Class D amps seem poised to take over. Then what?

+1 asvjerry

@avanti1960

No tubes needed to make my EVS 1200 sound better, just a change from optical to coax did the trick

Mrmeanor, by now, you should know better than to put all the products from individual classes (be the A, AB, SET, OTL) into one opinion, especially since you only included the Sudgen amp

I have owned quite a few class D amps over the last 2 decades. Assessing them in hindsight, my entire system has improved exponentially, rendering any of my negative opinions moot. The more current improvement was replacing the cable between my power supply moded Oppo 105 and Audio Alchemy DDP-1 + PS 5 dac/pre with a $59 Pangea Premier Coax cable. That said, it likely would not have made the improvement that it has in my systems of old.


My class D amp of nearly 2 years now is a EVS 1200 based on dual mono IcePower modules and a lot of Ric Schultz pixie dust. These are same modules in the later introduced PS Audio M1200s, but without Rics magic

Most of you know I have owned the EVS1200 for almost 2 years; dual mono based on AS1200 IcePower modules, but highly tweaked by Ric. During this time my system has undergone a number of cable improvements, plus new speakers (Emerald Physics 3.4s). I had been using optical cable between my Oppo 105 and my Audio Alchemy DDP-1 + PS 5 power supply.

For some reason (probably read one of the AG threads) I began looking into coax digital cables. Prices run the gammit from < $100- > $1000+. I contacted AA who offered either WireWorld ($$$-$) and Pangea ($$). I also looked at DHLabs, but decided to buy the Pangea. I bought a 1.0m SE ($49.95) and immediately was amazed how much better it was vs the optical. I reported this on my digital cable thread. Someone responded that 1.5m sounds much better. Why? I don’t know. For sure the others were $$$s for 1.5m, so I ordered it from Audio Advisor ($59.95). It performed much better, as mentioned, but how many hours of break-in before it really comes on song? Last night was day 6 of connection, but maybe 10 hours of actual play time. I listened to Lyle Lovett and his Large Band, followed by Bonnie Raitt, Nick of Time (I have owned them both for ~10 years): they both sounded quantum levels better than they ever did, no matter whether I had an all tube system, or all SS with class AB amps.

Cutting to the chase, ones digital connection could be why some have negative comments about class D

OMG I see they also have a Premier XL $149 for 1.5m, so I'm ordering it now

hth

@jtgofish

I have owned lots of hi-end amps, both tube and SS, system is all true balanced kit. Currently (npi) I own (2 years now) a class D EVS1200 based on IceEdge dual AS1200 modules, but lots of tweaks by Ric Schultz. It is a fantastic amp, not at all phasey, with very good imaging. That said, UPS will be delivering my LAS Voyager GaN amp today. I can’t wait to hear whether it is THAT much better to deserve the hype from new owners. It is already broken in, but will give a couple days warm up, at which point I will start my own thread