of Calyx Femti power amplifiers, which I still have on a 2nd system. They are based on an ICEpower 125ASX2 module. Having liked them, my 2nd amp was a Wyred 4 Sound STI-500v2, also based on a pair of 125ASX2, no coincidence.

Then I decided to upgrade to separates and tried in my system a friend's Nord NC500 with the Rev C Sparkos small opamps. I liked what I heard and decided to keep Wyred 4 Sound as a preamp (bought the excellent STP-SE stage 2) and chose my 3rd class D amplifier to be an Apollon NC800SL, also based on a pair of Hypex NC500 modules, but with the larger Sparkos opamps. This current pair of separates cost me about 4.5k usd (preamp was 2nd hand), which is a steal. This pair is a giant killer and I think it would be very, very difficult to beat without spending some big money (tens of thousands).

The STI-500v2 integrated went to my brother's system by the way, so all class D amps are still in the family. :)

What is it with Class-D owners, my last loved amp lasted more than 8 years, sources usually 4-5 years.
But Class-D owners seem to be in a hurry to get somewhere by changing their Class-D's like like they are a pair of socks or jocks.

Cheers George