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
Kijanki,

I more or leass agree with you in your assessment of SMPS versus lienar power supplies and already noted that we use both, one type in audiophile products and another in pro audio projects (e.g. 8kw rms pro audio ampliifer with linear power supplies will need a truck to move from one place to another).

The only reason whyt we did not move SMPS to audiophule products is the cost. I think very few music lovers will be willing to pay additional , say $1k or $2k (I don;t remember exactly) for slight improvment in sound. Plus it would be bad for our reputation: to charge money and not deliver.

Regarding "What is different in Spectron amps? " - again from our web site:

"Uniqueness of the Spectron Design
====================================
Chief Designer John Ulrick is a control systems engineer (and an amplifier is a control system). Because of this, Spectron amplifiers are designed with an emphasis on very high speed control loops. These high speed control loops result in the amplifier’s remarkable ability to reproduce detail that other amplifier’s cannot reproduce. Moreover, due to this incredible control loop speed and stability, our amplifiers can drive the most difficult speakers in the world (down to a 0.1 Ohm load!) effortlessly. "

Simon
I have a Jeff Rowland Continuum 500 integrated amp that sounds as good if not better than any other amp that I've owned. You should hear it with a pair of Wilson Sophia 2's. It sounds fantasic. I don't think that all Class D amps should be written off characterized as being all the same. Just my .02 cents.
Simon, I checked Spectron website - very impressive. 100kHz bandwidth and 65A max current is not easy to do. I am especially impressed with bandwidth - less phase shift in audio band. Spectron will be possibly my next amp.
Mapman was absolutely right saying,

"If you want Class D to sound good to you bad enough, maybe try building your system around a Class D amp of choice."

I have the same class D amps, the H2O for 7 years. My system now is clear through every frequency point. That was not so over the first 4 years. It was great in the 2 years between then and now, with now being spectacular.

I continued making changes in my system around my class D amps as Mapman suggests.
I'm thinking on Kij's wavelength.

I'm a current 'd' owner....some ICE amps, but the Spectron would be on any short list of auditions....and it is a pretty short list.

With the black faceplate!