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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
rh67
307 posts
 
Class D today is no different than another Class, There is the good the bad and the ugly in any class of amplifier.

People wanting a lot of watts on the cheap are going to get the same in SQ regardless of class of amp. Design is key regardless of class.
caryking
22 posts
 
You know... I can enjoy music in a bunch of ways.  Hell, I’ve beat the steering wheel of a rental car when listening to a great song.

yes, a great system, whatever the make-up, is going to sound better than a rental car stereo; however, come on folks....  enjoy what you have and when the itch comes, make a change to a part of your system.

BTW, there isn’t a perfect way to get sound...  it’s all subjective...  coloration is a preference, kind of like ice cream.  What flavor or class is soothing to the taste buds or ears?  Anyone can decide!!

probably over half the people commenting don’t play an instrument. If you did (drums for me) you will realize that a sound system is probably not going to recreate the live instrument...

Go and enjoy the music...
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,992 posts
 
 What flavor or class is soothing to the taste buds or ears?
Its not the class of operation- its the distortion signature. If you've got that right the class of operation is irrelevant.
caryking
22 posts
 
Atmosphere... perhaps we are saying the same thing. My point was: people like the sound the way they like it. Class type, distortion signature, or whatever really doesn’t make a difference if someone likes the sound they have.

I’ve never listened to a Class D amp, so, I could care less. That being said, I have heard systems that sound really nice using a receiver. People can get good sound (stated differently: sound they enjoy) in a bunch of different ways.
mastering92
870 posts
 
No, of course not.

There is a still going to be a market for class A-B, Class A, Class T, and even Class C!
Lower-end amps from Chinese companies can have class T or some kind of Class D.
The Class type is only important if the implementation is right. It seems like your final amp got it right. Under the right circumstances, it could outperform a Class A amp.
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