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?
niodari OP
BUT the best will be if you use 2 x stereo S500's and vertically bi-amp them. (Not bridge them) http://www.classicspeakerpages.net/IP.Board/uploads/monthly_2016_03/7_Vertical_Bi-Amp.jpg.ba97802ae9... Cheers George |
"When you say you’ve found a nice deal on 2 S500 monoblocks for $2k, I hope that’s new, as when in stock they are only $799 each new!" https://www.reddragonaudio.com/collections/amplifiers/products/m500-mkii?variant=248192058 Hello bolduque, Georgehifi is correct, the Red Dragon 500 monoblocks were discontinued about a year ago and the price was reduced to $799 each, while supplies lasted. The supplies only lasted a few months on both the silver and the black color options of these monoblock models because they're high quality amps that received very good reviews that were offered at an extreme bargain price. I had even attempted to buy a pair of these amps as soon as I heard of the clearance price reduction but they were already sold out of both black and silver models. Here's a copy of the Positive Feedback review that inspired me to try a pair of Red Dragon S500 monos: https://positive-feedback.com/reviews/red-dragon-audio-m500-and-m1000-mkii-amplifiers-2/ I called Red Dragon at the time and sent an email to them a couple of times requesting a back order and any upcoming new models. Here is their response: "Ryan Tew Mon, Jul 22, 2019, 3:17 PM Hi Tim We are working on an entirely new MkIII generation and hope to have them ready later this year. Thanks, Ryan Tew President - Red Dragon Audio www.RedDragRyan Tew <ryan@reddragonaudio.com>Tue, Oct 8, 2019, 6:36 PMto me Hi Timothy, We are working on a redesign of the chassis and at the same time we're pushing a new product lineup (and a MkIII version of the S500 and M1000). Ryan Tew President - Red Dragon Audio" Well, it's already the 1st quarter of 2020 so it seems like Red Dragon's new MKIII version debut of their amp lineup should hopefully be introduced and available very soon. You asked on your first post about the differences between the various class D power modules: ICE Power, Hypex and Pascal. The truth is there's more to the overall sound of any class D amp than just the power module used. In general, all these class D amp modules have such low distortion and background noise levels, are so accurate, neutral and detailed that even small variances in their associated components and design can result in variances in performance; things such as custom input boards, the switching transistors employed, the switching carrier frequency filters and perhaps even the specific carrier switching frequency utilized. As I believe you know, utilizing separates rather than your current AVR requires not only a separate stereo amp or monoblock amps, it also requires a separate preamp for connecting and switching between the sources used (turntable, CD, dac/streamer, etc.). Class D amps are in general so neutral that the sound quality of the preamp will be a critical factor in your system's overall sound. I still believe the speakers are the predominate factor in overall system sound but, if class D amps are in the audio chain, the preamp becomes the 2nd most critical factor in a system's overall sound quality. Later, Tim |
bolduque , in addition to the useful and valuable
notes by Tim and George, i would still suggest you to try a class D amp. You may spent less money for the sound quality you will get, will save space and energy. There are very good sounding class D amps, and i am now convinced that some of them give a very neutral uncolored sound (one example is a Cherry Megaschino amp that i am using already for about a month or so -- i can hardly imagine an amplifier that would have a more neutral and clean (and perhaps also detailed) sound, the rest is the thing of a taste, and you can "colour" your sound with an appropriate preamplifier depending on your taste). Red Dragon, monoblocks, if they are new model (released this year) then $2K could be a good deal, otherwise not. Bear in mind that Reg Dragon is not good for low impedance speakers (if your speaker are 8 ohms then it would be fine). |
Demo’d Two class d amps, not my thing, flat lifeless, sounded like it was playing music, with no emotion, or excitement. Your results may vary, this is just my opinion. Smaller, lighter, easier to move, etc etc. A, OR A/AB Still sounds better to. My ears. No ragging, this is just my ears, yours maybe different. even my class H sunfire blows away class d. demoed the devialet, it was a 400+W one, had for 12 days, left on for several days to warm up, nope, not my thing. also the thor, or Loki, or whichever those were, those were promising, but I had to return them and have my card credited after 10 days. i prefer my class H Sunfire. |
