Magfan - I know the IR amp - whole project with schematics and PCB was available on their web site. I like SMPS if designed right. They are regulated and work on non-audible frequency that is easy to filter out (not to mention efficiency). Layout for switching power supply is not a trivial thing and requires detail knowledge of chip's operation. SMPS are also much stronger for the size since 2" toroid at 100kHz can deliver as much power as 10" toroid at 60Hz. Unfortunately designers try to save money and often undersize SMPS.
Half bridge class D amps like your IR or Hypex sound like very good SS amp while full bridge (Icepower) sounds a little toward good tube amp (DIY forum). Full bridge also carries DC equal to half of supply voltage on speaker cables (relative to ground).
If you build your own standard power supply investigate "slit foil" electrolytic capacitors (used in Hypex kits) - very expensive but fast. Cuts in foil break induced currents and lower effective inductance.
Let me know how you like it when you fire it up. Icepower patent is just one of many variations on Sigma-Delta A/D.
Class D without sigma-delta modulator was only good enough for guitar amps since Mosfets were slow and just in recent years Mosfets got much faster (carrier moved to 0.5MHz or better).
Half bridge class D amps like your IR or Hypex sound like very good SS amp while full bridge (Icepower) sounds a little toward good tube amp (DIY forum). Full bridge also carries DC equal to half of supply voltage on speaker cables (relative to ground).
If you build your own standard power supply investigate "slit foil" electrolytic capacitors (used in Hypex kits) - very expensive but fast. Cuts in foil break induced currents and lower effective inductance.
Let me know how you like it when you fire it up. Icepower patent is just one of many variations on Sigma-Delta A/D.
Class D without sigma-delta modulator was only good enough for guitar amps since Mosfets were slow and just in recent years Mosfets got much faster (carrier moved to 0.5MHz or better).