Classdaudio vs Channel Islands amps

Izora, see below for a response I posted in July regarding this subject. It's not about the same model you're considering, but it's from the Class D Audio family. My suggestion ... just go ahead and get one in for a no cost audition. If it meets your approval, keep it ... if not go on to the next amp.

One of the great things about this hobby is that it's part of a cottage industry. I've spoken with Dusty, Tom of Class D Audio, and Tommy O at Digital Amp Co. My personal experience is that talking to manufacturers either on the phone or in person at audio shows is of little value. They all feel they have a product that belongs in your home and in your system. In the final analysis, only you can make that call.

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I tried the SDS-254 and it was natural sounding and compared well with other Class D designs that I auditioned. Sound-wise it was tilted up on the low end a bit. All together I had the following in my system: Nuforce, Bel Canto, Wyred4sound, Channel Island, and Class D Audio.

To my ears, and in my system, the Nuforce bettered the Channel Islands but only slightly ... and at more than twice the cost ($2,400 vs $5,000). I am currently running CI Audio D-200's. The Class D offering was a close third. Unlike a few others, I was not very impressed with either Bel Canto or W4S. Both are ICE module based and were very detailed and clear ("Everything being right with no soul"). They were bought used and sold for about the same amount.

Finally, you can get the Class D direct from the mfg and audition in-home for at least a month. He's a good guy to deal with as well; and in terms price/performance ... you can't go wrong. Just my 2 cents.
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So according to your experience, you put the Channel Islands amp ahead of the Class D Audio one... very interesting.

Audiozen,
I'm thinking about buying an assembled version since I've never made anything. Tom said it's pretty simple to put together, but I'll probably still have a hard time. The assembled ones are still a great value.

Stratahead,
I was also interested in the Digital Amp Co. cherry amps, but they are more expensive than other class D amps. Have you heard these amps? These would have to sound at least 4 to 5 times better (to my ears) than the Class D Audio amps to justify the higher price.

Izora..don't let higher prices trick you into believing you will get better sound. Thats walking into fools gold territory. There are testimonials from over forty customers on the Class D Audio website who have purchased their amps and the one thing that is impressive is that most describe the amps as having a very smooth, warm organic character like tube amps. I owned in the past the Nuforce REF 9 MKII's back in 2006 and they were very neutral but had no warmth and did not care for their high frequencies or bass. I believe you can have the power supply upgraded in the Class D Audio SDS-470C and if thats confirmed, I will be purchasing the amp in about ten days and will keep you posted on my listening results. During the past year Jeff Dorgay with Tone Audio Magazine commented to me on his review of the Channel Islands D-500 MKII mono blocks and said they are great amps but definitely not warm. I've held off during the past two years hoping to run across a warm sounding Class D amp thats not ICE, and Class D Audio seems to have achieved that quality based on all the customer's who purchased their amps.