My Benchmark AHB2 does a pretty good job but I don’t get drawn into lengthy listening sessions with it as much as I do with my SET amp. Benchmark seem to be one of the companies leading Class D technology in the US so check them out if you are considering Class D. This amp can either be used in stereo mode or you can use two in mono mode if more power is required
Class D amps that are superior to all or most?
Recently, I have heard about some Class D amps that may be close to the best there is regardless of class. Certainly, this technology has been in development for decades. The main issue has always been the switching power supply. In this regard, I have taken notice of AGD. They have created a whole new power supply that “switches” at a frequency 100 times the normal silicon based MOSFET. The designer uses a gallium nitride based PS. Interesting, it is enclosed in the KT88 glass envelope that sits on top of his amps. I am aware of two more pricey amps that seem to be also at the top- the Solution and the Merrill. There must be others that compete for the title. After my thread, “Is there a SS amp that can satisfy a SET guy?”, I am still on the quest.
Don’t want to spend $50K!
Don’t want to spend $50K!
- ...
- 297 posts total
Its also impervious to weird speaker loads causing it to oscillate because its already oscillating!However, the driven device forms part of the output filter and thus effects the frequency response. Tube amplifier frequency response also suffers driving widely variant loads. Depending on the interaction, the results can be chalk or cheese. In all things audio, the whole system and the room affect sound quality. |
I can mod your PS Audio 1200 amps to sound way better. The modules are basically stock (they only remove a coupling cap they don’t need because they already have Rel-Cap capacitors after the tube stage and they remove a resistor on the board that allows a higher impedance so the tube stage will drive it better). Benchmark does not make Class D amps. Class A/B with switching power supply. The Tsunami amps (I believe) are the $4750 amps from Legacy. They use stock IceEdge modules.....same as PS Audio 1200....PS Audio ($6000 the pair, needs upgraded tubes) adds tube front end. Again, I can modifiy the Legacy amps to sound way better. You can buy a dual mono IceEdge amp from Rouge Audio in Italy delivered to your door for $1600.....$3150 cheaper than the Legacy amp. This can be modded, as well. https://en.rougeaudiodesign.com/product-page/studio-n-10dm The output filter in a class D amp has very little effect on the frequency response. Please see Stereophile reviews where John Atkinson measures this. The output impedance of a lot of class D amps is seriously low and only rises at high frequencies to levels that are still below many class A or class A/B amps (certainly way below any tube amp). Please read and learn. The Vera amps are very, very similar to VTV here in US....the VTV amps using Purifi modules can be bought for as little as $999 delivered. Way, way cheaper than the Vera amps......again the VTV amps can be modified for way better performance. You more you search and read and learn......you will realize that you don’t need to spend a whole lot of money these days for great sound. As good as modified Purifi and IceEdge sound......my sense is that they are not as good as the $7500 AGD Audio Audion mono GaN amps........so, if you have that kind of coin and 85 watts is enough for you than this amp may be the current ticket to ride. However, If AGD made the amp into a dual mono stereo amp and put all the circuitry inside like everyone else (including no fake tube thang, no flight cases, no upgraded power cords) then they could sell it for $3500. So, whatever you buy today will be equaled or bettered for less down the road.....which is great news, really. |
- 297 posts total