Class D for a Tube Lover

Do keep me (us) informed.

Thanks.

tcatch:  What made the M700 better than the S300 in your view?

I also wanted to try some warmish Class D amps. So I was led to try this one. It was shipped on Saturday and I will try it on a 30 day trial.

Stereo | D Sonic (d-sonic.com)

I saw another thread about the AGD Audion.  

How'd they get all that stuff inside a tube?  It's like those ships in a bottle.  Black magic, I say.

Intrigued.  Saw price.  Intrigued no more.

Class D amps have lots of terminology associated with them that I haven't heard before.  It's like being new to audio after 40 years.  Kind of cool.

Thanks for all your suggestions.  I really do appreciate it.

I have not head any Class D amp so far in my own experience sound warm or syrupy - I would consider that sound from tube McIntosh as warm and syrupy but that is my opinion and my own personal experience.

If I was looking for a Class D amp I would contact Tommy O'Brien with Cherry Amps and get something he offers with a trial period.  I just heard the tiny mono blocks he manufacturers (125wpc) on Klipschorns (highly modified) speakers and they were open, with nice details and sweet sounding.  No they did not sound like the 1 watt 45 tube amp or the pure Class A 30wpc mono blocks but not bad overall.  Very listenable.

Happy Listening.

e j sarmento’s class d icepower module amps under the wyred 4 sound brand, st series, are definitely voiced smooth warm and full sounding, yet with excellent impact and good clarity

they are also a great value for $... they can be found occasionally used on this and the other used gear trading site

I’ve had two icepower amps and would not  call them either warm or syrupy. 

Amps with ICEpower modules.  They tend to be very warm sounding, almost syrupy. If you like the way the Parasound A line sounds, you'll probably like these components a lot.

Having owned both, I would say the PS Audio M700 monoblock's are a big step up from the S300 and are pretty darn good (esp. for the money). Tube-like is sometimes said about them, but I wouldn't go quite that far. But I would say that they are quite listenable, even for someone (like myself) who is repelled by the thin and edgy sort of sound some folks associate with Class D amplification.  

A pair can be had for 2K used plus or minus a couple of hundred.  You can also get a pair new with warranty from PS Audio for $2100 if you have something to trade in that originally cost $900 or more.  (The key to making maximum use of PS Audio's trade in program is to find something to trade in that isn't worth much on the used market any more but that had an original MSRP near or above their maximum trade in allowance -- $900 for a pair of M700's.  It seems unnecessarily complicated  --why not just a discount? -- but it's worked well for me several times). 

You’ll have to spend way more on Class Ds to get the results you’re hoping for. I have an idea of what you’re seeking but unfortunately you won’t attain it without a high-end Class D. 

NAD M22v2. Very nice sounding power amp. 

NAD C298 uses purifi  but don't expect class d to sound like tubes.

Don't give up yet--Carver Crimson 275, cool and Cool.

Ralph Karsten is the owner and designer of Atmosphere OTL tube amplifiers as well as a frequent poster on this site.  

Look into the XTONEBOX Silver 6011.  Made in Spain, small operation.  I just got one.  Lots of mid detail.  Pretty good for $800 IMO.  Tube pre-stage.  60wpc I believe into 4 ohm?  Small footprint with decent Bluetooth and phono stage.

SPEC from Japan. Not cheap but real deal.

I have Nuforce Reference 9 V3 SE mono amps w/ TDSS level 3 upgrades.  The Ref 9's I bought used for $1400 for the pair about 5 years ago.  Liked them so much I had TDSS do it's upgrades which made very good amps a into super amps and more stable.  They have bettered very expensive amps in every system I've compared them to at friends houses or at a dealers.  Obviously the standard Ref 9's are well within your budget and if you wanted to at a later time, you could go the route I did.

Bob

Thank you, everyone.

I’ve not heard of Ralph Karsten or Nord but will look them up. Will also check out the PS Audio amp. I’ve got a few PS Audio products and like them very much.  

I use both. Valves in the cooler months with class ds doing bass duty. Then in the summer I change to a LOT cooler running class ds for the monitors. I use a Cary V12r and Mac C2500 for a front end with tone control.. With tone control, you'll get what you want, without it.. I'd doubt it..

I use Nord NC500 with Sparco 2590s OpAmps and rev d buffers.
Purifi is all the rage, To tell the truth, My NC500 are pretty tough to beat..
I'd like to give Nords ET400A a run with Nord buffers though.. The 9 NC500 modules I have, I've NEVER had a problem.. Sound wise.. pretty friggin good, for the 4 months a year I use them.. BUT they are not valve amps.. They don't sound like valve amps either..

Lot of Mac and a few Cary's in my gear chain..

Regards

Anything with the Purifi 1ET400A will get you as close as you can get.

Class D sounds good but is good good enough? If your a critical listener most of what is out there is not going to make you happy. Paul of PS Audio has several videos about class D and he said more than once that he likes the sound of his AB amps over his class D amps, use this to give you an idea of what you might experience.

I have heard class D that is outstanding but it is not in your budget.

My best advice is do not buy until you hear.

You most likely will be unhappy with Class D. Try something you can return.

I own a Pass Labs Aleph 30 (30 watts, Class A) that is exceptional. And, it’s also an exceptional space heater. On a whim I recently purchased a PS Audio Stellar S300 amplifier for the sole purpose of trying Class D amplification. After about 100 hours of use I can say that the amplifier generates little to no heat and so far I’m feeling like I gave up little from a performance perspective. Insert all of the audio descriptors here…

In addition, not that it is necessarily a priority (for you), but PS Audio has a generous trade-in program and the direct purchase process was excellent. Zero affiliation, just passing on a very positive experience.

If you can wait, Ralph Karsten is close to completing his Class D amps.
If he can build tube amps that sound great, I have no doubts his Class D amps will be just as good.
Bob

I've been very surprised how good my Class D Audio amps sound. I now use them for center and surround duties, along with a custom tube 3C24 amp built for me by Paul Birkeland of Bottlehead, for my main drivers, custom-built Tannoy HPDs.

They can be had rather inexpensively as kits, if you enjoy DIY. They would give you an idea what to expect with Class D.

I hope you find what works best for you, regards,
Dan