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Class D amplifiers. What's the future look like?

I have a number of amplifiers: Luxman C900U, Bryston 4BSST2, Audio Research VSI 60 Integrated, NAD C298 and some other less noteworthy units. As I swap them in and out of my main system, I've come to the conclusion my very modest NAD C298 is about all I really need. Granted if I had extremely hard to drive speakers, I might be better with the Bryston or Luxman, but driving my Harbeth 40.2 speakers, the NAD is just fine. 

I thought a while ago that class D would quickly overtake amplifier design type mainly due to profit margin which I think would be much greater than A/B and tube. I'm not saying the other design styles would go away, just that D would be the most common style. 

Clearly my prediction is not panning out, at least in the mid and high-end audio world and I'm wondering why? It seems companies such as Bryston, Luxman, McIntosh, Hegel and so many others are sticking by A/B. I'm no "golden ears" guy, but is the perceived sound issue(weather real or imaginary) still holding D back? Maybe my assumption of profit margin is not correct? Maybe the amplifier manufacturers are experimenting with D, but keeping tight lipped until release? Perhaps brand loyalists don't want change similar to what happened with "new coke". What else am I missing?

 

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Showing 2 responses by audioman58

audioman58's avatar
audioman58
3,912 posts
 

There are class D designs using Gan transistors and custom analog and digital sections with top power supplies some $20-$30k 

Avik, Merrill audio   I think even  Mark Levenson , Roland Research 

all have very good products ,these are a cut above at a much higher $ cost.

audioman58's avatar
audioman58
3,912 posts
 

I have heard and owned Danish class-D ,Merrill Audio ,Roland research 

ML and a bunch of others much depends not so much on Gan transistors which are faster and a bit lower distortion ,but there is just so much more 

such as the power supplies ,regulation ,custom Analog output section 

and many other parts selection and voicing.. the potential is there.

There is Huge price gouging ,Merrill Audio ,and several Danish companies $30 for monoblocks , they have fancy machined cases which the markup in some is 6x + 10x their cost which I feel Waay overpriced , I will just stay Class A,or AB for now 

tube purist still go with Avery efficient speaker and a SET amp .it’s up to you .

4x is standard marketing procedure on average.I owned a Audio store 

R&D  overhead ,markup is normally 4x their actual cost 

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