Class D amps,bang for your buck ones
I am a french audiophile,sorry for english mistakes.. I recently bought a SDS470 amp (supplied completed)from Classdaudio (590usd!...) I have been totally surprised by the sound quality of this amp,which sound style is closer to tubed ones than to ss ones. This amp is delivering 250w on 8ohm,500 on 4,and is deemed to deliver 1000w on 2ohm,according to the mfr. Very pure and resolving sound,comparable to the best tube amps,plus no limits in dynamics,no distortion even on peak transients. Exteme sensitivity to the other components of the system,necessity to work on cabless,interconnects,mains cable,mains filtering,position of plugs etc to get the best,which can become at the highest level when the system is optimized. The interconnects and speaker cables must be chosen with low capacitance per meter,in order to favourize high frequencies(range 15 to 20khz),which is rather easy,then the resolution of details is at its best. Two audiophile friends were so surprised when listening at home that they immediately purchased two amps. The "big" amp mfrs,incl tubed ones,can be worried by the progress of such low cost solutions... sincerely mxt |
I want a Wyred preamp but can't bring myself to shell out that kind of dough.....I'm really curious too. This ST-250 is the most impressive amp I have ever had, the last time I was so impressed with sonics is when I went from NAD to Accuphase. The look of the amp is kind of neither here nor there for me personally. But, to each his own, my systems is now getting very good, to the point where this is close to where I want to end up. I'm changing out my speaker cable to some Virtue stuff so we shall see if that gives me anymore gains... I'm really enjoying my system more than ever and I'm VERY happy I tried this Wyred amp. I also want to get a Eastern Electric minimax DAC to use instead of my Arcam CD192 player. The Arcam is very good and has done well at stepping up to the Wyred amps sonic upgrade, but I think something like the Minimax would even make the sound better! |
I'm one of those as well that has to have an amp or preamp look good in the rack as well. Of the Class D amps I've seen I like the look of the Red Dragon Audio M-500/M-1000s. The black versions of the W4S amps are a bit more pleasing to the eye. If I had the funds I'd take an empty amp chassis/case of an amp that I like to look at and put in the Class D monoblocks in there. I think only other audiophiles who would listen to my system would know something wasn't right. |
"Bang for the Buck" is how I ultimately decided on the W4S. Based on what I read, it seemed like a good choice, especially with the W4S preamp. I also liked the reduced weight. I purchased the black and not the silver/grey. Seems to blend in pretty well with my other stuff and appears a lot more attractive to me than the silver/grey with the black corners. |
Isn't "Bang for the Buck" the entire point of Class D? For very little engineering outlay, one can sell a decent sounding, high powered, extremely energy efficient amplifier that costs far less (or should!) than any normal Class A or AB solid state or tube amp of similar output wattage and sonic purity. Weighs a lot less, too so shipping costs are less. |
I'm surprised the Digital Amplifier Company doesn't get more press. I saw their amps for sale some time ago here but haven't heard much from them since here. Their amps seem pretty solid. The Toroid Transformers they have in there are huge. Cherry Plus |
I just purchased a Wyred4Sound SX1000 and preamp - maybe have ten hours on them. They are much superior to my old Krell S300i with 300 hours on it. The W4S do not sound materially different overall, but there is certainly much more detail, much more width, and much more depth. There sound is more palpable and that makes it feel more live. It will be interesting to hear the improvement after another 100 hours. |
I've heard it and repeated it.....that the 'd' amps using the B&O modules have more in common than differences (sound-wise), but is that TRUE? Has anyone simply lined a bunch of 'em up and gave a reasonable listen? The case and front panel...not to mention the backpanel layout is so similar to the PSAudio it makes me wonder. |
There is a review of the W4S STI-1000 on 6moons. The pictures provided by the reviewers there are always a highlight. If you've ever looked under the hood of your PS Audio amp you could take a look at the pics and compare. It doesn't look to me that they are using the Gain Cell packs like the PS Audio gear. As you said though, the rear panel looks nearly identical. |
Has anyone but me noticed that the W4S looks nearly identical to the PSAudio GCC series? I just looked at a backpanel photo from W4S and the differences are tough to spot. Do (did) these amps come off the same line? Same sub? Did the PSAudio guys sell the 'rights' to the design to Wyred? I'd like to compare the Wyred to my PSAudio in my system. Wouldn't surprise me to learn the differences could be covered by a single finger..... |
For anyone investigating the Virtue amps, I recommend getting the TWO.2 amp instead of the ONE.2, because the TWO.2 will already have the better caps in it. I personally thought the Virtucaps that come with the ONE.2 and holds the amp way back. The TWO.2 comes with Auricaps, which are superior. But, I'm glad I got the Sonicaps, the sound is totally open with them. |
The Virtue Audio ONE.2 with the input caps upgraded to Sonicaps, sounds wonderful. It's smooth, dynamic and musical, very transparent. I would say it is one of the best amps I've had so far. It's been breaking in for 10 days or so and I expect it to get even better with more time on the unit. I would like to try some other Class D amps just for fun. like the Nuforce power amps. The real upgrade with this amp (beside the Sonicaps) was the power supply I'm using. It's an Astron LS-10A power supply and it maxes out the voltage the Virtue can handle, and makes it sound very powerful. It's funny how this little amp puts out a huge sound,but I guess the power supply is also part of the amp, just separated by a power cord. But, you can hide the power supply and just have the little Virtue exposed and blow peoples minds with it..... fun amp. |
Regarding Magfan's 12-10-10 post Definitely check out the Hypex Class D modules and power supply parts. If you are a DIYer you can build yourself a pretty sweet sounding amp. I'm not a DIYer but I purchased a someone elses DIY effort using the Hypex UCD-100 module with beefy power supply and transformer and the amp sounds great. LF is excellent with my KEF 104/2 speakers and the mid-range and treble are just right. Before this I was using a pair of Outlaw Audio M2200 monoblocks and the music seemed kind of lacking all around. |
I haven't read EVERY word in this thread, but has anyone mentioned the DIY aspect of the question? Hypex 'd' amps and power supply parts are available and can turn into quite the nice amp. International Rectifier makes a 'd' amp....which also needs a PS. I think the are an OEM supplier to a few manufs. B&O doesn't make modules available to the DIY crowd. I suppose if you were willing to buy hundreds...if not a couple thousand, arrangements could be made. |
01-18-10: JtwraceWhat are the challenges to mounting one of these on a chassis and adding a housing? Will it fit into an over-the-counter chassis or does one have to be fabricated to size? |
Another vote for the Onkyo A-9555. I've had mine for 1-1/2 years. It is very fast and clean, yet not etched or irritating. The speed and low noise floor enable me to hear much more continuity to the music and bloom and fade in the individual notes. It's very dynamic, both for slam and for nuance. At its list price of $799 it's a good value; at its typical <$550 street price it's ridiculously good. Only caveats: 1) It doesn't have pre-outs. You have to use it as an integrated unit. Fortunately it makes about 85/170 watts into 8/4 ohms and sounds more powerful than that with lots of slam and bass extension. 2) The built-in phono preamp is decent, but eventually you'll want at least a Cambridge 640P to add some slam and dynamics to LPs 3) The speaker terminals are those wimpy ones that accept only bare wire or bananas. The amp sounds so good this is a minor inconvenience. I'm using locking bananas and they're just as secure as spades and a lot easier to use. 4) You'll get a jump in sound quality with an aftermarket cord. Switching amps are pickier about the AC quality. 5) Must give it 100 hour break in or you'll think the A-9555 enthusiasts are deaf or masochistic. Its low level resolution is very nice; it even warmed up my CDs. Both TAS and Stereophile gave it positive reviews. S'phile gave it a class C recommended rating; based on the other class C selections, I'd say the A-9555 is borderline class B. |
I haven't compared the W4S to any Rotels so I can't comment to that. Compared to the Mcintosh MC352, particularly on the Dun's the W4S sounded more aggressive in the hi mids. I would in no way call them "loser". My impression is that they are very fast accurate amps. Tight would be the adjective I would be more inclined to use. They sound great on the B&W 801's in my studio. The Mac on the other sounds great on the Dun's, but is a bit wooly on the 801's. |
FWIW. I have a pair of the Wyred SX1000 monos and a Mcintosh MC352 which I've been listening to back and forth with different speakers. Both driven by a Lavry DA10 DAC. The wyreds sound great with my B&W 801 Matrix2, but I preferred the MC352 on my Dunlavys SCIV4a's. The Wyred are a bit more forward with better LF control to my ears and the MC352 is smoother. Both in the same league, just different flavors. |
THat PS Audio HCA-2 was PS audio's first foray into Class D amplification. Although it had garnered some reviews in its early life, it was nothing to write home about as it was summarily dumped into the second hand market once its hype had passed. They must have released it in the early 2000s. Their GCC/GCA line with the gaincell technology seems to have completed the maturation of their Class D designs and are hitting their used market as we speak. It seems as if the GCC line had more of the power and neutrality that is commonly associated with what you read about Class D amps that are "bulletproof" in reliability. Their newer line, with the 1/2 size chassis do not seem to impress as you see them dumped into the second hand market without really much time in people's systems. For the choice of words that people use to describe the smaller digitals, they do not elicit much praise. Of course, your miles might vary. PS: I own a Henry Ho H20 amp, the S250 and these amps are bloody incredible even their non signature versions. |
