Class "D" amp? I do not have a clue. Do you?


I have been a serious audiophile for 30 years and class "D" audio is new to me. Most important, what do they sound like?
orpheus10
You may want to check out the Digital Amplifier Company's products. Many users have commented about the superiority of the DAC amps relative to ICE and UcD amps from Channel Islands, Wyred, etc. Massive linear pwr supplies.
While I am friends w/ the owner, feel free to take my comments w/ a grain of salt but there are many happy customers who have moved on from ICE/UcD much like the Spectron users have.
I'm still waiting to do a direct Spectron vs. DAC comparison.
"Tube pre before Class D" is a good mantra!

-Mike
While I have certainly not tried them all, I have owned and/or listened to a few/several. Actually liked the initial sound, but over time I grew tired of them and was disappointed the more I listened to them. I think, or at least like to think that there is a great future with them. However, I am a bit suspicious of the wide pricing range and the super megabuck versions in terms of improvement over many of the more moderately priced ones.

So in the end, I am not currently/presently sold on their sound/performance and found them lacking for my expectations in too many areas.

Whether right or wrong, I have found that with virtually all components I have tried (quite a few), that the bigger and better the power supply side, the better the sound. So far, I have found this to be true with Class A and tubed amplifiers as well.

My suggestion for those considering the Class D amps is that very extensive (lots of time) listening be performed prior to purchasing, preferably in one's own system. I think they deliver a generally appealing sound initially, but I myself found the ones I have auditioned and owned lacking in the longer run. Perhaps my sound goal differs from others, but for my tastes this was/is my experience.
Ck,

Can you elaborate some on what you found lacking and include which amps specifically and the systems used in?

Thanks.
Some digital amps have 'heroic' power supplies, for example, Spectron and H20.
Have you heard those? As with non-class D solid state amps, class D shouldn't be lumped together soundwise.