Class-D or switching amps, any opinions on??


Does anybody have experience on Class-d or switching amps vs either a/b or traditional amps?? I have heard people knock them for limited ability at the low frequencies. However, I listened to a Linn amp not long ago and could not hear it wanting for anything. I want to hear a Rotel switching amp to compare. Why buy a massive 90lb amp thats a space heater if you dont have to, right???
128x128bobrock
Love my Class D Gilmore Raptor monos. Clean and clear, with gobs of power and a sound that is smoother than I could have imagined. 93% efficient as well! They use huge toroidal power transformers and weigh 37lbs each, a lot of weight for class D amps. I've also owned the stereo model, the Raven -it has a similar sound to the raptors, but only half the power.

When I did the audition for the Raven, I compared it to Nuforce ref 9 V2 and an Atmasphere OTL tube amp. The Gilmore sounded more like the Atma than the Nuforce (which was harsh to my ears).

Gilmore Amps
Check out the Nuforce 9SE V2 amps. Great sound and good value.
I just sent mine for the V3 upgrade. Should be very interesting.
" ... they don't mimic the special quality of tubes -- a kind of creamy sweetness in the harmonic presentation. It is easy to understand the appeal of that tube sound; it has had a grip on me for years. But what the Spectrons do is, to my mind, ultimately even more impressive....[they] have a crystalline purity in the reproduction of every voice and instrument that sounds more to me like the essence of live, unamplified music -- which I attend, on average, more than once a week year-round-- than any other amplifier, at any price, based on any technology, that I have ever heard"

-Blue Note 2009 Award for Best Amplification by Enjoy The Music to Spectron Audio amplifier - http://spectronaudio.com/

John Ulrick of Spectron is the inventor of class D audio amplifier in1976.

Check their awards and professional reviews on their web site and do Audiogon search for the owners comments/reviews.

All The Best In Your Search

Rafael
Here are some interesting links:
The International Rectifier module has a fullbridge / halfbridge selector switch for those who can't decide!

https://ec.irf.com/v6/en/US/adirect/ir;jsessionid=74D07C3679B3902FCD3E847F05518E49?cmd=catSearchFrame&domSendTo=byID&domProductQueryName=IRAUDAMP7S

Here is another link with several articles on 'd' amps.

http://www.irf.com/product-info/audio/classddesign.html

I have the IR reference board out in the garage, awaiting a power supply. I will be able to directly compare with an ICE moduled PS Audio GCC integrated, which I will probably be forced to use as a preamp! Awaiting funds to build a +-55volt ps.
Dob - Sinclair produces class D audio amplifier called X-10 in 1964 (Designer: Gordon Edge)