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The NAD M33 will cancel your complaints about Class D

There are many reasons to like one type of sound over another. Even among what are considered very good amplifiers there’s a broad range of tastes and preferences among audiophiles. Just ask a SET aficionado!

However, no class is more maligned, inappropriately, than Class D. To hear some regulars tell it, Class D sound will thin your blood, make your teeth fall out and ruin your enjoyment of just about everything because it sounds so (fill in a lot of tropes from the 1980’s here).

I’ve been listening to NAD’s prior collaboration with Bruno Putzy and I can tell with some confidence that none of those tired old tropes apply. For reasons related much more to tonal balance than anything else, I’m sticking with Class A/B in my main system, but with the introduction of the next gen Anthem AVR receivers and the NAD M33 I may be making the switch back to class D.

You don’t have to like the M33 or the Anthem’s but can we at least agree that it’s time to retire the old guard of reasons not to buy Class D? Lets lay those poor phantoms to rest.
erik_squires
erik_squires OP
16,558 posts
 
I also find the NAD Class D I have a little lean, however, as I said, this is a tonal issue.  I find the ICEpower the opposite.

I have _exactly_ the same problem with A and A/B amps today.

I'm not saying you should not criticize Class D amps, but rather, criticize them for how they behave today, in the 21st century, not how they did in the 1980s.

Best,

Erik
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,320 posts
 
Has no one else read Herb R.'s review of the LKV Veros?
https://www.stereophile.com/content/lkv-veros-pwr-power-amplifier
audition__audio
1,597 posts
 
Class D have come along way but they still dont quite measure up. With the right speakers, nothing equals tube and no tube design equals OTLs.


mapman's avatar
mapman
22,609 posts
 
Class D as commonly done today and OTL are apples/oranges at least technically and in terms of the system they might be used in to sound best. Class D will work well in place of OTL technically but likely still not sound the same. OTL has no chance of replacing Class D categorically.

So realistically you can compare the two and favor one over another but absolute statements in regards to superiority are probably subject to challenge at best.

Now I understand Atmasphere is working on a Class D amp. That would be interesting to see what he comes up with and how it compares both to other Class D amps and his own OTL amps.
dougthebiker
221 posts
 
Check out John Darko’s YouTube on NAD.  He’s not the only one who thinks NAD has had a breakthrough on Class D so it’s finally competitive.

but if you want GREAT sound,  get a pair of Schiit Aegir monoblocks.  Nothing anywhere near the price comes closely.

And they heat your house in winter!
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