D amps


Anyone try the new class D amps with Nautilus 802 speakers?

bernal737

Very happy with my Atma-Sphere Ganfet monoblocs, currently driving some JA Pulsar 2’s.  They are closer to the Pass labs xa30.8 than to typical Class D’s.  

I own 2 class D amps and love the sound of both with either my Harbeth 30.1s or vintage KEF 103.2s (desktop system):

-- Wyred 4 Sound ST-500 stereo amp (250 WPC). I bought a used one based on a couple positive reviews and a number of positive user comments. I sounded great from the first note, at least as good as any trad SS amps I've had

-- More recently, I picked up a gently used pair of Bel Canto 600M monoblocks. Again, they sounded wonderful from note-1, even a bit more refined than the W4S.

Neither amp has any of that treble hardness people talk about. They both sound exactly right to me, tonally and dynamically.

BTW, I didn't have to deal with burn-in with either amp. But if I bought a new class D amp, I'd burn it in at least 400 -500 hours. Class D amps & DACs are often described as needing epic burn-ins (I certainly found that to be true of DACs).

bernal737 don't guess, try a great class D amp. Orchard Audio is running an amp tour. Join the list on their website. Listen 7 days and and pay shipping to next person on the list. Then post a small review. After doing this I bought an Orchard Audio v1.0 StarKrimson Stereo Ultra DMC amp. The amp uses Orchard Audio's proprietary ganfet modules.

Thanks,

aldnorab

I haven’t heard any on B&W, but I’m an authorized Vivid Audio dealer, and their founder, Laurence Dickie, designed the B&W Nautilus speaker and all of the tapered tube “tweeter on top” speakers in their heyday before starting Vivid. The sound signatures are quite close. 

I’ve paired the Vivid G1 Spirits with Aurender’s AP20 integrated amplifier, which uses dual mono Purifi Eigentakt modules, similar to what is used in the Mola Mola, and it sounds really good. I actually reviewer the Aurender AP20 with these speakers on this forum:

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/aurender-ap20-impressions

The sound is very transparent and engaging, and there’s enough drive to properly control the speakers. I’ve also used AGD Gran Vivace on these speakers which also do quite well. Both amplifiers are very linear, so if any added warmth, harmonics, or bloom is desired, this can be achieved elsewhere in the chain.

 

I’ve used Rotel Class D amps for years and years. They use B &O iCE modules. I have five modules, from five channel 250/500 watt models to extremely powerful 500/1000 watts modules.  They are beautiful sounding amps.  Love em so much, I’ve built my own 1000 watt sub amps using these modules.  I’ve also built amps using Pascal modules up to 2500 watts. Very expensive, but incredible sound.