class d

i am auditioning a class d non digital switching amp.

the raptor amp is a serious reworking of the bang and olufsen ice power module.

it is a product from the glacier audio company, www.glacieraudio.com .

i generally prefer tube-based designs, but the raptor is an amp i could live with, if i were forced to give up tubes.

this amp has been reviewed by henry wilkenson, on audiophilia.com .

i generally prefer tube amps with planar speakers.

my friend auditioned the nuforce 9 and the raptor. he bought the raptor amps. i have heard the nuforce at ces.
based upon my friend's advice--he is a reviewewr, i decided to audition the raptor.

it was obvious the basss response was benefitting from a 500 watt class d amp. there was greater extension, clarity and weight, than i experienced with the vtl deluxe 120, my reference tube amp. as expected, there seemed to be a bit more treble extension with this amp, compared to my tube amp.

i have about 20 hours of playing time. the designer alleges that a cintinuous signal of two hours is all that is necessary to render a reasonable assessment of the amp's capabilities. my friend disagrees. he suggests, well over 100 hours. in any case, i am pleased with what i hear, except for a bit of forwardness in the upper mid/lower treble. it is not too objectionable. considering that i enjoy listening to the magnepans with a solid state amp, after 10 hours of playing time, i would say the amp is worthy of audition by anyone seeking to purchase a non-tube amp.

there is a cable caveat here. i started with my reference ear to ear silver plated copper power cords and speaker cable. i heard the sound of silver and replaced them with element cable signature power cords and speaker cable. in addition,i removed the audience adept response 6 and replaced it with a ps audio ultimate outlet.

i would suggest copper cable interfacing this amp, before trying silver cable.

i think this is a very competently constructed product that won't disappoint. the amplifier has already been reviewed. i have no intention of reviewing it myself.

i hope this helps.

i sent the raptors back. i listened to a recording of the tchaikovsky violin concerto on the chesky label. i compared the raptors to my vtl deluxe 120 in triode mode.

using the vtl the violin was more full bodied. i heard the strings and the wood body. wit the raptors, the balance favored the strings and the sound of the wood, was barely evident.