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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
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,851 posts
 
You can certainly get plenty of body and warmth out of SS amps.It may not be typical for the breed but SS amps like that are not hard to find.Most of the Nelson Pass amps,Audio Flight,Electrocompaniet,Usher,Sugden,Dartzeel and
 many more.And Bakoons which are really special and seem to combine the very best traits of SETs and class A SS.
This is a matter of scale and I've not heard a conventional solid state amp including those on this list (excluding the Bakoon) that is as smooth and detailed as a good class D.
mglik OP
911 posts
 
I definitely feel fortunate. I listen to AGD Audions in my main rig and a Bakoon HP-1 in my headphone rig (with superb ZMF Verites).
The Bakoon is excellent. Similar to the AGDs in that “open window” perspective. It is not easy to compare headphones to speakers but I would say that the AGDs take things to a higher level. Not to diminish the Bakoon. And to get the power output range in Bakoon is $18K. They are not balanced. And they don’t make mono blocks.
jtgofish's avatar
jtgofish
515 posts
 
This is a matter of scale and I’ve not heard a conventional solid state amp including those on this list (excluding the Bakoon) that is as smooth and detailed as a good class D.

Ralph,Yes I can see how somebody might make that conclusion and be seduced.The smoothness and detail is there.I would add articulation and leading edge precision to that.The Bakoons have all that too.However what is missing is the decay,the harmonics, the shimmer,the lilt,the atmosphere,the musical feel,the tintinabulation.To quote our former Prime Minister Paul Keating-all tip and no iceberg.

atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,851 posts
 
However what is missing is the decay,the harmonics, the shimmer,the lilt,the atmosphere,the musical feel,the tintinabulation.
Lovely. This property is not the perview of any particular technology IME.
mglik OP
911 posts
 
Ralph, 
So, it seems you have heard Bakoon. How would you describe them? Current drive?
Speaking of tintinabulation, I get that fully with AGD. Not quite as much with Bakoon.
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