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Class D Amplification Announcement

After 60 some odd years of disappointment, Class D has finally arrived. As per The Absolute Sound’s Jonathan Valin, the Borrenson-designed Aavik P-580 amp “is the first Class D amplifier I can recommend without the usual reservations. …the P-580 does not have the usual digital-like upper-mid/lower-treble glare or brick wall-like top-octave cut-off that Class D amps of the past have evinced.”

Past designers of Class D and audiophiles, rejoice; Michael Borrenson has finally realized the potential of Class D.

psag
juanmanuelfangioii
958 posts
 

As I have a wind turbine and solar I will keep my Class A Tube amps.

Jeez. 

I think high-power Class A is environmentally irresponsible. 

juanmanuelfangioii
958 posts
 

Love this q and a with Bruno.

    

S&V: Generally speaking, what are the key benefits of Class D versus the traditional Class AB and Class A designs that have long been favored by audiophiles?
BP: Efficiency and therefore the ability to construct amps that are powerful for their size. Only that. Modern Class D amps, in particular mine—ahem—sound good not because they’re Class D, but in spite of it. I can’t repeat that often enough. Left to its own devices, a switching power stage tries to do just about anything except amplify audio. You choose Class D to save energy but it’s all elbow grease after that. People don’t realize how much more challenging Class D is compared to Class AB. It’s truly an order of magnitude.

twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,320 posts
 

@arafiq I run the AGD Tempo with a Backert preamp.  Best of both worlds.  

soix
9,844 posts
 

@twoleftears Nice!

moonwatcher
494 posts
 

Oh, you mean a Crown XLi 2500 isn't "audiophile" grade then at $595. Guess not. 

Seriously, over the years as far as this hobby is concerned, I've been perplexed by this "push" to Class D.  What exactly does it offer at the end of the day that A or AB or H don't have? 

I mean sure, it is nice to pickup a 750W amp with one hand and all, but does anyone really CARE that their Class A or AB amp is using a bit more power than a Class D would?  If you can afford $4000 to $40,000 for an amp, I don't think you are worrying about your power bill. 

I guess I'm asking, just because a technology is possible doesn't give enough reason as to why to pursue it, so what gives? 

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