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Class D amps seem poised to take over. Then what?

I am certainly biased by my lifetime final amp being a Class D. But I know that after 30+ years of development, Class D seems to be on a high plain. I know there are now many, many companies focusing on Class D and, maybe, a good handful already as good as it gets. My Class D amp is as smooth and beautifully musical as a great tube amp and as punchy and detailed as a great SS amp. I am satisfied and done with my search. A class D amp has effectively taken me off the amp merry-go-round. It’s about time after 50 years. And, for me, this Class D is a milestone. Will all other classes of amps fade away?
mglik
fiesta75
1,378 posts
 
I babysat a friends class D while he was out of country because he didn't want to leave it off. So naturally I listened to it for a while... Well, I wasn't impressed, I left it on as he had requested. I went back to my class A's for listening to music. Class D will not takeover so long as there are people to service class A and A/B's WHEN required. My class A and A/B's have been quite reliable. Three have not been serviced in 42 years. And yes I've checked the electrolytic caps. Actually, some caps are +10-20% over the specified values. I have replace a few caps that have been exposed to excess heat, with 105C caps, no more failures. But NOTHING in the 3 that have not been serviced. I'm not what you would call moderate with my amplifiers either. Only time will tell...
earlflynn's avatar
earlflynn
461 posts
 
Class D is great for my outdoor system in the backyard.
Listening when swimming or having a cookout. Not critical listening.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,088 posts
 
That just means you haven’t found the right setup then or it’s perhaps just not for you.
nonoise's avatar
nonoise
10,803 posts
 
And your is of the small pond you are a big fish in.
That thankfully, your countenance will never reflect in.
You'd scare all the fish away.
Looks like earlflynn is gonna have a relapse and we're gonna see a redux of his Juneteenth/Father's Day meltdown.
Get your popcorn and have the kids leave the room. 👍

@mapman , what you describe is pretty much what I've read about the Technics. Sound with no unnecessary flavoring. Only one reviewer felt that it sounded a bit cooler when running coax from the SACD companion piece. He went onto say that it was like listening to someone who perfected their playing but sounding a bit robotic. All of the reviewers loved playing their turntables through it, but I just use CDs, so there's that.

@tvad , thanks. But earlflynn is not gonna change anytime soon.

All the best,
Nonoise
djones51
4,947 posts
 
The questions the OP asked was will all other amps fade away, no I don’t think so, is class D poised to take over, if having close to 90% of the amplifier market is considered taking over then yes it already has. It’s not what your preferences are everyone’s taste varies even from day to day. Class D amps are everywhere most likely everyone on this forum has a couple of them. I know I have at least a dozen.
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