"D" amps, general discussion who's 1 and why?

This hobby is so subjective and system dependent that individual opinion, whether it be from a casual user or even professional reviewers, is almost useless. The handling of The Absolute Sound's reviews of the NuForce 9SE "Amplifier Of The Year", its inclusion in their class D shootout, and recently the 9SE v2, is a wonderful example of subjective audio opinion and editorial disagreement.

Compared to my linear solid state and tube amplifiers class D amplifiers have taken the most effort to integrate into my system to enjoy their full potential and an understandable reason for many of the negative experiences. I'm personally very skeptical of any reference of class D amplifiers sounding tube like. While there may be certain areas were the two may reach a similar timbre their general presentations are different. You like the sound of tubes, buy a tube amp.

This months The Absolute Sound has a review of Nuforce Ref 9 SE V2 amps that Chris Martens gave a very positive review of.

I have been using these class d proprietary amps for quite a while. I took my standard Ref 9 of almost three years ago through Nuforce upgrade plan to SE then V2. The upgrades being very reasonable and well worth the small price for the latest technology IMO. The first version to my ears did not have the problems that Martens refers to in the new review, he did the original ref 9 back in TAS issue 158.

Nuforce like most audio companies offer an in home trial for system matching.

My system with class d powering it has won over my doubts with superior sound and total musical enjoyment. I am not pushing these amps just giving my experience with class d.

Vicdamone did not intend to double up on what you have said. I wrote the post and got side tracked for awhile then made the post with out going back to the thread.

Your response tells it like it is. Its also true that not all like milk in there coffee.

Hello Dev,

"Sbank, there are few that have gone from Tube amps to specifically Spectron amps latest version. There is a lengthy but very good review on Audiogon from one owner and the amps he compared to which are very respected, there are others also and this is why these have peaked my interest and want more thoughts from others regarding this..."

I am not sure if you mean my review where I compared Spectron (positively) with VTL Sigfrieds but if its true I heard other tube amplifiers since.

While, I will not take a "penny" from Spectron - its good amp, there are few OTL amplifiers which lead you directly to heaven. I mean Athma-Sphere and Joule-Electra, and to ask which is better its the same as to ask who is the better painter Susanne or Degah (spelling is bad?).

I will rephrase: do you prefer hi-res photo portrait or the paintning by TALANTED artist which can look into the soul of individual. I know my answer.

All The Best
Rafael

Well, with a name like "Rafael" (the great Italian artist), we'll know that you're more into interpretation than "accuracy." There's nothing wrong with that, BUT, I predict, if you love Atma, then you'll not be happy with Spectron or Rowland.

I'm from the other school, but I know where you're coming from.

Dave