Digital Amps vs Solid State Amps


Has any one compared a fully broken in, quality digital (class D) amp to a solid state (class A) amp. We have a Levinson 333.5. Other than light weight, less electrical draw, and cooler operation, will Class D amps out-perform Amps similar to to the 333.5? We are driving Thiel 3.6's.

Frequency extension, depth, holographics, bass control, treble control, slam, dynamics, staging, detail, mids, etc are it.
levchappy

Showing 2 responses by fafafion

I think the combinations of Thiel and Digital amps is an audio disaster waiting to happen.While the Thiels are amongst the most accurate loudspeakers around,the sound tend to be bright .I have found the old Class A Mark Levinsons to be amongst the best mate for Thiels speakers.

Class D amps are not for me.They are just too mechanical and they tend to strip the music out of its soul.Class D amp is a compromised design,in a big way,and i do not think at the moment ,anyone has figured out how to solve the problems of noise it generates.It is not something that I enjoy listening for a long time,i develop listeners fatigue quite easily with classs D amp.If you must get a class D amp ,gop with Spectron.This is the only class d amp that I could listen for more than a week
Mapman,

I like many different amps from SETs to SS behemoth ala Burmester referance range;but i have not found a class D amp that I like,as much as i tried to.There is something strange about them,they sound quite impressive on short demo but I actually couldn't tolerate most once the 15 minutes marked has been reached.At the moment I feel that class D amp is a compromised design,it is almost like the MP3 playback,popular,yes ,but not good enought.

I currently own a FM acoustics combo in my ref system, Bryston amps in my av system and a brilliant Little known French intergrated amp Call Neodio in my library system.

I might not have audiotioned as many class D amp as Audiofeil but i think i have sampled enought of the usual suspects to be able to have an opinion about them as a group;Spectron amps seems to be the leader of the class D pack IMO