2. amps-preamps
  3. 151675-68726

Time to buy a class D amp?


Will some new class D amplifiers outperforming the current ones appear soon

(the newest ones i know were released a  few years ago)?

Class D amps attract me as I consider them the most ecological ones with obvious non-auditionable benefits.

I have no doubts that they posses the maximum ratio performance/sound quality among the amplifiers of all classes.

At the same time, the sound quality the class D amplifiers that I have auditioned produce, although is quite good,

but not yet ideal (for my taste).


I use PS Audio Stellar S300 amp with PS audio Gain Cell pre/DAC with Thiel CS 3.6 speakers in one of my systems.

The sound is ok (deep bass, clear soundstage) but not perfect (a bit bright and somehow dry, lacking warmness which might be more or less ok for rock but not for jazz music).

I wonder if there are softer sounding class D amps with the same or better details and resolution. Considering two reasonable (as to the budget) choices for test, Red Dragon S500 and Digital Audio Company's

Cherry  2 (or Maraschino monoblocks), did anybody compare these two?



128x128niodari
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
 I currently have two listening spaces, one with an AB amp, the other with D monoblocs. The D monoblocs sound great.
Ok I'll bite, which do you prefer the "sound of" forget everything else?

Cheers George
noble100's avatar
noble100
2,419 posts
 
Hello serhan62,

     I've become a big fan of class D amps through research and personal experience gained by using several examples in my own system.  But I believe all amp types have their pros, cons, compromises and limitations and that class D amps are not the best choice for everyone.
     I believe it's very important to match the amp(s) used to one's speakers while also considering one's personal preferences and tastes.  I understand the truth is that all amp types are capable of providing excellent sound quality and performance results when properly matched to one's speakers but that all amp types are not suitable for all speaker types.  
     I also know that, once an individual discovers a good match between amp(s) and their speakers that performs well and they enjoy the sound quality of or even numerous combinations, I have absolutely no interest or concern in dissuading them from utilizing that combination or combinations.

Tim
audiozenology
362 posts
 
Thanks for the post Erik, I had not seen that NP article. There were some good papers in the 70s on current source amps.


I agree with Atmosphere, you can overdamp some speakers. I am not sure I totally agree with your and his explanation wrt how bass notes behave or wrt what is natural, but agree there is an effect and it may not be pleasant.


It's a complex interaction of mechanical resonance, electrical resonance, and mechanical and electrical damping which occurs when you try to stop a woofer faster than it is physically capable of.
noble100's avatar
noble100
2,419 posts
 
audiozenology:" It's a complex interaction of mechanical resonance, electrical resonance, and mechanical and electrical damping which occurs when you try to stop a woofer faster than it is physically capable of."

Hello audiozenology,

     I believe a thorough comprehension of how excessively high damping factors effect bass sound quality requires less concentration on how complex the interaction of forces are and more on the fact that an amp with high damping factors results in it having very firm control over the starting and stopping of a woofer in a conventional dynamic speaker and the bass diaphragm section of a planar-magnetic or electrostatic panel speaker. 
     The critical part is to have a thorough understanding that it's the amp's firm control over the bass transducers that can cause truncated bass tone decays and that a thorough understanding of the exact complex interactions involved are less important. 

Tim
audiozenology
362 posts
 
Tim,


In theory the "signal" stops and starts as recorded so that is accurate. The problem is the woofer does not stop right away. In a lower damping factor amp the output resistance will help dissipate the energy in the woofer which can give it a more controlled stop. With a high damping factor all the energy is dissipated in the woofer / crossover. That makes for a different sound.
More to discover