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Classdaudio vs Channel Islands amps

I was wondering if anyone has heard any models from both Classdaudio and Channel Island amps. I searched the threads, but I couldn't find a comparison. I want to know how the two brands compare in terms of sound, durability, and build quality. I know that Classdaudio builds their own circuit board while Channel Islands use Hypex. I would appreciate any information.
izora
audiozen
831 posts
 
Correction..The SMPS1200 is the power supply, not the NC1200 which is the switching module.
strateahed
305 posts
 
Izora, yes I prefer the CI Audio D-200's to the Class D Audio amps. To me the D-200's are more neutral in my system. Never listened to the Cherry's ... hence no comment. I only communicated with the owner/designer. That's my point. Talking to the owner/designer doesn't determine if I'm going to like their product in my system and in my listening environment.

Everything on the list in my embedded comment has any number of fanboys and detractors. I made up my mind by listening and comparing. In the case of the Class D to Channel Islands ... those were compared directly as I was able to go back and forth. So, I'll leave this thread alone and sign-off with the familiar Your Mileage May Vary (YMMV). Good luck and happy listening.
audiozen
831 posts
 
Izora..I worked in retail for several years back in the 80's and in 2005 started a high end retail business that had a short life since my silent JV partner in Oregon was hit hard with his wife coming down with Cancer. She never recovered and he pulled out providing investment capital so I went out of business. The discount range in high end audio retail varies between 40% and 55% based on bracket buying. Iy you buy one to three amps wholesale its a 40% discount. If you buy five amps its 50% discount. Buy ten amps and you get 55% off. This is why I get pissed off at some companies selling factory direct at very high rip off prices to consumers at no discount who do not have to sell to retailers resulting in doubling their profit margins and screwing consumer's. Class D Companies such as Class D Audio, D-Sonic, DAC, Wyred4Sound, Arion, and a few other's recognize this and keep their prices low for the consumer. The highest profit margin's for manufacturer's and retailer's are cable's.
audiozen
831 posts
 
Izora..if you buy the Class D Audio SDS-470C and like to drive an amp hard, Tom recommends a power supply upgrade for $60.00 which would take you from 28K microfarads to 60K microfarads. The larger power supply upgrade consists of six caps at 10K microfarads each and each cap has an 80 volt output.
audiozen
831 posts
 
Well...heck..exploring further on Class D Audio comes up more negative than positive. On one forum I read that a customer purchased a Class D amp and the packaging was terrible. The amp was thrown in a carton with nothing more than styrofoam chips poured around the amp instead of solid foam bars with cutouts holding the amp in the center of the carton. One of the circuit boards broke away from the mount screws and moved back and forth. Had to send back. There is no phone number anywhere on the Class D Audio website.
I came across photos of the D-Sonic M2 and M3 amps and more impressed than ever. The M2 and M3 top models use the same amps. The M2/M3 600M mono blocks uses Abletec amps and their M3 1500M uses Pascal amps. A review by a consumer on the Polk Audio forum who bought the M2 600M mono blocks had them burned in for a month running them through a pair of KEF Q speakers and found them to be warm, very organic, presenting the music with a very powerful flowing ease with no strain whatsoever. D-Sonic is still at the top of my list for best value for Class D amps.
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