Atma-Sphere Class D… Amazing

100 watts @ 8ohms per block, utilitarian plain enclosure. Does not seem that impressive.

@avanti1960 Really?  That’s how you pre-judge this amp from one of the most reputable designers in the biz?  Pretty shallow dude.  Have a listen and then see what you think.  I believe after that you’ll be searching for recipes on how to cook crow.  Bon appetite.

Does anybody really think Ralph would’ve potentially undermined his own core business and introduced a Class D amp if he really didn’t believe in the technology and its potential? I consider this to be one of the very, very few components I’d be willing to buy blind and expect to be nothing but thrilled, and I so respect Ralph for embracing new and promising technology due to his objective assessments of its capabilities rather than relying solely on his past considerable success. Most impressive on so many levels and falls solidly in my “holy crap I never saw that coming” category.

@ddafoe Which Pass amp do you have and how does it compare to the GaN amp?

@mbmi Have you heard the Atma-Sphere GaN amp?

I’m pretty sure they found that logo to sound the best after testing many others.  Everything matters. 

We can certainly compare the input to the output and measure the differences, and from those differences make objective comparisons.
Many people actually prefer an amp that adds certain distortions to the output. Some don’t. Subjective preferences don’t have to, and often fail to, align with the actual objective performance.

@kuribo But you can’t tell how an amp really sounds just by looking at measurements either.  You can have two amps that measure similarly but sound completely different.  Why?  Because we don’t have near enough the measurements that can measure everything that has an impact on sound.  Case in point, you can buy an amp and upgrade capacitors, resistors, etc. and the measurements won’t show any difference but the sound can change significantly.  Measurements are useful as a piece of assessing performance but are FAR from being able to sufficiently describe the complete sound of a component. 
 

What are objective measurements missing, other than subjectivity?
 

Wait…ASR is calling — they need you back there ASAP!  Go!!!

I’ll call you on your claim that you heard the Atmaspere class d amp and find the Peachtree superior, even dollar for dollar. I dont believe you.

@ghasley +1.  I don’t believe for a second that @mbmi has heard the Atmasphere Class D amp and is just pulling this stuff out of his arse because he likes his Peachtree and can’t afford Ralph’s amp.  Sad. 

@charles1dad How are the LavriCables working out for you?  Still liking them?

@ricevs I wouldn’t be surprised if @atmasphere agrees with some of your suggestions (or some variation thereof), but in retail world they’d also likely up the price by hundreds if not thousands of $$$. Gotta draw the line somewhere to reach a price point the market will bear, and from the impressions of current owners it appears Ralph made very good choices to reach his target price point. Then again, this is why mods in our world are popular and why manufacturers introduce “SE” versions that use higher-quality parts and design techniques.

The one thing I’d ask Ralph is if there’s a stereo version in the future that saves a box, decreases the price, and hopefully preserves most of the magic of the mono blocks (kinda like the AGD Tempo di GaN)? Just hoping 🤞🤞🤞, and congrats on what by all accounts is a ground-breaking new amp!

Here’s a hint — if you just ignore @kuribo he’ll go away.  You’ll never change his mind, and no opinion matters to him except his own and he honestly doesn’t think he can learn anything from anyone else so there’s no point engaging him on any level.  Frankly, and in light of his mindset, I don’t even know why he’s here (short of being a total troll) because no one has any opinion or experience that are useful to him so why even bother?  Leave him to reading his spec sheets and the rest of us can continue sharing our honest opinions and thoughts, which is the whole point of this site.  Sheesh. 

There’s obviously much more to good sound than a lack of distortion.  Japanese companies tripped all over themselves in the 70s/80s to produce the lowest THD specs and by and large produced amps/receivers that sounded awful.  

I knew I’d regret saying something.  My bad. 

I can close my eyes and tell you what something sounds like. Try telling me what they look like on paper with your eyes closed.

I am not sure that is universal.

@holmz Nobody here is saying anyone’s opinion/tastes are universal, but they’re indicative of what one might expect in terms of a product’s sound signature. If any of us have learned anything in this hobby it’s that there is no “universal” truth in music reproduction. But that doesn’t mean one can’t get an INDICATION of what someone might expect out of a component. Case in point, if someone says something sounds warm with somewhat recessed highs that will go a long way to helping someone who may be looking for a highly detailed and more neutral-sounding component. Universal truths are pretty much a myth in this hobby given the myriad of variables involved, not the least of which is each person’s individual preferences and how they hear things. Just my take/experience FWIW.

I respect Ralph for so many things and count his incredible patience with kuribo here among them. But in my heart of hearts I wish he’d spend the time developing an even more affordable stereo version of these monos (hint hint) rather than using that otherwise valuable time trying to reason with a troll who can obviously never be reasoned with. Better to realize that 98% of the people here greatly respect you and your work while kuribo gets 2% on both counts so why waste your time? Again, why would a guy who puts no faith or credence in anyone’s subjective opinion (save his own) even be here where everyone looks for, values, and shares subjective opinions?  I suggest again that we just let kuribo keep typing away in his mother’s guest room or basement that he probably shares with her sewing machine and creepy dresses and ignore the useless drivel that’ll only become more useless, ridiculous, and annoying.  Easier said than done, but I think if we put our heads together we can do it.  Let’s Go!!!