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High end Class D amps?

Just an observation and a question. Are there 'high end' Class D amps out there that are just as good as Class A, A/B amps? I realize that's a sensitive question to some and I mean no disrespect---but whenever I see others' hifi systems on social media, all of the amps are A or A/B. There's always Pass, McIntosh, Moon, Luxman, Accuphase, etc. Where are the Class Ds? For folks out there that want more power for less efficient speakers and can't afford the uber expensive Class As, A/Bs, what is there to choose from that's close to those brands? Thanks
bluorion
audioman58's avatar
audioman58
3,927 posts
 
Jeff Roland,Mark Levenson 
Merrill Audio , Gato Audio
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
I will repeat my question, why would a class-D amplifier care about phase angle.
I’ll repeat my answer in another way, negative phase angle combined with low impedance can as in the Alexia, gives a EPDR of load as seen by the amp of 0.9ohm load!!!!
Now you go find a Class-D that will keep pushing even more current into that kind of loading like a good bi-polar amp can.

If you can hear it at a shop with speakers like the Alexia you'll be stunned at what just a good 100w bi-polar amp like Gryphon v any Class-D of any wattage, the Gryphon will be superior at those EPDR frequencies in the bass.
 
Cheers George
audio2design
1,351 posts
 
That value that you quote, EPDR has absolutely nothing to do with max current requirement. It is a synthetic value to represent thermal loading in a linear amplifier. It has no application to Class D amplification.

I suggest going back and understanding this better as your understanding is flawed.
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
It has no application to Class D amplification.
Of course it does show if it’s capable of driving it.


I suggest going back and understanding this better as your understanding is flawed.
No, I suggest you go and find out what happens to Class-D when it tries to drive low impedances that I’m talking about, see if it can do the wattage doubling act down to 1ohm or even 2ohms as the impedance halves They are lucky to even gain any wattage below 4ohm, they usually start to go backwards especially at 2ohms which is current starving or limiting.

And if you deny that, show some independent test figures of class-D wattage at 8ohm, 4ohm, 2ohm, and 1ohm



audio2design
1,351 posts
 
I will state again. You clearly do not understand what this term EPDR means. It had absolutely no meaning for a class D amplifier as it does not work in the linear range.  The only figure that matters is lowest impedance which in most speakers occurs where Class D amplifiers have very low output resistance.

Your request for tests from 8 to 1 ohm is meaningless and again has no relation to EPDR and a Class D amplifier.

Whether they current limit or not is representative of maximum power and designed thermal limits. What matters is THD at those power levels.

Until you increase your knowledge of Class D amplifiers and this term EPDR as it applies to amplifiers I feel this conversation will go no where. Unfortunately your knowledge in this area is not sufficient for us to have a meaningful conversation.
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