Technics SU-R1000 - Good but not the king of switching amps
Was looking at the measurements for the Technics SU-R1000 Integrated published by Stereophile. I never bother with the reviews of the sound quality as there’s 1 reviewer there whose ears I trust and it’s not this reviewer.
To be clear, this IS a digital amplifier, and is not a Class D amplifier. Atmasphere will always disagree with me, but given Technics nomenclature and the use of an A/D converter, and PWM output I think if any amplifier qualifies as digital this one does.
What I find kind of interesting here is that the measurements are OK but not absolute Class D killing results. I am particularly unimpressed by the performance of the impedance compensation circuit, LAPC, which at the end of the day does not seem to have performed significantly better than actual, non GaNFET amplifiers, particularly in removing the effects of the output filters Class D amps require. I really hoped to see a huge win here... but it’s not. It’s just making the PWM perform almost as good as a true Class D amplifier.
I have not heard this integrated, but the claims and expectations laid out for the technology seem to not be proven in the measurements. This is a very expensive integrated that does everything differently, and measures about the same as previous generation, also excellent sounding, Class D engines I’ve seen measured.
My stance that Class D was already very good and that new, faster switching amps would have to be truly spectacularly better to unseat them remains, in my mind, uncontested.
Can’t wait to see everyone trashing Class D on the measurements suddenly decide that this amp should be heard and not measured.
@erik_squires Yes, it seems as if the speaker correction thing is a sort of feedback system of its own. But it shouldn't have to be something just for class D. I've been trying to sort out if you even need something like that- audiophiles haven't for decades. |
Well, I should have said, it's a solution for switching amps. And you are right, I think that most Class D amps don't need it. I mean, yeah, you could tweak things, but I don't think it's necessary. On the other hand, if this amp is a DSP driven, zero output feedback design then this impedance compensation might be attempting to correct problems unique to this specific topology. |
Maybe there is a limit to what practically constitutes good sound. I have several Class D amps and they all sound basically flawless within their limits. Plus I hear all the new stuff that comes out all the time and the best sounds no better than before. Except value tends to go up so you get more for less. Perhaps we have just reached saturation level for good sound? Our ears and bodies have limits you know. I laugh whenever someone comes on and claims ultrasonic frequencies that people cannot hear and no music occurs in make a difference somehow by magic. More noise maybe. It’s all nonsense. |
At least with switching amps, I have to agree with you, @Mapman This amp brought with it a kitchen sink worth of new stuff. It also has meters, as god intended, but the very technical expectations I had for it's performance have been dashed. I never expected it to sound much better, but I did expect it would measure better. |
If wee went by measurements for everything then neither Messi or Maradona should be able to play football. Personally I am a vinyl freak but am itching to hear this amp - it does things i nthee analogue domain that I believe is only done by 50K north FM Acoustics equipment (I didn't really look at those specs at any length as I will never have them) I am interested in what the digital resolution is on vinyl. |
