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Class D for a Tube Lover

First, I'm sure this has been asked many times but searching the subject wasn't too helpful to me.

So apologies in advance.

I enjoy tubed electronics and class A amps, which tend to be a bit warm.  My current Cary 805s warm my small (12x16) music room even in the cool/cold of winter.  I've got other amps that don't produce much heat, but am looking for something that produces no heat.  Living in a home with no central AC the room gets uncomfortably hot during the summer months.

So...I'd like to try some Class D amps.  Stereo or mono is just fine.  And my speakers aren't difficult to drive so I don't need a thousand watts.  But if that thousand watt amp sounds great, I'm not adverse to that, either.

I'd like to keep the price under 2k used.  

Please help.

Thanks.


128x128audiodwebe
audiodwebe's avatar
audiodwebe OP
234 posts
 
I never realized the likes of Audio Research, Rogue or even PS Audio had Class D amps in their caralogue.  So many brands and models I've never heard of.  Looks like I'll have a lot to look into.  

I've got quite a few different speakers that get rotated out (Dunlavy SC-I, JMR Trente, LS50, Totem M1S, Merlin TSM, C&C Abby, blah blah).  I counted yesterday as I had to rearrange where the speakers are stored and I have 20 pairs.  Stupid, I realize.

So an amp that's able to drive a good variety of speakers is a must.
mwjones's avatar
mwjones
37 posts
 
I primarily listen through Cary tube amps but on a whim, I purchased a Bel Canto Evo2 for my LaScalas. It runs stone cold and provides an incredibly black background with a slightly warm presentation. Sufficient power and nuance to pair with Harbeths and DeVores as well.

I have not figured out whether it is classified as a Class N or Class T. A 300b its not, but I am impressed enough to kick myself for not buying one sooner.
tweak1
3,645 posts
 
Having been among the very first to order a Voyager, well over 1 year ago, and having heard the many reports that it would be ready by X date, I would not hold my breath that it will be released by the end of May


Now, what you might do is check out what EVS is doing with the Purifi or Rogue amps as a possible stopgap, or just to chill with for several years, if not longer. Many of you know, I bought his EVS 1200 based on IcePower dual mono AS1200 class D modules, and still extremely happy that I did so

http://tweakaudio.com/EVS-2/Purifi_amp_mods.html
hth
ieales's avatar
ieales
1,201 posts
 
I have 20 pairs.
Do you listen to music or just hardware?

So an amp that’s able to drive a good variety of speakers is a must.
As with tube amps, the loudspeaker completes the drive circuit in Class D albeit with different characteristics and by different electrical properties.

Hence one loudspeaker may be chalk while another equally fine product may be cheese with the same amplifier. The exact opposite condition can arise with a different amplifier and the same loudspeakers.
daveman2's avatar
daveman2
58 posts
 
One more PS Audio recommendation. I picked up an older Trio C-100 Integrated amp a few years ago, and recently tried it in my system. It’s actually a really nice sounding amp, and I paid $550 for it (in mint condition). EDIT - by "nice" I mean competitive as a high-end amp. There are a couple companies that offer mods/upgrades that (supposedly) sound even better, too. Underwood HiFi still provides it’s upgrade services on the amp, actually. It is a pretty rare find, but if you can snag one it would be a relatively cheap foray into class D territory.
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