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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
ghdprentice
6,950 posts
 

@mglik 

 

Thank you for your very kind words.

 

 

twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,318 posts
 

I'm kind of surprised there hasn't been more discussion of the Nuprime Evolution STA.  Anyone heard it?

niodari's avatar
niodari OP
300 posts
 

It would be interesting if there are some comparisons, in particular, between Nuprime ST-10 stereo, ST-10 mono blocks  and Evo STA amps. I suggest ST-10 stereo may have the highest value performance/cost. 

As to the Voyager, it made the first "improvement jump" after about 20 hours of use. If following 10 jumps will be equally significant, then this amp is a great amp,  a perhaps, with a best value performance/cost. So far, i use the same setup with RCA cables and Nuprime HPA-9 preamp (if i mentioned it earlier,  the HPA-9 was better than the W4S STP 2 preamp hooked up with the Nuprime ST-10 amp). 

twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,318 posts
 

I gather Jason Lim shut down production of the Evolution monoblocks because the Evolution STA offered 90-95% of the performance at just over half the price, so it is now their flagship product.  I can't seem to find out whether the STA uses proprietary modules or ones purchased from an OEM.

peter_s
1,335 posts
 

I took a chance on a used pair of Audions because they don't come up that often and I wanted to hear them.   Count me highly impressed.  Totally black background, very fast, neutral tonal balance, good spatial representation - I do think they are revolutionary.  From my perspective, the current top contenders are the AGD and Atmasphere Class D amps (Ralph, I may be giving you a call).  I would love to hear Ralph's Class D amps and the Vivaces as well. The AGD Audions sound great with my VAC Signature IIse preamp and my Tekton Encore speakers.  Have yet to feed them into my Avalon Eidelon Diamonds.

Would love to hear people's experience of the Atmasphere Class D.  From what I've heard, people who have heard them very often end up buying them, and they are flying off the shelves...

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