2. amps-preamps
  3. 165466-4741

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
ricevs
1,543 posts
 
FYI,
The NewClear uses stock Icepower ASP1000 modules.  These are older technology (at least 15 years old).  The newer Icepower IceEdge 1200 modules are the newest and also better sounding.  This is what PS Audio is using in their 1200 monos ($6K for the pair).  However, you can buy a dual mono stereo amp from Rouge Audio Design in Italy (model: Studio N-10DM) delivered to the US for $1550.....They use these newer IceEdge modules too.  Have me do some mods to them and you have a serious amp for a little over $2K. 

https://en.rougeaudiodesign.com/studio-n-10

Legacy Audio sells these same stock IceEdge modules as a dual mono stereo amp for $4350.  $1550 looks a little more attractive to me.

 
rh67
307 posts
 
audiodwebe
You bought what you wanted and that is great.

Class D has made great advances in the last couple of years and GaN output devices has made the greatest impact.

If your looking for great sound vs good it will cost more money i know i have been on the class D merry go round for over a decade and i have finally found a class D amp worthy of sitting next to my class A and SET amps.

My advice is to enjoy what you just bought and save for a good GaN class D amp.
pedroeb
493 posts
 

linndrum8086 posts Try this https://6moons.com/audioreviews/acousticimagery/1.html
Not in business any longer. Their class D amps are great. I owned them. Used them with Wilsons sounded great. Also use VAC amps as well .
They sound just as warm
Near the bottom you can see a photo of "Bruno Putzeys with circular NC400 board tethered to SMPS600 supply".

Now that's a nice amp that's still available.
tweak1
3,680 posts
 
From my experience with ricevs' EVS1200, he knows what he's doing/talking about
boneman73
36 posts
 
I'm quite surprised there's been no mention of Jeff Rowland amps. They don't suck. Maybe the sub$2k price target is a bit off-putting, however a pair of 201 mono's could be had for that, and honestly you should be able to get the 501's for that price. I will state that they need to be run with the 'PC1' or your own assembly (easy to do) of the Power Correction modules-they are actually DC power supplies and make a huge positive difference, however the amps can be enjoyed without them. What I can say (I run the 501 mono's with PC-1 supplies) is they are very smooth, no sense of harshness at all and hold their own against fine AB amps (I've never directly compared to Class A). JRDG uses Lundahl transformers in the circuit, and who-knows-what-else in modifying the ICEpowerASP1000 (the 201's use the ASP500?). I haven't priced JRDG integrated amps lately - maybe something is of interest. Everything I've heard of Jeff Rowland's has held to his 'house sound' quite well, and I'd suggest it shouldn't offend a tube-lover.
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