Chip amps, not spoken about much, except on the diy sites.

Would like to hear it.  Big fan of simple.  However, it requires a pre-amp.  While amps can be simple it is hard to find a high quality simple preamp.  What are you using?

Buy the new Topping PA5 amp ($349). ASR rates it just below the $3K Benchmark AHB2! It is 56wpc@8ohms, 83wpc@4ohms. It is a Class D chip amp designed by a very competent team. No preamp needed because it has a front panel stereo pot. Go to ASR and check it out!

I’ve owned several of the Derek Sanderson Fleawatt amps and have always enjoyed them very much.  At the time, I had a 3 wpc 6B4G SET (basically a 6V 2a3 I was told), and after hearing a 3118 or 3116 chip amp, I could not justify running tubes as the sound was so very similar.

Chip amps, not spoken about much, except on the diy sites.

This is because in most cases they don't have the power to drive all loudspeakers. 25 or 50 watts into 8 ohms doesn't always get the job done. 

russ69, there is also very many high powered chip amps out there too.  The only high powered one I heard was from Channel Islands and it was very good.

Mostly, I feel that these chip amps really benefit from a tube preamp in front of it.

Interesting amplifier, ASR only got 23 watts at 8 ohms.  Less than half its rated power, and only midfield on their spread of different amps and SINAD.  Can't meet specs yet recommended?

Are not chip amps sort of gong the other way as far as reducing the amount of component in the signal chain? I'm saying this as a chip usually has hundreds of components on it even thought they are very small. 

Its an interesting question a friend and I were discussing, when we were thinking about them as a potential DYI build. 

Glenn:

Think some designers were aiming @ reducing the length of the signal path up to the point @ which it feeds to the speaker outputs.

Even the location of the volume pot(s) and switches were taken into account.

DeKay

@russ69 I doubt I'll ever buy another set of speakers that needs more than 25 wpc, probably not more than 10.

What I am finding amazing with this amplifier is, it does not have a sound, or a personality, of it's own. It truly takes on the information fed to it. Every amp I have ever owned, showcased both. But this amp.....NEUTRAL. It has transient speed unlike anything else; it has rhythm, beat and tempo that I adore so much; it is ruthless in it's detail; the better the recording, the more lifelike the presentation becomes. Listening to the RR " Dick Hyman " SWING is here ", Randy Sandke on Jive at Five, plays his trumpet with such authority and finesse, he appeared in front of me, between the speakers, along with the entire band.........my system disappeared ( as it does often ). It was amazing. I listened to it a few different times, making sure my latest, from the dispensary, was not fooling me. And it was not. If I were to find anything negative ( I dislike this word here ), about the pairing of this amp and my speakers, specifically at louder listening levels, I could use more oomph. Dalaudio offers mono blocks, with much beefier power supplies, and doubles up on the chips, and this I know would satisfy my wants, needs and desires. Miles Davis's " A Tribute to Jack Johnson " ( a fav of mine ) is just incredible. More to come. Enjoy ! MrD.

The only high powered one I heard was from Channel Islands and it was very good.

I sat with the Channel Island guy for a long time at "The Show" while he was playing with his amp. It was good but he knew there was more to get out of it and was still working on it. Not sure if he hit the sweet spot now or not. 

@russ69 I doubt I'll ever buy another set of speakers that needs more than 25 wpc, probably not more than 10.

I run low powered tube amps but they have huge power supplies and punch way above their weight. I also have two chip amps, pretty good for what they are but a big step down from true higher end stuff. OK for low end systems. 

The LSA Warp 1 from Underwood HiFi is also a chip amp,  Texas Instruments TPA3255 Class D amp-on-a-chip: here is a current review;  

As stated by @jasonbourne52, the Topping PA5 is a chip amp, and since I have been listening, they are not just for low end systems.

I may have purchased the last LM3875 chip amp kit from Peter Daniel who is likely still selling completed Patek chip amps. In this case, all wiring is about as short and simple as you can imagine. The power supply uses a 330VA transformer that seems scary big for a 40 WPC amp. I will make a chassis for it now, since I find it far beyond worthy for my system. I bet the total parts cost will end up being less than $300 or so. 

 FWIW, I am presently building a 50 WPC class D amp designed Peter Millett. It is a different animal that's for sure, using a pair of Korg SP1 triode for inputs! Still working out a kink in the amp, but this is the second one that I have built. I am quite anxious to horse race these two amps, but I expect that the PM will give a warmer sound.

 In each case a Nelson Pass B1K preamp will feed these amps.