Class D is just Dandy!

"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?

Mapman,
     Your last post was an excellent summary of the current state and future possibilities of class D amps.  I agree with all of it.

" 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."

Hi sfseay,
     While I generally agree with you, I think many readers of these class D threads are considering trying one of these amps for the first time and base their decisions largely on the impressions of people like us who already have experience using them in our systems.

     I know I was reading class D threads for this purpose when I first began considering trying a class D amp about 5 years ago.  
     But that was an earlier time in class D's evolution and, as I recall, there was a more even balance between praisers and detractors at that time.  If I'm not mistake, I believe mapman was one of the early adopters praising class D but there were also many claiming class D would never be a good choice for anything other than a sub amp.
    I finally just decided to try one and decide for myself how the current good examples of this technology performed in my stem.  I thought it'd be more useful to start developing my own experience with class D amps than to rely on others' impressions.  I was thinking just as you stated: If I liked it then I'd keep listening.  
     Perhaps what you consider irritating and excessive praising of class D is just considered useful positive feedback to some still considering whether to try one of these amps in their systems.

Tim

Anyone experience IQ Audio M300 monoblocks?

This is all great discussion but doesn’t it come down to your ears, budget  and preference for the love of music. Budget and listening preference will ultimately be the deciding factor. If person A has a budget of 50 - 60k he’s not looking at Class D period in of story. I went down the class D route a few years ago when I first purchased my Maggie’s and told I needed a amp with at least 300wpc. So I ended up buying an Audio Research DS450M monoblock amp that put out 600wpc into 4ohm load. At the time for 12k and looked like a pretty good way to go, but after a few years of trying to recreate the sound that made me fall in love with the Maggie’s I knew the amp was my problem. Could it play loud an emphatic- yes, did my Maggie’s produce an audible sound - yes, was it musical to my ears, I would say no. But again that’s preference. I was mislead by dealer and the internet that led me to believe that Maggie’s required brut power it wasn’t until I decided to let my ears be the judge and bought a class A amp that puts out a whopping 95wpc. I’m not saying class D is bad I’m just saying that for my system and listening preference I went class A.  

This is all great discussion but doesn’t it come down to your ears, budget and preference for the love of music. Budget and listening preference will ultimately be the deciding factor.

Yes, oh my Goddess, it’s like we are twins...

If person A has a budget of 50 - 60k he’s not looking at Class D period in of story.

Oh, wait, what????? I disagree. Just because I have x amount of dollars doesn’t mean I’m going to spend it. My goal is not to spend $x, it’s to spend as little of $x as I can and be happy with it. If I’m happy with $x/10 then that’s all I will spend.

To do this however you have to give up the notion that price is any sort of arbiter of performance. I no longer believe this is the case. If you feel that the market value expresses your desire, then make yourself happy. :)

Best,

E