Oh how I wish Class D amps ...

The single characteristic that most impresses me about my digital amplifier (Tact) is the absence of noise-white, pink, or mechanical-it is simply absent. The result is that one can hear much more low level detail and much less compression than with any conventional amplifier I have used. Don't get me wrong, I have owned and loved well designed tube amplifiers (ARC, Music Reference, VTL), but they do make noise and compress the signal. I submit that many of us have simply got accustomed to these distortions, as previously we had got accustomed to tape hiss and grove rush. Because two channel sound is not the natural way we hear, the brain has to decide if a simulation we have created is "correct", meaning the usual distortions

All I know is that I had Bryston 7B-st amps, traded them for Rowland 201's and they didn't cut it. Now I'm back to big beef -- Cary MB500's. Speakers were Maggie 3.6's and Aerial 9's.

The Rowlands lacked oomph (in my system -- YMMV)

Rich

Summitav : RAAL OEM ribbons are simply the best high frequency transudcers on the planet IMO. They are the epitomy pf perfect highs.

Class D amps and their advocates remind me of the dated Ford commercial where you have the owner of a new Ford Galaxy( I'm dated too)espousing to the chauffer of a Rolls Royce, Fords claim that their product rides as quiet as a Rolls.The Chauffer,without hesitation says "maybe so but lets compare them after 20,000 miles and see which one is quieter"

TT,

What class D amps have you tried and what was the rest of the systems?

ALso what Class AB amps specifically?

I do not find the Class D amps in my rig match what you describe. Maybe I'm missing something, but I have heard a lot of good reference systems for comparison.

Of course, we all are entitled to our opinions.

If you do not want a big amp and don;t like Class D, then Macrojack had a good recommendation.