Class D is just Dandy!

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.

@phusis You make a good argument not to judge amps by their class alone and to be honest to yourself about what you personally like to listen to. It’s your money, not mine, so you should be happy with your spend.

I can explain my likes/dislikes without needing others to feel the same way. 

@phusis Which British manufacturer with pro amps?

@celo --

MC² Audio.

Thanks @phusis I wonder what the model is. I am always interested in under the radar products.

@jaymark nice post on the M1200. Did you not own the CODA #16 at one time? If so, how do they compare to the M1200. I have owned the modded Voyager and some other GAN amps, so I have a similar frame of reference.

I am guessing the HSE line and they are SUPER expensive. WOW!

@celo wrote:

Thanks @phusis I wonder what the model is. I am always interested in under the radar products.

I am guessing the HSE line and they are SUPER expensive. WOW!

I am referring to the T-series, that share the Class A/B topology and specific design with the S-series, and that sound virtually identical - also compared to HSE-series with regular speaker terminals and a polished front plate that is aimed at the hifi-market.

I've heard the T-2000 directly against the S-1400, and any very slight differences there were likely had to do with the S-1400 not being fully run-in yet. Two of us, when pressed for a favorit, preferred the T-2000 for a more well-rounded presentation, and one found the low end on the S-1400 a wee bit more firm and thus more to his liking, but it was splitting hairs. 

So, no need to go super expensive here - certainly not if one's ears are the final judges.