Class D Amplification Announcement

Andrew and Tim, welcome to this thread, you have certainly injected new life into it.  I applaud you both for engaging, names exposed, on a user's forum.  Andrew, assuming you are still affiliated with TAS, I am very appreciative of your candor. This is exactly the attitude that is needed to elevate TAS back to respect-worthy status.

TAS Editor, are you listening?   I forwarded this thread you several days ago, but you did not respond.

i've come to realize how much of my perceived need for tubes in the chain was palliative in nature, solving for digititis and/or solid state artifacts introduced in the source and amp stages... in this crazy, unpredictable journey i have been on, i would never, never have thought i would be here... 

@jjss49 I thought this was a very interesting point — as digital has gotten better with less edge, glare, etc. while simultaneously improving significantly in its ability to portray tone and microdynamics it’s at the point where it can now stand on its own without needing tubes to cover up former deficiencies.  That Ralph, the quintessential OTL tube supporter, now manufactures a GaN amp I think jibes with your experience.  Great time to be an audiophile. 

Michael Borresen is one sharp guy and it still amazes that he can design world-class speakers, and then go into amplifiers and other items as well. Prior Aavik pieces seem well-regarded (despite the prices of all Borresen designed items).    And then there is the obscene pricing for sn... oil products...

I have DSP room correction and minor DSP equalization and my good old McCormack DNA-1 as musical as it is, cannot hold a candle to my Class D W4S STI-1000. 

The W4S Class D integrated is silent at the speakers and runs 500w/1000w which is plenty for the old Raidho D2s. I get pure liquid detail and an iron grip on bass. I've never had a super expensive Cl A or AB to compare, but I am very happy now.

If you read it, it MUST be true.

The reason why I think more manufacturers will be using their resources in developing Digital and even lower cost Class D amps is in part due to the energy efficiency.

The reason we did it is because the switching nature of the class allows the designer to be freed from a lot of the distortion sources that cause solid state (AB designs) to sound bright and harsh. In that regard, the same reason we've made tube amps for the last 49 years.