UcD vs TriPath Digital amps.

I have been enthusiastic about the CarverPro ZR1600 digital power amp which I have used for several years with Magnepan MG1.6 speakers. Actually I have three ZR1600, each driving a MG1.6 with one channel and a two-driver subwoofer with the other. The ZR1600 uses the Tripath digital control module.

I have just purchased three CI Audio D-200 amps, which use the UcD digital module. The TriPath module does its digital switching at a commanded variable frequency (“spread spectrum”). The modulation pattern is between 200 KHz and 1.5 MHz. The UcD module is self-oscillating (like the ICE module) at (I think) 44KHz.

Let me say at the onset that the ZR1600 is a very fine amplifier, and mates particularly well with the MG1.6. My reasons for replacing it are not primarily on account of its sonic character. I wanted an amp that I could attach directly to the rear of the speakers, thereby avoiding any issue with speaker cables. This is not practical with the ZR1600 because it has a cooling fan, and needs to be in a remote location, like the cellar. Also, as my subwoofer system has evolved its impedance has ended up at 2 ohms. While the ZR1600 is rated for 2 ohm operation, distortion with this load is increased, and I am worried about what happens to the other channel, which shares the power supply. My plan is to drive one subwoofer driver with each channel of a ZR1600, and use a CI Audio D-200 for the Maggie.

All three ZR1600, six channels of 600 watts at 4 ohms, cost me less than $2500. Three D-200, 325 watts each, cost me almost $3500. If cost is important I think that the ZR1600 wins.

Thus far I have simply inserted the D-200 amps in place of one channel of the ZR1600, in the cellar without changing speaker cables, but initial listening is encouraging. Playing a Mozart violin concerto, Pentatone SACD PTC 5186 064 (an excellent disc) the sound is really smooth, sweet, tube-like (?), without loss of the clarity that I liked in the ZR1600. I find that violin is most affected by any sharpness in the midrange. More extensive listening will be interesting, especially when I get around to relocation of the amps at the speakers without speaker wires.

The CI D-200 is well built. It has received enthusiastic reviews by the various gurus, and it seems that this is not hype.