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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
mrmeaner
44 posts
 
Tweak1, I mentioned just Sugden for some good reasons, firstly they made the world’s first pure class-A transistor amplifier, they are regarded as the benchmark for class A, and seeing as I own one and it’s my last amplifier I’ll buy. 
seanheis1
595 posts
 
Class D amps today are so much better than the ones 5-10 years ago. That has been said for the last 30 years. 
wjt3
202 posts
 
I have had my AGD Vivace amps now for a month or so. I have sold my Luxman M600-a class a 30 watter plus some other ss and tube amps. I did not think it could get better-I was wrong. Try some diff class d amps. I tried some a few years back and that was terrible. The AGD and Merrill companies seem to lead the pack-both sound very good but the AGD is just a step above in my opinion. 
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,442 posts
 
@ricevs 

Are you 100% percent sure the Rouge ICE amplifiers will sound the same, as good, as the Legacy amplifiers that Doug reviewed? Have you seen inside the Legacy amps? Is it possible they have performed some upgrades or other power supply changes etc? 
Looking at the Rouge amplifier now.  Thanks! 
petewilson
4 posts
 
What's after Class D?

Well, as usual, probably improvements on what we've got. Sounds like GaN (Gallium Nitride) transistors can handle very high voltages and very high current and very high frequencies. Perhaps useful for class A, A/B, G etc - because they cmight vastly reduce output delta t, so feedback works better -  but almost certainly wonderful for D. Much better edges, so fewer errors for the system to compensate for.

And, of course, all this hifi stuff is for pleasure. It's nice to know that product X has immeasurable distortion under all circumstances, but of you prefer listening to product Y, then go for it. I prefer Burgundy, but there are those who drink Bordeaux. Neither I nor they word - or rather should - argue that my preference is 'the absolute best'; just that 'I prefer'.

It's true that many designers want accuracy first. Good! But if you prefer the sound of something else, go for it.

But don't tell me that you're right and I'm wrong for enjoying my Kii Threes. 
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