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Class A amps or Class D??: Which sounds better??

Amplifier performance and synergy depends on the other components, and cables in a system. I have read alot about the advantages of Class A.amps Though an older amp design, do class A amps necessarily sound better than Class D digital amps like Nu-Force, Bel Canto, and Wyred4Sound?? These class D amps supposedly run more efficiently, with less heat and noise and are smaller in size.

I have a friend who has a Musical Fidelity A3CR power amp and a Bel canto pre-amp, and a pair of Spendor floorstanders. The MF amp is at least 10 years old, and no longer made. I have listened to the amp in his system, and it does sound very good. Most noteably is its across the board smoothness. However, I think its performance is system dependent, and might be a liability in other systems. Would like to hear comments and opinions about these two amp "designs", and if one sounds better than the other, OR JUST DIFFERENT.

BTW, I am not sure that owning a 10 year old amp like the MF A3CR is a good idea, despite its class A rating, and a few positive consumer reviews I have seen. Thank you
sunnyjim
dob
577 posts
 
" Think about price/performance curves"

Atmasphere, if your comment was addressed to me ...I was just teasing with every so often "THE class D amplifier of the DAY" attitude.

If I would change my current amps, I would install central air (if possible in 100 years old townhouse) and buy OTL - yours of that of Jud Barber of JOule-Ekectra....well and than had to change my speakers (B&W 802D).... probably not, sorry. There is no reason really to change my Spectrons - I invested bazzilions in various upgardes and...verrrrry happy with my sound. As a matter of fact I LUV IT (to put it modestly)

Rafael
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,880 posts
 
:)

B&W 802s don't really work with tubes anyway...
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,374 posts
 
Atmasphere is right that Class D amp technology is likely still evolving along the technology maturity curve, certainly it is newer than other types relatively speaking. But it has been around a while and has reached a fairly mature state at this point I would say, at least based on my experience so far. I did consider waiting about 2 years back when I splurged on my current Class Ds, but hey tthey seemed like the best solution available for me at the time so I decided to take the plunge. You only live once TTBOMK. One can never be certain what lies ahead.
mitch2
4,055 posts
 
Class A has little power but lots of finess
Stringreen, my Clayton M300 amps provide 300wpc into 8ohms and 600wpc into 4ohms - all in Class A. In the tubed world, Ralph and others also offer pretty high powered Class A amps. High powered Class A amps require large, high quality power supplies not typically found in Class AB or Class D amps. I am not saying there are no better sounding amps than those that run in Class A (because I don't know, plus the Class AB Jones PA-M300 amps are said to sound great) but there are reasons that really good Class A amps sound really good.
doggiehowser
672 posts
 
I think there's a lot to be said for system matching.

I have heard the Thiel CS3.7s powered by Bel Canto REF1000s, and then REF1000Ms (upgraded kit to the base 1000s), Plinius SA-Reference and Electrocompaniet.

For the price of the REF1000Ms, I think they punched way above their weight class. Once I improved the power to the REF1000Ms (ASI Liveline fed through Sound Application RLS 240 conditioner), the margin was very close especially when I switched from the Bel Canto Pre3 to an ARC Reference 5SE pre.

The price was like a factor of 1x (for Bel Canto), 2x and 3x.
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