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My NAD 3020 D proves your Class D tropes are wrong

I have a desktop integrated, the NAD 3020D which I use with custom near field monitors. It is being fed by Roon via a Squeezebox Touch and coaxial digital.

It is 5 years old and it sounds great. None of the standard myths of bad Class D sound exist here. It may lack the tube like liquid midrange of my Luxman, or the warmth of my prior Parasound but no one in this forum could hear it and go "aha, Class D!!" by itself, except maybe by the absolute lack of noise even when 3’ away from the speakers.

I’m not going to argue that this is the greatest amp ever, or that it is even a standout desktop integrated. All I am saying is that the stories about how bad Class D is compared to linear amps have been outdated for ages.

Great to see new development with GaN based Class D amps, great to see Technics using DSP feed-forward designs to overcome minor limitations in impedance matching and Atmasphere’s work on reducing measurable distortion as well but OMG stop with the "Class D was awful until just now" threads as it ignores about 30 years of steady research and innovation.
erik_squires
desktopguy
385 posts
 
I kind of backed into class D amp’ing when I set up my 1st real desktop audio system w/discreet DAC in this home office ~2008 (after years of 2.1 "computer systems" running of a soundcard). There’s no room on this crowded desktop for class A/B or tube amps.

I really lucked out: the class D amp I bought was Wyre4Sound’s ST-500, which I use on its side to save space (got the blessing of Wyred4Sound before doing that). I paired it with a very revealing passive monitor (ATC SCM12 Pro) and the sound was excellent. Have had 2 other high-end 2-way passives here since then (Aerial Acoustics 5B; and vintage KEF 103.2). All sound very good w/the ST-500.

I will eventually upgrade to more current class D technology. I lean toward Nord Acoustics hypex-based stereo amp that allows use of Sparkos op-amps (I’ve used them elsewhere & know how good they sound). But if I trip over a gently used Cherry stereo, maybe that...
whitestix
727 posts
 
I formerly agreed with Teo, but after getting a VTV amp with the Purifi module and the Sparkos op amp, I am truly impressed with the sound in my system.  It sounds neither warm nor cold, but reveals an amazing amount of information in such an utterly clean fashion.  Same with my impressions of my friend's NAD M33 integrated amp, which has the Purifi module as well.  Both operate as cool as a cucumber.  I am being made a believer, in spite of my dislike of early Bel Canto, Red Dragon, and Nuprime Class D amps... which sucked the life out of the music.  
This is a quote from a well known speaker manufacturer who will remain nameless, but I trust his ears, because I am hearing the same thing he is:  

"Yes, I have read and heard many good things about the Purifi amp modules. Maybe I'll try them. I have been using the Cherry amps which are very good class D also. This technology will eventually push AB amps out of the market."  

Class D technology has arrived and is ready for prime time and with the Cherry, Apollon, and VTV amps, it is very affordable.   If you have the enough coin of the realm, I suspect the new Merrill Class D amps would be incredible.  The GaN technology is on the cusp of a new era in amplification as well. 
dave_b's avatar
dave_b
3,159 posts
 
Still desktop stories...😳  Op Amps 😬  oh my 😱
erik_squires OP
16,389 posts
 
@dave_b

What exactly is your problem? I mean it both existentially and with your inability to use full sentences.

You don't like the thread? You don't like the posters?  You can't contribute so you have nothing to say worth typing?
danvignau's avatar
danvignau
935 posts
 
I can't imagine that system is that good.  However, I do not make rash judgements about anything without personal experience.  The fact that you say because you like it it must be exceptional means nothing to us if we cannot hear it.  I am glad you enjoy it.  That is all that matters.
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