Class A or Class D solid-state amplifiers (modern designs)

@bigkidz 

Thanks for the reply. I have one last question: have any of your creations been reviewed by a third party outsider with no horse in the race, like a magazine?  I am asking this because if you only listen to and compare your amps in your environment and with your specific associated equipment, that gives you a home court advantage. To my mother, I am the most handsome man on earth. While I accept your testimony, I would be interested in knowing what others think. 

@jonwatches1 

I have owned quite a few class Ds including; several W4S, PS Audio M 700s, Emerald Physics 100.2 SEs, EVS 1200 (based on dual mono IceEdge AS 1200 modules) plus loads of tweaks. I raved about for over a year, UNTIL, I got a LSA Voyager 350 GaN amp, which was about half the power, but easily twice the authority. It is so night and day from the EVS, that IMO, GaN (at least this one) should not be included in the class D designation

I havenot heard that many that are point-to-point wired amplifiers using the best parts quality with customer made transformers and chokes, Audio Note non-magnetic resistors, V-Caps, copper plates, etc.  I have heard most of the typical tube amps most of you are familiar with but not many Class A tube amplifiers. 

@bigkidz 

😉 We've been building point to point wired class A triode amps for 48 years. Custom built chokes and transformers, V-Caps, custom copper wire made to our specs for hookup; we were the first to use Caddock resistors in the audio industry (1978) and garnered many awards and reviews in the high end press over the decades. Totally FWIW department...

@atmasphere 

@spenav 

Sorry Ralph while I am familiar with your work, I have no first hand experience.  But you are one of the few who manufacturers quality from what I can see.  I remember also using Caddock resistors back in the day also.

spenav - while we have been asked to have our components reviewed many times, we have not had our components reviewed.  I understand that your mom is your greatest fan also.  While we have our opinions on the comparisons, most of my comments regarding the sound of our components comes from people who bring their equipment over to hear with the speakers in our listening room,  Sonus Farber, Horning, Vandersteen, Alon, Dynauido, Klipsch, Verity, Rogers, ProAc, etc.  They come to our listening room to hear the differences.  We also provide upgrade service and repair service.  For example, recently and highly regarded DAC was brought in and after hearing the differences, we were asked to upgrade that DAC.  Same goes for many other components. That allows us to also hear things and we actually learn more of what can be accomplished.  Again, we are not there to pound our chests but to help others improve their systems.  It is very enjoyable to us.

Regarding reviewing our products, we barely can keep up with the work we have now.  Hand made products take time to manufacturer.  It is a labor of love for us.

I hope that I have explained ourselves so that everyone understands that we are in this together and not for us to think we are better than anyone in anyway.  I realized a long time ago, that what we do is really for us first.  We are always learning and improving.  We are always open to hearing new things

Anyone who is in the NYC area, contact us, we are more than happy to host a visit.

Happy Listening.

@tweak1  - thanks so much for your reply - your comparative experience is really helpful to me - at some point I am going to add a GaN to amp mix & owners of the LSA all seem very happy with the choice - Have a great day!