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Competitive class D amp suggestions

I have been Class D fun since a few years ago when i bought my first class D amp. I like the concept, in general, and all the attractive features of this class of amplifiers. I tried 4 different ones, currently i  stayed with one of them that i consider to be the best among all four amps. I do enjoy and like it. At the same time,  my 5 watts SET amplifier (with more than 100 times higher distortion according to the specs) gives more natural and (surprisingly) notably cleaner sound (THD of the class D amp is 0.001). The soundstage  of the class D amp is not so bad but that of the tube one is still better.   

I remain attracted by class D amps though. 

Any fresh suggestions on reasonably priced class D amps (i mean excluding  non-reasonably priced class D amps, e.g., Merrill amplifiers)?

Any comments on non-reasonably priced class D amps are also welcome (so far i was not able to audition many class D amps and am curious if there are some which could really compete with Class A). 

128x128niodari
skiroe's avatar
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skiroe
131 posts
 

I have had more than a few amps in my 2 systems over the last 20 years. The one class D amp that I remember was a PS Audio--dont remember the model number. great sounding amp.. Fast forward to probably just last year. I picked up a NuPrime. sta-6 (discontinued ) The STA-9 is current offering. The STA-6 has a class a pre stage in it with class D output. It does get a bit warm. Certainly not your typical class D amp. I am really surprised at how good it sounds. Ive pared down and in my main system there is only one other choice for amplification a Bottlehead Kaiju.. and have to run the BH on a different pair of speakers with high sensitivity.. The NuPrime STA-6 cost. 449.. not bad surprising punch way above its price point. I think buying a pair of the Wharfedale  EVO 4.3 on a whim and wanted to see what this   dome mid range  is all about  --not many designs use dome mid.   it just happened that this amp really likes the Wharfedales.  

kbustin
1 posts
 

Check ATI 500 series they have some

great class D amps 

also mono price has a couple back ordered till December 

 

twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,318 posts
 

Besides the ones I already mentioned, Jeff Rowland is another egregious omission.

niodari's avatar
niodari OP
300 posts
 

Do you mean any particular JR class d amp?

As to Nuprime, i am not aware about STA 9 but still have HPA 9 preamp which is class a. Quite well sounding preamp by the way.

mbolek
167 posts
 

@niodari 

The UcDs were DIY amps that I build over 10 yrs ago.  Ncore via Teac, NAD, and Cambridge designs.   Purifi via Mivera.

I have always found that the source content really defined the listening experience. Garbage in...garbage out.

Never listened to vinyl and relied on CDs before streaming.  Had high end Levinson transports, class A amps.  Doesn't compare to streaming native content that I'm experiencing now.

I have to say that my old UcD 700 monoblocks sound really good through my Roon core and streaming via Qobuz.  The Purifi's are a good step above and my current reference.  The Class D GaN 5 gives me another level of definition.  I can't really describe it (and not going to throw out all the reviewers terms).  It just has me saying, I've listened to this song 1000 times and wow, it really sounds so much better.  If I had to use one word....layering.  Not 3D, but something special.

Looking forward to the Peachtree stuff and will also be trying the Rose RA180 when it hits the US. 

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