Class D Amp For 'Stats?

I too have the SL A1's. Earlier this year I tried the H20 non-signature stereo amp here. Once I got passed the claimed "inapplicability" of these amps with MIT ICs, I had pretty much the same results with NBS ICs....the H20 was fine but not a musical match with the A1s. Resolving, yes......involving it simply was not. An older Counterpoint NPS400 had far more portrayal of space and body even though it lacked the ultimate extension at the frequency extremes. The CAT JL-3 Signature amps took the musicality so far beyond the H20, but of course at a price. The CAT's dynamics and incredible resolution brings out these same strengths of the SL's.

I have also heard the JL-2 with the SL speakers and for the price, it is unbeatable. This on the used market is not too much different from a pair of the fully decked out H20 mono amps and the JL-2 would simply destroy the H20's with the SLs.

And Nealhood brings up another great option with the Atmaspheres. I also heard the MA1's with the SL's and these too are incredibly musical with a more rich and full lower midrange but not quite the dynamics and ultimate resolution of the CAT JL-2. This was a back-to-back comparison of the SL U1's last year.

As for Brystons, before I had the A1's, I had the Magnepan 3.3 and 3.5 for 6 years. Several amps that I owned, ARC VT130, Wolcott 220, even the Counterpoint NPS400 hybrid drove the Magnepans to a musical level the Brystons simply could not touch. Speaker drivability is only part of the equation. Why anyone would use the Bryston amps with Maggies is beyond me and yet that is often what you read about with these speakers. And to consider them on the much more dynamic and resolving SL speakers makes no sense at all.

Dlstephenson,

Can you tell me what amps you have heard? What you seem to be describing is quite different to my own experiences. thanks.

Nealhood,

I fully understand your comments on the Atmas. I have owned both the S-30 and the M-60s in the past (not for the SoundLabs, obviously). However, the biggest single push towards the possibility of the Class D amps is the ability to leave them on at all times. You see, what I did not explain was that, at this time, I'm pretty much forced to listen in short intervals of an hour or less. No amp is going to sound anywhere near its best for least 1/2 hour after a start from cold. I'm just plain tired of having to shut things down at the same time things are starting to sound good.

Warnerwh,

I have also owned the Innersound ESL (driving the Eros, as a matter of fact). I think it's a very good amp, and - especially used - a fantastic value. What I never got from the ESL was the harmonic richness of tubes, something I value highly. A couple of reviews of the various Class D amps have suggested that that richness is characteristic to a degree. Here, I'm specifically thinking of Srajan Ebaen's review of the H2Os. Coming from a long time tube addict such as Srajan, I found his comments to be rather striking.

Jafox,

Now that's what I needed - a directly applicable opinion. I wonder if the H2O M250 Signatures would be better? These are actually my top contenders at the moment. The CATs are great amps, but they have the same downside as any other tube amp for me at this point in time (see above). With all due respect to Harrahlv, Bryston is not my particular cup of tea either. I actually have 3 'conventional' solid state candidates for amplification as well - Ayre V-1xe, Edge NL-12, and McCormack DNA-500. This may be a long road.....