Class D is just Dandy!

Anybody here running or have auditioned Auralic Merak monoblocks? Just purchased a couple and should be arriving today. Moving to these from a Parasound Halo A23.

Check out the Auralic Merak mono block Class A/D amplifiers that put out 400 watts per channel into 4 ohms.  Google the reviews.  These sell for $5000 for the pair new.  These are the best  sounding Class D amps I have heard, and can be had for under $3000.00 used.  Often for less than that.

I'm reluctantly selling my Meraks so I can raise cash to get new speakers. 

georgehifi

I shouldn't have bought them since my main goal was to upgrade the speakers.  I have too much equipment right now and need to Get rid of some excess stuff.  I really like the Meraks and will have to determine what stays and what goes.

soundsrealaudio - are you making a point or are you just a troll?  Ignorance is bliss, but ignorance shared is usually unwelcome.

I sold my McIntosh amp and bought a pair of Auralic Merak Mono-blocks. I would not go back to a McIntosh amplifier.

@mdeblanc - I used the power cables that came with the amps.  I don't put much stock in swapping power cables.  It is never been proven they impact sound and people claim they hear a difference but in blind tests they can't.  Their ears fail them when their eyes can't see.  

I have two PS audio signature power cables that came with a PS Audio PCA-2 preamp I bought not long ago.  I use one for the PS Audio HCPS and one for my Sony HAP-Z1.  I don't notice any difference in the sound.  I will ebay the power cables and use the money to buy CDs or High Res files.

i just bought a Luxman integrated amp to save space, and will probably sell the Meraks and the PS Audio preamp and HCPS to pay for the Luxman.

I'm happy everyone's hears what they hear.  I don't believe anyone's hearing opinion when it comes to "audiophile gear".  I believe only mine.

Proof maybe in the listening, but what you hear may be vastly different from what I hear even if we are sitting in the same room listening to the same equipment.  

Recommended Components: 2017 Edition Integrated Amps & Receivers
Read more at https://www.stereophile.com/content/recommended-components-2017-edition-integrated-amps-receivers#6e... 

Sterophile has two picked two “Class D” integrated amps to receive their highest “A” rating for 2017.

i own one of them; the Classe Sigma 2200i.  Great sounding amp and massive power output 200W x 2 into 8ohms and 400W x 2 into 4ohms.  Clean, sweet, refined sound with tone controls, room equalization, network streaming, internal DAC, AirPlay...blah, blah, blah,  

Poor George...he wants evidence from measurements vs. using his ears...

I have had Class D amps from Classe (Sigma 2200i), Auralic (Merak Mono Blocks), PS Audio (HCA-2) and currently use a Lyngdorf TDAI-2170.  The Lyngdorf and Classe amplifiers were designed in-house and didn't use off the shelf modules.  Don't know if that is good or bad.

I don't know why people have to defend or overly praise Class D compared to other amplifier topologies when the end result is if you like it then keep listening.

If you like Class D, great, but perhaps some of you fanboys can tone it down.  Many of us are tired of hearing your opinions, and it is pretty obvious you are biased so your opinion doesn't mean a lot to the community at large.

"I don't know why people have to defend or overly praise Class D compared to other amplifier topologies when the end result is if you like it then keep listening. - @sfseay
Those defenses, explainations, and informed opinions are what helped motivate me to explore and eventually buy a class D. We don't all come to the forums from the same level of expertise or knowledge. @2channel8 - Class D vary wildly in quality.  To paint with a broad brush and heap praise on Class D amps is silly.  There are plenty of bad Class D amps, but you seem to put all of them in the same category."

I have broad experience with several different Class D amps, and I listed the specific Class D amps I have owned and used.  Having said that, I wouldn't lump them all together as quality amplifiers.

What Class D amp are you currently using?

I have tried a several Class D amps over the past 18 months.  I have owned a PS Audio HCA-2, Classe Sigma 2200i, Lyngdorf TDAI 2170, and now have an Esoteric I-03 integrated.  

My ranking in in order of preference is:
Esoteric I-03
Classe Sigma 2200i
PS Audio HCA-2
Lyngdorf TDAI-2170

I can’t imagine ever imagine getting rid of the Esoteric!  Wonderful imaging, dead silent, and tons of power.  This 68 pound tank blew me away compared to the other three Class D amps I’ve owned, or any of the other amplifiers I have auditioned/owned for that matter.

@uberwaltzi used the Classe for all my video sources and my DAC.  It worked very well.  If I wouldn’t have tried the Esoteric I could have lived with the Classe for a long time.  I didn’t use the internal DAC or streaming capability though.

@uberwaltz - I would have liked to tone down the midrange a little from what RoomPerfect picked, but you can’t make manual adjustments unlike the Classe. It just didn’t work for me in my room.

@bluesy41 - since you haven’t heard all Class D amps I wonder how you can make a blanket statement. If your $12K Class D amp was the Esoteric I-03 and you didn’t think it was musical then I wonder what “musical” is? I own the Esoteric I-03 and the Mark Levinson No. 585 and I they both sound fantastic to me.

It seems clear @bluesy41 doesn’t have a clue about Class A Amos.  You can’t make broad statements about any amp Class.  There are Class A amps on Amazon starting at $500.00 and some of them they sound pretty bad.