2. amps-preamps
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Oh how I wish Class D amps ...

I sure wish manufacturers and designers would move forward as quickly as is possible on improving the current status of Class D amps ... I have heard them all, some in my own system, and they have SO mcu promise !!! Unfortunately they just do not have it down yet. They still sound dry, unmusical, and strange in the treble ... kind of chalky and rolled off, and definitely lacking air.
I long for the day I can get rid of my hundred pound Class AB monster amp, for a nice small cool running amp that sounds just as good. I am worried though that designers and manufacturers have accepted the " It sounds good enough" opinion, and that the B&O Ice power may be a long time before it is "fixed"... sigh.
Just my rant ...
timtim
timtim OP
84 posts
 
Devialet must have the worst website and online infor I have ever seen. I tried looking into it, and can't even find power ratings, pricing, or anything else for that matter LOL.
timtim OP
84 posts
 
Ya know ... as an interesting note to this ... If you look at MOST of the websites of the digital amp manufacturers, you will see where they boldly offer claims saying their particular amps offer more high end air and sweeter and extended highs than other digital amp offerings ... This alone is enough to hint that there are aknowledged issues with digital amps sound quality. You can find this type of claim on Cheery's, Hypex, W4S, and Nuforce just to name a few.

There own admission of this has to be taken as a concern, or they would never have even brought it up ;-)
audiofreakgeek
115 posts
 
Here's the key to Nuforce, must be left on, and warmed up for a day or two before listening, I never turn mine off, you need good power cords, and good power conditioning, and they must be broken in, in no way is the Nuforce dull.
gammajo's avatar
gammajo
844 posts
 
I have the Nuforce Reference V3SE's. They require special setup that includes power isolation, and given their low mass and weight (about 7 lbs) vibration control and weighting on top to sound their best. They are worth these efforts. They respond well to tube preamps and do reveal the rest of the audio chain. Robert Harley of Absolute Sound just purchased Nuforce amps for his own personal home theatre system and praises their sound. He should have pretty good ears and access to top product.
dlcockrum's avatar
dlcockrum
2,190 posts
 
A good friend of mine makes excellent Class D amps. I have heard them numerous times and did not think that they sounded the least bit "dry, unmusical, and strange in the treble". I would not confuse their sound with tubes, but they were not unmusical and they can drive the designer's Apogee Scintillas (1 ohm impedance) very nicely.

But....they are not "nice small cool running amp". They have VERY beefy power supplies. Maybe that is why they sound so good.

Anyway, if you want to hear what Class D amps can really do, check out this website and contact Henry:

http://www.iceh2oaudio.com/index_htm.html

Good luck.

Dave
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