Tubes/SS Power Amps?

If you consider NAIM amps as good and if the rest of their gear is the same as my 5i - then they run very cool

My 5i is on 24/345 (vacations) an never gets warm
- Except in winter when my hands are cold :-)

A few gotchyas...
- naim recommends only their speaker cables (see website)
- they only have RCA and DIN inputs
- they work really well with NAIM power supplies - go figure
- sources should be grounded otherwise they may hum

Other than that they are detailed, articulate, dynamic and sound great

They are a lifestyle choice - that sound great :-)

Wolf_Garcia, while I agree with you and Atmasphere, because that's as far as my current knowledge will go; I have to take what others have written in regard to Class D amps, into consideration before the hot Summer months.


Noble100, "Class D is so neutral, quiet and clean that I'm probably hearing the sound of my preamp and source more than the sound imparted by my amp. I have noticed an improvovent in sound (more tube like) with the VTL/ClassD Audio combo than my previous VTL/Aragon combo. This was further improved when I recently replaced my preamp's NOS Mullards with a fresh set."

What Noble100 has described, is just what the doctor ordered; cool running, imparts the sound of an excellent "tube" pre with no sound of it's own. This is definitely something I could live with for the summer. As much as I love my tube mono blocks, I can live without a lit fireplace in my listening room during July.

Enjoy the music.

"Class D is so neutral, quiet and clean that I'm probably hearing the sound of my preamp and source more than the sound imparted by my amp."

That's a good point and may well be the case. I use a tube pre-amp with my Class D amps as well (Audio Research sp16).

Are Class D amps less expensive to make? Seems like they are (more power for the buck). I used a great little Class D Ampeg bass amp recently, and it was amazing. I still think tubes are more engaging (and suit my low threshold of gear entertainment) especially from an esthetic point of view, and I dig the tweek factor (who "rolls" parts of a Class D module? rhetorical question..)...a Class D hifi amp would have to have blue VU meters and an Art Deco case for me to warm up to it, but that bass amp was sweet.

"a Class D hifi amp would have to have blue VU meters and an Art Deco case for me to warm up to it,"

That would be cool. Any Mac Class Ds yet? That would get my attention.

GIve it time....