High end Class D amps?
baconboy I always knew the Maggie’s were capable of and the Peachtree makes them sing. Class-D likes benign 4-6ohm loads with low - phase angles, and that's what the Maggie's are, but when the loads get tough, then big Linear Amps come out to play. Cheers George |
Now I can't say from many AB comparisons as I dont have access to much audiophile equipment here, but for the money I've been very impressed with a Rogue Sphinx V3. Rogue is best known for tube offerings but also does class D. USA made, awesome service. It's an integrated with a true Class A pre amp section. Not sure what your budget might be but at about $1500 it's a deal. Uses Hypex modules in a traditional configuration. Also, Rogue offers the Pharaho integrated with 300 wpc and "integrating a true class A pre amp within the Hypex modules". Its a different configuration/topology but I've never heard any comments on the sonic differences. Would love to hear from Agoners if they have any experience. |
I drive my Maggie's. 7's with the Spectron musical MK ll class D amp The company is no longer in business as John Ulrick the designer passed away The amp weights in at 54lbs output is 500watts@8ohm 650@4ohms and 1,200 watts@1ohm/65 amps for 500 milliseconds my tube pre amp is the ARC LS15 To my ears and anyone that have listened to my system are duly impressed, to say the least |
As a relative newbie can you help me learn by explaining your response in a little more detail? Generally I find Class-D don’t do well below 4ohms, not even the mighty 55kg Technics SE-R1’s. Class-D wattage instead of doubling for each halving of impedance load actually gets goes backwards when they see 2ohms and worse if there is any - phase angle involved, because they can’t deliver the current like a good bi-polar linear Class-a or a/b amp can. EG: Gyphon’s etc. That’s why you always see linear amps driving speakers that present loads in the bass where current is needed down to 2ohm or even less with - phase angles like the Wilson Alexia 0.9ohm etc I have a Hypex NC500 monoblocks 340w-8ohm 600w-4ohm, similar to Bel Canto Ref M600 mono’s, but with bigger linear supplies, not smp. They sound good on some Raven tweeter’ed 2 ways I have here that are 4-6ohm benign load. But put the same amps on my big ML esl’s and they don’t do it at all sonically they go thin and loud. My less powerfull linear Class-A/B mono’s 180w-8ohm 360w-4ohm 700w-2ohm sound much better. Go louder, sound bigger with body, richer, tighter and far easier to listen to, with a huge walk in sound stage where the ESL speakers just disappear, the Class-D’s sound loud also, but like they are being fired at you from a point source and being squeezed out at you. But hey don’t sweat it, you’ve got Maggies, and Class-D likes that load, get some used BelCanto Ref M600 monoblocks they should suit them well. https://www.stereophile.com/content/bel-canto-eone-ref600m-power-amplifier Cheers George |
