"Digital" amplification will eventually dominate both mass market and hi-fi, not that there won't still be products available with traditional topologies. In many respects, this has already happened in the "lifestyle" market at every level, from inexpensive wi-fi active speakers to high-end home hi-fi systems to professional gear. Bang and Olufsen, Devialet, Linn, Peachtree, Bluesound, Technics, Sonos, Genelec, Dutch & Dutch, Avantgarde Acoustics and many other companies are already there. With better performance, the high-efficiency (read: low energy cost) of the digital topologies have a compelling feature set. For those who want tube sound, preamps are already available that deliver that aesthetic that pair well with digital and GaN amps.
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?