Class D is just Dandy!

Hi. I am typically running a set of Paradigm studios v3s - but my main system is down and being sold - The Marshall is a completely self contained bluetooth speaker- And certainly not "audiophile" but for the $700 I spent on it years ago- it always seems to make me happy .  I love the NAD sound and looking at upgrading my home system shortly to some of the masters components.  

Love my PSAudio M1200 class D hybrid monoblocks.  I have and have previously owned PassLabs. Canary Tube monoblocks,  PSAudio BHK 300 monoblocks,  Parasound JC1 monoblacks Audio Van Alstine FetValve hybrids and LSA Voyager GAN classD amps.  I have listened to a wide pallet of exceptional amps.  The PSAudio M1200s are at the top of the heap.

Jaymark - thanks for keeping the class d subject alive - albeit with a faint pulse - not sure why people arent bowing down to class d - they did for a while - but now you barely hear anything

My arcam  power amplifier sounds wonderful - its suppose to be class a up to 50 watts. But as with these  types of amps there is always a syrupy nature as well to sound. Class D  doesnt have that

Class d to my ears is very clear and precise and correct - it still could use a touch of something - instead of being so damn neutral.

Im currently listening to a class d amp (peachtree gan) and it sounds very impeccable with good rhythm and timing - Thanks for keeping the flame lit -

@smargo - I hate to make broad judgements of amp classes, but you bring up an interesting point. 

There are mega buck class A amps I simply do not like the sound of.  I have often wondered if they are an acquired taste, like beer with a strong hops flavoring, while to me most Class D and even A/B amps sounding better than some Class A for my money.  Also wonder now if Class D will be an acquired taste for the new generation of audiophiles, who will reject A and even A/B as not sounding as good as D.  Kind of how we might prefer mom/dad's cooking to a fancy restaurant.

Some 30 years ago bought my first Class A power amp (42W pure Class A). 7-8 years later, out of sheer curiosity, I initiated a period of using Class D-based amps, from ICEpower, NuForce and others. I liked the NuForce variants the best. Then about 15 years ago I returned to Class A with a Belles amp (SA-30), and preferred it over the more popular Pass amp variants (Pass amps in general are too polite/polished or even boring sounding to my ears - I just don’t find them to sound natural but too "hifi" somehow).

The Belles Class A amp is the amp I’ve owned for the longest time - within any reasonable amount of money (easily up to $20k) I haven’t heard anything better. That is, until just a few years ago when I replaced the Belles amp with Class A/B amps from a british manufacturer of pro use studio amps, as to my surprise I actually preferred the latter. I’ve never heard amps less "intrusive" and more balanced sounding, with an equally and naturally analogue, tonally accurate and resolved sound than these. To boot: they’re very powerful.

What’s to make of all this from an amp topology perspective, I can’t say. I’d love to try out Class D again at some point and see where it’s gotten so far, but having now found the Class A/B amps referred to earlier I’m not in any hurry nor the least inclined as is to seek out something new here. When/if I do get to that point however, Class D will get its chance - yet again.