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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!
mglik
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,406 posts
 

@mapman What are the best Class D in your opinion?


Well can’t really say having not heard them all. Whenever I listen to my Bel Canto ref amps I think what the h-ll else could I ask for? My BC c5i is very good within limits. My Vanatoo active speakers with biamped Class D in each are golden. Even my little $80 Fosi Class D amp built around a TI chip surprisingly drives kef ls50s very well which not just any amp can do. I’ve heard Veritas and others at shows. All top notch. Anthem STR another good one I have heard and recall. How good seems to come down to power supply and in some cases well executed input circuits especially for use with tube preamps. Looking forward to auditioning some of the latest to come out using GaN transistors, etc.
mike_in_nc
1,159 posts
 
>> Anthem STR another good one I have heard and recall.  <<
That is class AB, not D.

mapman's avatar
mapman
22,406 posts
 
I stand corrected regarding the Anthem. 😳
Another very good one I heard was Rogue Pharoah. The high end dealer who also sells ARC and mostly tube amps and NEVER sells anything that sounds less than superb said he thought that one was the best sounding he sold regardless of price. Tube pre and Class D amp makes for a dynamic combo if done right.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,931 posts
 
I said
To those who want to understand, why it’s better to turn off your amps, here it is simply as possible.
(as they like to be drained and recharged otherwise a false permanent "empty floor" happens and your electrolytic power supply caps won’t have the uF storage ability they once had when new
That is not what I was told by an engineer from Cornell Dublier. He told me that to get the longest life the cap should remain charged, and otherwise kept at a low temperature- heat kills electrolytics. If the cap is experiencing high ripple current, this will cause it to heat up a bit- so in such cases it will run longer if shut down and allowed to cool.

In the case of a class D amp, the ripple currents are quite low and the amp tends to operate at a low temperature, so leaving it on all the time is fine insofar as electrolytic capacitor life is concerned.
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