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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

Showing 1 response by mihaitaa

mihaitaa
111 posts
 
I am one who replaced a MF A3CR for a W4S ST-500 and am very happy with the result.
Not a bad word to say about the MF, a very nice piece of gear, but W4S is, in my experience, in a different (superior) class altogether.
Most notably is that when I made the change the rest of the system stayed the same, thus I was able to truly compare the difference made by the power amp upgrade alone.
MF was smooth and warm, whereas W4S is more detailed and neutral, not to mention more powerful and authoritative. The smoothness is there as well. The speakers do what it wants, not the other way around. And there's much more detail to be heard.
You may have a different opinion, but in my case it was a clear and noticeable upgrade, NOT a lateral move.
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