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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
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.
wolf_garcia
6,726 posts
 
As I recently posted elsewhere, speculation about the sound of something that the speculator hasn't ACTUALLY heard is merely speculative speculating and those opinions are worthless as information except to the speculator, who may have found some comfort from having merely vented a thought, so there's that.
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drubin
3,275 posts
 
That was brilliant, wolfy. In a Professor Irwin Corey sort of way.
wolf_garcia
6,726 posts
 
I took Corey's class at Yale...he was brilliant, albeit somewhat smelly.
mlapenta
107 posts
 
Not sure why we can't get along. Haha. I changed out a good a/b amp to class D and have no regrets. Love the sound. Still feel the top end is way more important I like the combo of great d/a with tube pre amp and class d on bottom.
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