Class D audio vs James Romeyn

bakalovb,

     My first class D amp was a classDaudio SDS-440-CS stereo unit I bought about 3 yrs ago.  I was very impressed with this unit that replaced a class A/B Aragon 4004 MKII.  It's very powerful (220 and 440 watts @ 8 and 4 ohms), is very affordable ($630), has an extremely low noise floor, great bass response,  excellent dynamics, has a very neutral character and has a very detailed but smooth mid-range/treble that is never harsh or bright.  This amp is also 1/3rd the size, weight and price of my former amp while never getting warmer than luke-warm no matter how hard it's driven.  Highly recommended.

     I believe the James Romeyn class D amps you mention is a kit built stereo amp based on the Hypex 400 power modules and switching power supplies.  James builds these kits in a custom case for about $1,500.  He also offers the same amps in mono-block form for a higher price.

     I have not heard this amp but, from what I've heard and read about them, the Hypex 400 kit amps are also excellent performers that have similar qualities as those I attributed to the classDaudio amp I own.

     There is another class D stereo amp that I know is very good in your price range; the D-Sonic M3-800S for $1,475. 

        http://www.d-sonic.net/products/stereo-amplifiers/

     The D-Sonic uses a different power module from a Scandinavian company (Anaview/Abletec) that is based on phase modulation while the 2 you are considering use pulse width modulation (PWM).  

     I own the mono-block version of this amp, M3-600-M, and can tell you this is the best amplification  I've ever used in my system.  They have the same attributes as my classDaudio amp but with more power, even better dynamics with an even smoother and sweeter mid-range and treble.  D-Sonic offers  in-home trial periods , too. 

    I'm not a dealer, just a fan of good class D amps 


Tim   

      

portlanlay,

The Bluesound Powernode 2 is a multi-room audio system that is a separate product and category than the class D power amps that bakalovb posted about. I believe it’s a higher end version of multi-room systems like Sonos. Bluesound claims it’s audiophile quality but I have no opinion since I have never used any multi-room systems. From reading about the system, I do know it’s a multiple component system based on updated bluetooth technology that’s capable of streaming high-res music files.

The only relevancy the Bluesound system has to bakalovb’s post is that one of its components contains a low powered (60 watt @ 8 ohm) Hypex class D amp. A good sign of higher quality for this system but I’d suggest you’re better served googling for reviews on this system than looking for opinions on this thread.  Or, you could always start a new thread here on Audiogon  requesting input on the Bluesound system.

Tim

portlandlay,

     I think you're right on all counts.  I don't have a need for this type of system and don't completely understand how it functions.  I think you locate  the amp, dac, computer file storage and cd ripper sections in the same room as your main speakers.  I think speakers can then be placed in other rooms in the house with signals sent via wifi but I'm uncertain if the signals are sent to powered speakers or system modules/amps that regular speakers are connected to.  I'm also curious about whether the rooms utilize a stereo pair of spkrs or just a single mono speaker.

     However, I don't think we should hi-jack bakalovb's thread so please respond and then you can seek input elsewhere or start your own thread.

Thanks,
  Tim

bharavi,

You stated: " Just over a week ago I switched to ClassDAudio SDS-470C with upgraded power supply. The improvement from Bel Canto is amazing. Now I feel it is closer to good ClassAB amps."

Glad you’re enjoying your new ClassDAudio SDS-470C class D amp. I’m somewhat surprised it outperformed your Bel Canto class D integrated but I’m not surprised at all that it sounds very good; I own the model just below the 470, the SDS-440CS, and it was a similarly great performer in my system.

It has an extremely low noise floor, solid bass along with a very detailed, smooth mid-range/treble that is never too bright and with an overall neutral sound quality which is very revealing of upstream components. I found the neutrality of this amp allowed the system sound influence of my VTL preamp with NOS Mullard tubes to simply be accurately amplified, without any detectable alteration or added sonic signature of its own to the sound, which allowed it to nicely flavor my overall system sound with more texture, dimension, realism and warmth; just what I was wanting at that time.

I do have to differ, however, with your description of the sound as "being closer to good class A/B amps".

In my experience with the SDS-440 and several other class D amps I have subsequently used in my system after switching from a decent quality class A/B amp (Aragon 4004 MKII), I think the overall performance of the 3 class D amps I’ve used thus far (ClassDAudio, Emerald Physics and D-Sonic) have all significantly outperformed my former class A/B Aragon in virtually every positive amp quality; more neutral, better bass, a lower noise floor, better dynamics, more detail with similarly good sound staging and very good mid-range’treble performance.
In my opinion, many of the current good class D amps come much closer to the traditional audio amp ideal of a ’straight wire with gain’ than the recent and current good class A/B amps can muster. I have found them so neutral and revealing that I can now more easily detect the affects of system changes such as power chords, interconnect cables, speaker cables and changes in upstream components.
Due to the superior sound performance I perceive from the current good class D amps when compared to the current good class A/B amps along with class D’s additional advantages (lower price, smaller, lighter, more efficient and cooler running), I replaced all the class A/B amps in my combo music and HT system with class D amps. This switch has been completely beneficial in my system with zero negative affects that I’ve been able to detect in the past few years. I honestly cannot think of a single advantage that class A/B has over class D unless you oddly and sadly somehow misconstrue the imposing size,weight or looks of some class A/B amps as positive qualities.

Tim

twoch:"class will never be as good as A or a well done AB or a great tube amp."


 Hello twoch,

      Spoken like someone who just doesn't realize what they don't know.  The many affordable high quality class D amps currently on the market are a great method of attaining hi-end sound at a reasonable cost.  
     Very good system results have been attained for decades utilizing high quality class A, class AB and tube amps.  We now have the additional option of using high quality class D  amps but, for some unknown reason, you seem determined to deny this reality.  Is it just a lack of experience listening to high quality class D amps or is it due to another reason you're capable of articulating?

Thanks,
  Tim
 
 
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