2. amps-preamps
  3. 167595-11588

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
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
12,152 posts
 
@timlub 
You never know, maybe Ralph @atmasphere  will design a switching tube amplifier. Ha

We've already done that- been working on it for the last 4 years. We're in Beta production right now.

If you think class d is better than class a or class a b you better get your ears checked LOL they've gotten a lot better but they're still not as good.
Instead of checking your ears, it might be more fruitful to check a different class D amp and see if you still say that. Class D, like tube amps or traditional A or A/B amps, are all over the map in terms of sound. Some manufacturers have sorted out what works and care about it, and others have not or don't care- same as its always been...

twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,326 posts
 
Why does Class D attract these unsustainable blanket generalizations (e.g. @nseymour) while no one (well, virtually no one) would dream of making such universal claims w.r.t. class A or A/B?
spiritofradio's avatar
spiritofradio
3,449 posts
 
The OP wrote:
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

If he believes this that’s fine - nice for him if it makes him happy.  I believe these perceptions to be (almost) completely subjective though.   
coltrane1's avatar
coltrane1
845 posts
 
I’ll never own a D amp. Never. They’re built cheap. They’re all about low end sales. Tubes rule. There’s no shortage of tube amps to buy. I recently purchased a new KT-88 integrated, even though I already had one. So, as you see, I’d rather have two tube integrated’s than a single D amp. You lay down your money and buy whatever you want. No D for me.
earlflynn's avatar
earlflynn
461 posts
 
Buy what u like but I agree with @c
More to discover