Competitive class D amp suggestions
I have been Class D fun since a few years ago when i bought my first class D amp. I like the concept, in general, and all the attractive features of this class of amplifiers. I tried 4 different ones, currently i stayed with one of them that i consider to be the best among all four amps. I do enjoy and like it. At the same time, my 5 watts SET amplifier (with more than 100 times higher distortion according to the specs) gives more natural and (surprisingly) notably cleaner sound (THD of the class D amp is 0.001). The soundstage of the class D amp is not so bad but that of the tube one is still better.
I remain attracted by class D amps though.
Any fresh suggestions on reasonably priced class D amps (i mean excluding non-reasonably priced class D amps, e.g., Merrill amplifiers)?
Any comments on non-reasonably priced class D amps are also welcome (so far i was not able to audition many class D amps and am curious if there are some which could really compete with Class A).
@clio09 ”Too much out there at a fraction of the cost that is a better value in my opinion.”
Yes you pointed out you are a value shopper and it is not a good value. Some people are going for the the best sound they can get. This is their market. But for them it is completely worth the cost. Hence, fr them it is a good value. Values are personal. |
Thanks for the excellent post. Thoughtful and detailed. I am not in the market for a new amp, but have always wondered / been suspicious of Class D. Having been in this pursuit for over 50 years… new ideas frequently fail instantly to give the advertised benefits (like the CD). Glad you addressed the look. I was really put off by the single tube look. While I am normally drawn mostly to sound quality… sometimes a look is just too off-putting, the Vivace is certainly that for me. But good to hear that in person they are better lookin. |
@smargo “i probably have said that im not in the market for a new amp - about 100 times”.
😊😀, yep, that can happen. |
