Could Class D really be that good?


I've heard statements praising modern class D amplifiers all the time but was sort of hesitant to try. Lately, one particular model caught my eye, the Fosi V3, which costs sub $100 but is praised for having refined sound like class A/B. To fulfill my curiosity, I quickly ordered one and tried it with my Burchardt S400II and Wharfedale Linton speakers. Basically, this is a neutral sounding amp but, to my surprise, the sound is clean, open, airy, with full mids, wide soundstage, good imaging/separation, with nearly null traces of the edginess, dryness, or lean sound that traditional class D amplifiers have. The background is just as quiet as my current systems. The core is the TPA 3255 chip from TI and comes with a 32v, 5A power block, which is supposed to deliver approximately 65 watts per channel (into 8 ohms). It drives the S400II/Linton without any hesitation, as well as my 130-watt-per-channel high-current Parasound A23. Very impressive.

Measurement is not everything. However, according to the lab test results, when operated under 10-60 watts, the distortion level (THD) is below 0.003%, better than a lot of high-end (price) gears. I am going to build around it for my fourth system with upgraded op-amp and LPS. I believe it will outperform my current mid-end (price) amplifiers.

I know, I know, quite a few Audiogoners' systems are above $100k, and mentioning this kind of little giant that costs a fraction could be rather embarrassing. But I thought this is just like gold digging with a lot of surprises and fun. Don't you think?

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So on one hand we have a designer/builder/entrepreneur who has been building and selling top quality products for a number of years. On the other hand, we have a  ..... tweaker, who modifies other people's original designs. Hmm... who is right? Tough choice man!

The one with the truth is the one with the truth. Does not matter what the backround is of a person. By the way, I have manufactured DACs, amps, and passive preamps.....see EVS Millennium DACs on Audio review....had my passive preamp rated class A in Stereophile for 7 years......worked for Monster Cable, MFA, Sota and have had my own audiophile company since 1989......I bean around the block. It is not about taking sides.....it is about truth. What I say is true....and thousands and thousands of audio designers, engineers, and audiophiles from all around the world agree. What Ralph says.......very, very few agree with. Who is right does not matter.....what matters is that we know what is true. Again, test everything yourself. Have you tried different op amps and listened? Have you tried different passive components and measured them? If not, what do you know? This is not about wanting someone to be right or wanting something to be right.....this is about what is true. And the only way you know what is true in audio is to listen.......choose your favorite components with your ears.......choose your audio knowledge with your ears. As I said before, do not believe anyone....if you do then you are a SHEEP.....just repeating someone elses thoughts......do your own research.....be a smart person.......be self motivated....think for yourself. And most important of all....love yourself and everyone with all your heart and soul.

It is not questionable that we need the designers. What folks like ricevs and angela gilbert yeung do is " take a design that they like ", and simply improve upon it. Anything can be improved. A few years ago I was contacted by a friend of a friend, who wanted me to work on an older, very high end ss amp, retailing about $20K when introduced. My reputation proceeded me😏. All six sides of the chassis, the heatsinks and many other areas inside were so tinny and resonant. The top panel and heatsinks were an embarrassment for a 20K amplifier. Ring ring ring . Anyway, I damped the crap out of it, changed out the rubber feet, created a quieter mechanical isolation between the transformers and the chassis, and so on and so on. These damping mods are more in line with what angela gilbert yeung does. ric might or might not get the idea, as he and I have discussed this matter here. To say that this owner, and might I say, listener, thought he was hearing a newer, more modern version of his amplifier. Cleaned things up. I did not change any parts, except the feet. Everything matters. There are a few different kinds of attitudes here, with the most irritating being those that do not believe...., or can’t hear, or have an inferior set up / system, or never tried, just believe science. Those who have not tried, for an example, an upgraded power cable. $50. bucks on Amazon, please see the thread, "A Stupid Question About Power Cords". I reveal it there. It is under the Amps and Preamps category. To build a cable superior to this, it would cost me more than the $50. With a return if you can’t hear the difference, and get your ears professionally cleaned and your hearing checked. Enjoy ! MrD.

@arafiq

"So on one hand we have a designer/builder/entrepreneur who has been building and selling top quality products for a number of years. On the other hand, we have a  ..... tweaker, who modifies other people's original designs. Hmm... who is right? Tough choice man!"

Hmm... tell that to Dan Wright of "Modwright" and Bob Backert of "Backert Labs"!

 

riccitone,

What is your direct experience with the Nilai amp that makes you state what you did? Did you compare it directly to stock or modified Purifi, high powered Purifi, NCX500, Orchard, LSA, Peachtree, ICE and Pascal?  I did mods to a Nilai but when I did the mods (pictures of modded Nilai on my site) my system was not working so I could not A/B with my modded Purifi to find out how good it is relatively.  I know what the mods do....I have done the same mods to many amps and the results are always a better sound.