2. amps-preamps
  3. 161730-130690

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
audio2design
1,351 posts
 
See what I mean @mike_in_nc

Hopeless case.
mike_in_nc
1,142 posts
 
Then next you lot may as well just tell us to use this 6000watt!!!!! Class-D Behringer for just $600us.
I didn't say that; I didn't say that all amps are equal, nor that they sound the same, nor that they are of the same quality.

I did say that I fail to see any relevance to this "doubling" business that has become an audiophile touchstone. Those who claim it is important seem to resort to pseudo-technical handwaving. Maybe there is a reason, but I've never seen it laid out in valid technical terms.

And YOU didn't answer MY question: If an amp can put out 500 watts at 2 ohms, why is it important that it put out no more than 250 watts at 4 ohms?
jaytor's avatar
jaytor
761 posts
 
You make it sound like the Wilson Alexia is the most popular speaker on the market. How many of these has Wilson sold?

 I’ve owned a lot of speakers over the years and none had an impedance curve that dropped below 2 ohms. If you own Wilson Alexias then maybe the class D amps that have been discussed aren’t the best choice. But if I owned a speaker this expensive, I probably wouldn’t be driving it with an amp that costs well under $10k. 
audio2design
1,351 posts
 
And queue inane EPDR comment ....
djones51
4,947 posts
 
If a linear amp was a perfect voltage source it would double every time the impedance halves. So if it does 500 watts at 2 ohms it will do 250 watts at 4 ohms and 125 watts at 8 ohms. It's not that it's important it puts out no more it's that even if we were talking about a perfect linear amp it couldn't . 
More to discover