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Digital, Low Mass, ClassD, Less expensive, Let it happen!

Well here we are! Not that you can't go back and buy boat anchors, but now we know sound is better with low mass designs. Digital source? Yep, the tide has turned. ClassD amplification is also here to stay. Lower mass speakers, on their way back too. The audiophile hobby is getting less expensive and better sounding.

I guess we can debate this, but it's happening anyway. The hobby is simply growing up and becoming more aware of how to get great sound, and get it smart. There has been a lot of myths passed down when we only had paperback magazines, mostly for marketing, but the internet has finally caught up with audio reality. Instead of $20,000.00 components we have $20,000.00 whole systems (including all the trimming). Shoot, there are $5,000.00 systems that excel. The Trade Shows are changing, the market is changing and we are changing. Want to stay old school? No problem, there will always be old school and plenty of used gear (at least for our lifetimes). There will also be smaller niche companies that spring up to tempt us.

The hobby is entering a new era for the extreme listener. It will be a hobby of doing and exploring Electrical, Mechanical and Acoustical as equals. Components will be much smaller and more flexible, and more time will be spent on playing our whole music collection, and not just a few recordings. Many HEA debates will be making their way to the archives as the hobby grows closer to mainstream. Mainstream as in higher quality audiophile mainstream.

Are you ready? I sure am!

Michael Green


http://www.michaelgreenaudio.net/

michaelgreenaudio

Showing 2 responses by snapsc

snapsc
686 posts
 
Interesting that KEF decided to use a class a/b amp for the tweeter section of the LS50W.... and a class d amp for the midbass driver which crosses over somewhere near 2khz give or take... 


would KEF use class d in a model with such a strong reputation in such a critical frequency range if they thought it wasn’t ready for prime time?


i suspect that the amp designers who believe in class d will continue to push the limits making it better and the winners will be the buyers... no matter which class they prefer...


at the end of the day, we don’t all actually like or prefer the same sound... which leaves room for many players. 
snapsc
686 posts
 
Ten years ago class d was relegated to subwoofers and pro audio. Now it has made its way into the mainstream. I suspect that ten years from now it will have a much bigger share of the market and a much larger number of happy owners. 


Often times, the end result... what we hear...is the result of synergies between sources, amplification, speakers and rooms that weren’t anticipated up front. There are many people who own various amplifiers for just this reason... go over to audio circle and read what owners of Cherry amps have to say ( full disclosure, I own a Halo not a Cherry).


I’m just saying that science and measurements don’t always explain preferences or where things will be a few years down the road. 

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