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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
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,851 posts
 

I am very sad that Ralph’s Class D is designed only for Nth America and Canada (and perhaps a few others) electricity supply, otherwise I’d be placing my order.

@noske We recently documented that our noise emissions meet EU directives; we always had intention of selling overseas.

niodari's avatar
niodari OP
305 posts
 

The interesting thing from the March Audio review/test is that although the distortion is very low, the remaining distortion is mostly 2nd and 3rd.  The question  becomes "although it has great bass and an extended top end, is it musical"...or is possible that the distortion possibly too low for optimal musicality?

I have just realized that i don't really know which order harmonics  THD measures. My rough  believe now is that if it is high for 2nd and 3rd order harmonics then its fine (i found the article from your latest link particularly useful and well argumented).

 

I have a suspicion that since Tommy was an admirer of Nelson Pass, he got the 2nd and 3rd harmonics where he wanted them while driving total distortion low.

We will now never know that... I suggest  this can be a best way to deal with the distortions! Such an SS amp could also sound like a tube amp. 

niodari's avatar
niodari OP
305 posts
 

I just recalled the third degree polynomial from the article. Not sure but it might be the case that THD takes a mere weighted sum of gain, the second and third degree harmonics. More refined parameter would measure the distortion of the gain, second and third order harmonics separately.

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noske
783 posts
 

@niodari THD takes a mere weighted sum of gain, the second and third degree harmonics. More refined parameter would measure the distortion of the gain, second and third order harmonics separately.

Yeah, and SINAD. This is probably not the right forum to discuss issues of specific weightings as it is quite a mathmatically beguiling issue. This, I think, is understood.

I look at a threshold metrics. Should they be met, then a visual of what else is presented is worthy of further examination - this is perhaps three or four other parameters, on a good day.

And this is becoming reasonably well understood by many inquisitive folk, with thanks to a small number (one?) of .educational resources that did not exist until recent years,  Plus valued contributions by exceptionally knowledgeable people.

 

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