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
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.
As far as for sale items go,did we forget this a Agon,everything stereo is for sale sooner or later.
Teajay, you got me, Reading back on what you say, I don't know what I was replying to. BTW Henry's amps are just a bit less expensive than the Kharma.

There is one big drawback for all highly resolving amps. A persons attending fair is likely to betray itself as not up to snuff. My Pass preamp was the first to go, then the wires, and after that I revamped my front end. Visitors have brought over their CDPs, and they all were non-listenable. I am now a super believer in non oversampling rigs. I did not spend a lot of money fixing things. Henry took care of the preamp issue. I did not have to look elsewhere.

For a lot of audiophiles, changing out stuff may seem normal. I am a conservative audio enthusiast.