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A great article on Class D/switching amps

The latest edition of The Absolute Sound has, in my opinion, the best overall perspective and evaluation of the eight most regarded class D switching amps on the market today.

The article contains an explanation of the technology, an interview with a couple of the most important designers, the individual reviews and finally a round table discussion regarding these amps.

I believe any of you GON members who might be considering auditioning a class D switching amp would want to review this piece regarding their different sonic signatures.

I had the pleasure of listening to the Kharma MP150 which the panel picked as being on top of the "heap" compared to Audio Research 300.2,Channel Island Audio D-200, Nuforce Reference 9 Special Edition, Red Dragon Audio Leviathan Signature, Jeff Roland Design Group 201, Cary Audio Design A 306,and finally the Spectron Musician III.

Each amp had at least two different reviewers with different systems evaluate them and then compare their experiences. This was a well done piece and if you read it I believe you find it both educational and helpful to understand what these amps are all about.
teajay
coffeey's avatar
coffeey
363 posts
 
Also I think part of it might be ,do you really need 40,000 to build a reference,seriously 30,40, 50,000 thousand,pretty ridiculous when it gets right down to actually.
muralman1
1,527 posts
 
Teajay, there have been two pairs of H2O amps for sale recently. One was sold along with speakers for financial reasons. The other sale was speaker driven IMHO. In any event, that seller is a die hard tube lover. There is no telling for preferences.

I would love Nelson to drive down the hill to hear what I have. My bet is he would change his design priorities straight away.

Who says there must be one design? Henry makes ICE ASP amps at a substantially lower price for those who want them. He sells the Signature monos direct, and makes only a decent return. It takes some dough to make these amps in America.

macrojack
1,303 posts
 
Copy that, Coffeey. Why should a pair of speakers or an amplifier or a turntable cost as much to produce as a luxury car? Or twice as much? The prices of modern high end equipment are downright scandalous. We audiophiles seem to be goose stepping along in mass hypnosis nodding our heads in agreement about what a bargain a $600 power cord represents.
I think the reason behind the endless proliferation of new high end manufacturers relative to the nearly static growth in the number of audio buyers can be explained by the preposterous margins enjoyed when a sale is occassionally made. I never really fed this beast in any big way in the past but I'm going to try to starve it from now on by seeking products which do very well for little money. Class D seems to provide that option.
teajay OP
1,691 posts
 
Branimir, you are quite correct. I have never auditioned the present Krell Evolution generation of amps. I was refering to past experiences with prior generations of Krell gear, that was not my cup of sonic tea.

Muralman1, it sure would be fun to have Nelson come to your house and see what his opinion of the H2O amps would be! I just don't understand your statement, " Who says there must be one design", I did not say that or even imply that there is only one design or type of amp that is surperior sonicly to all others. I also firmly believe that D/switching amps will get better and better as more talented designers get involved with this type of amp design.
coffeey's avatar
coffeey
363 posts
 
Its harder to build something with a limited budget and get good results then unlimited.There is just as many designers who cant build on a 30,000 ,as there is on 3,000 design,money doesnt matter,i dont have any Nuforce never heard it,but look at all the people voting with their money on that one,to say something like they cant hear or this isnt right compared to other products is simple wrong,ice or whatever platform can free up the designer to do his magic,like somebody above said good job B and O,Ucd,good job and well done to each and every platform.
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