NONE this week.
Class D amps that are superior to all or most?
Recently, I have heard about some Class D amps that may be close to the best there is regardless of class. Certainly, this technology has been in development for decades. The main issue has always been the switching power supply. In this regard, I have taken notice of AGD. They have created a whole new power supply that “switches” at a frequency 100 times the normal silicon based MOSFET. The designer uses a gallium nitride based PS. Interesting, it is enclosed in the KT88 glass envelope that sits on top of his amps. I am aware of two more pricey amps that seem to be also at the top- the Solution and the Merrill. There must be others that compete for the title. After my thread, “Is there a SS amp that can satisfy a SET guy?”, I am still on the quest.
Don’t want to spend $50K!
Don’t want to spend $50K!
297 responses Add your response
Really!! You started the personal abuse post in your 3rd last post end of page 4 out of the blue, it's there for all to see.👀 lay off whatever it is, it's really affecting you 🤦♂️ https://forum.audiogon.com/posts/2210662 |
No! Your the sad one for even entering into this. To others, this all started from this post of mine below, re leaving power amps on 24/7, because it went against what Eric preached. And the reasons for turning off the amps, which conditions (polarizes) all the electrolytic power supply caps and any other smaller ones. "Just turn on your amps a 1/2hr before listening. To those who want to understand, why it's better to turn off your amps, here it is simply as possible. (as they like to be drained and recharged otherwise a false permanent "empty floor" happens and your electrolytic power supply caps won’t have the uF storage ability they once had when new, and therefore reducing continuous large transient power supply ability, and introducing higher hum at those stages also) Cheers George |
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Kids !! With amps that have automatic standby capabilities there is a combination of muting circuit AND de-energizing of the amplifier. First one, then the other. When the auto-on circuit senses a valid music signal it will reverse the process, energizing the amplifier first then disengaging the mute. The auto-on sensing circuits draw power, but these are in the range of milliwatts. |
Dig that hole too big and you’ll fall in, you have no idea. EVS1200 amp both shorts the inputs to ground and puts the amp in standby (turns off the main power supply.....so no caps are being charged). OMG!!!!!!!! This all started because of this stupid statement "leaving power amps on 24/7 makes it sound better" And Ricevs thinking his does, after saying this. If the power supply is turned OFF as Ricevs says, and no cap are being charged as Ricevs says, the input gets muted to ground as Ricevs says. END OF STORY THE BLOODY AMP IS TURNED OFF!!!!! There is no "warming up" of the power amplification circuit done 24/7 with the amp in this state, regardless of what auto sensing are on. You two get it in your heads and out of the https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/scaled/2013/12/18/article-0-1A2B262D00000578-818_636x382.jpg |
George, So much drama over nothing. Its just words. Here is how I describe it on my website: "Standby/mute switch for each channel that allows you to put the amp in a super low power mode and also shorts the inputs for super protection." This is what is so nice about switching power supplies.....you can do all kinds of cool things without a power switch. Some people never use the muting switches....so the amp is constantly warmed up. Some will let it warm up for an hour or so before listening. Some only put it in mute when they leave for vacation, etc. etc....Infinite varieties for infinitely differing souls. Breath in the Love....breath in the Joy....it is always present. Love yourself.....love everyone.....you do not need to be right. You are already most worthy......you are blessed beyond imagination. Open you heart....open your eyes.....the beauty is everywhere. You can be a reaction robot....always reacting and defending your mental position.....or you can come from creation.....where you see the beauty and good in everything and everyone and then what you do reflects a heart that wants to be of service.....because you are so filled with joy. The choice is always every second. We choose love.....or we do not choose love and do the same ego/reaction dance we have done for a long, long time......time for a new tune.....a happy tune..... |
George, No it’s lies being told to members for the sake of "trying" to gain notoriety. End of story, if the power supply (SMP or Linear) is not switch on and no electrolytic caps are being charged up (as you said), the neither is the amplifier!!! SO THE AMP CANNOT STAY WARMED UP no matter even if you leave it in this state 24/7 like the other one says. You guys are just digging yourselves a massive technical bottomless pit. |
This is just too hard to resist. We got Larry and Mo, but wait now, here come’s Curly!. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8W_zAD5Mcw |
George, When the mute switches are engaged the amp is not being warmed up. When they are not engaged then the amp is on and it is being warmed up. What do you not understand about this? If someone wants to warm up the amp and normally has the mute switches engaged then they just unmute them and wait till it is warmed up and start listening......just the same as anyone with a class A/B amp that does the same using their power switch. What is there to argue about? Do you argue with yourself when you are alone? What lies are being told? What notoriety?.....the only notoriety here is what you create......and you have created quite a notoriety. Why don't you try a loving notoriety? That would be sweet. |
You guys really need to remember what ** are in your post I said To those who want to understand, why it’s better to turn off your amps, here it is simply as possible. Nonoise asked My EVS 1200 has dual muting switches. Will muting them be as effective? I said "Muting" You (ricevs said) your words!!!!!!!!! George is wrong, in this case. The muting circuit in the EVS1200 amp both shorts the inputs to ground and puts the amp in standby (turns off the main power supply.....SO NO CAPS ARE BEING CHARGED!!). Like I said the amp is off not muted. No caps being charged, means no amp is on to be warmed up! So leaving the amp in this condition does nothing for it being warmed up for it to sound better either as 24/7 eric thinks!!!!!!!!! Once again, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8W_zAD5Mcw |
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Amplifier class - whether A, A-B, D, or T is irreverent if the implementation is bad. If all else is equal, class A is the way to go. No compromises and a short signal path are key to achieving optimal performance. You could have a class D outperform a class A. However, it would be unlikely for a class T to reach some pinnacle level of performance. |
Sorry, wrong Curly, it was tweak1, same same. tweak1 I said "Muting" You (ricevs said) your words!!!!!!!!! George is wrong, in this case. The muting circuit in the EVS1200 amp both shorts the inputs to ground and puts the amp in standby (turns off the main power supply.....SO NO CAPS ARE BEING CHARGED!!). Like I said the amp is off not muted. No caps being charged, means no amp is on to be warmed up!!!!! So leaving the amp in this condition does nothing for it being warmed up for it to sound better either as eric thinks! And like I said your not doing all electrolytic caps any favor’s by leaving amps on anyway, your making them have less storage capacity as they get lower uF, instead of being re-generated (polarized) when turn off and fully drained then charged back up again when turned back on. In other words they get a false empty floor memory, like some batteries. And not to mention your cooking them and drying out the electrolyte as ieales tried to tell you. Once again, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8W_zAD5Mcw yeah baby! |
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The capacitors will last longer if they are turned off most of the time. This is the same for any amp, no matter what the class. However, do you really care that the caps might need replacement (both amplifier boards in your case) in 10-15 years? Do you really think you will keep your amp that long? ha ha ha. All amps will become boat anchors....some sooner, some later. Does the amp sound better after it has been on for some time? Listen and find out. Some say class D needs to be on for two days to reach its sonic potential. Some say it does not sound different if warmed up. It does not matter what George says......he will always say the same thing.....even without listening. It does not matter what anyone says.....believe only your own ears. Find out for yourself. Don’t be lazy. Two factors that stress capacitors are large current draws and high temperature. In a class D amp the current draw in minimum (the opposite of class A) and so is the temperature. Class D amps are super efficient and cool running. Still, it is a good idea to replace all the main electrolytic caps in any amp every 10-15 years. Look at all the new amps coming out now......some will be modifiable....do you think your amps will be with you through next year? I doubt it. We have the Atmasphere amp, the Mytek amp, The Wryed for Sound amp, the new higher powered Orchard, the Premium Audio and the LSA amp all with GaN output devices....all either released or about to be. I am sure there are more on the way. A higher power Purifi module is about to hit the streets as well. I just now noticed a pic of the insides of the new LSA Voyager amp......"lots of stuff to mod there"......he says, wringing his hands....he he. |
So, does muting my EVS1200 have a benefit, and if so how often and for how long? Stop calling it a mute, (as by ricevs, IF correct?) the amp is OFF!, and yes all the electro caps are drained and everything is de-powered and charged up from empty when you turn it on again. (good for the caps) And it is NOT on and in a warmed up state 24/7 as some😵 here think!!! A mute only stops the input signal and leaves the amp switched on! It may possibly have a input sens circuit (standby) which can turn the amp all on when a music signal is detected at the input like a subwoofer standby. |
@ricevs Thanks Ric. I am supposed to be getting the long awaited Voyager soon, but until I actually hear it I cannot say whether I will also keep my beloved EVS1200. Keep in mind my room volume is HUGE, and so far I have needed big power to properly energize this room Also I am 73, so even though I expect to live well beyond my mid eighties, will my ears be as discerning then as they are now? |
HIssssssssssssssssss went the snake............and glooooooooooooop goes the oil. Thanks for the Love.....you and George must be buddies.....he he. The fact is that everything makes a sonic difference and no one knows everything......so there are no perfect components. This is why all class A/B amps sound different from one another and same with class D. Every single thing you do makes the sound different. This means that many many people can improve on any one design. Not just snake oilers...but even flat earthers. |
ricevs"Snake oilers" just don’t get it, they prey on the gullible here to line their pockets. https://ibb.co/K2k7Dz8 And please what differences are you going to make that you say you can see in this pic will transform this GaN Class-D???? https://www.underwoodhifi.com/sites/default/files/GaN%20350%20inside%20shot.jpg |
Give up while your behind. And I asked what you to tell us what would do to it to make it sooo much better?? WE’RE ALL STILL WAITING!!! And I promise not to say a word, unless your answer is voodoo or snake oil. ricevs |
Hey all I asked was give us something, anything at all. To back this statement up of yours below, that's all, nothing more nothing less. ricevs |
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Things need to be kept honest here, if not this forum would have been overrun by fusers threads. Instead of being shifted to the "Misc Audio" forum every-time one popped up here thank god by those that care and reporting them. (Should be call the BS forum)The admin here I don’t think are very technical, so they go with some of the tech heads here on these threads giving them info when reporting, but then there’s the sharks that pray on the gullible that say just enough to suck them in but not quite enough to get them deleted.(they are the used cars salesmen of audio) Cheers George |
Just your opinion. The fact is that most people are "fusers" or "tweakers" or whatever you call it. Even those who do not believe in fuses....do other tweaky things you would not approve of. It’s funny that you say we would be overrun by fuser (tweaks) threads........this is truly an admission to the fact that the non tweakers are a minority trying to stop people from enjoying themselves. The ones that hate fuses and tweaks are a very small minority. But some of these people are adamant about stopping most peoples wishes. They (you, for instance) post every time someone mentions tweaking. There are lots of manufacturers who do super tweaking.....lots of them. This is a fact, and you know it. The "honest" truth is......you like to argue and be right and put people down. This is your main reason for being here. This is why you have all those put down captions. We can all see through your game.....and I am surprised the mods have not stopped your constant put downs. Tweakers and non tweakers can live together and do not need to confront one another. If you do not like what someone has to say about tweaking...then move on. Stop being so confrontational. You think you are doing the world a favor? If you really want to help people.....become a better, more loving human being. Let the tweakers have their dance.....and you can have your dance.....while we all smile. |
Just your opinion. NO!!!! Like I said. Hey all I asked was give us something, anything at all, to back this statement up of yours below, that’s all, nothing more nothing less. ricevs |
How georgie jumped from what constitutes muting to fusers is beyond human ken. No logic. No reason. Just name calling for the sake of it. And to top it all off, his appeals to a phantom mod system that watches and waits to what he reports back to them is the stuff of fantasy or a very poor attempt to scare people off of enjoying themselves and relating their experiences. All the best, Nonoise |
In response to OP’s question, a number of people here have pointed to GaN technology and specifically the AGD Audion mono blocks. I have these amps now for a few weeks and second the positive sentiment. My signal chain is Roon (on MacBook Pro) via WiFi (Linksys Mesh) to OPPO 205 to (XLR analog) DSPeaker X4 to AGD Audion to Viking Acoustics Berlin MkII. X4 crosses to 15” sealed Rythmik sub below 50Hz. The amps sound wonderful. Endless detail, texture, spatial detail even at very low volume. No listening fatigue. Relative to my (obviously limited, but meaningful over the years) experience, these amps are a discrete innovation worth listening to. |
