I have one of the small class D amps based on the TPA3116D2 board and I bought it as an experiment. This is a very inexpensive amp so I hardly expect it to be state-of-the-art like some of the larger more expensive class D amps out there. It is my first class D amp and I am certain that class D amps (just like solid state and tubes) have different sonic characteristics based on the manufacturer and the technology used, so I would not attempt to lump them together. So I can only speak for the TPA3116D2 (common and inexpensive) and say the highs sound rolled-off and the timbre/decay of the instruments do not sound realistic. This is when played through high sensitivity horn speakers and comparing it to other much more expensive gear. It sounds polite and pleasing to the ear, but it is not convincing with regards to the instruments. Again this is just an opinion of this one amp and I'm sure there are much better sounding class D out there, you just have to spend more $$ like anything else in this hobby.
Do ClassDAudio Amps Have Proper Decay Of Notes?
I'm interested in the ClassDAudio kits. Has anyone tried them? I had a tripath amp once and it had a liquid, detailed quality that I liked but it was too fast with the decay so ultimately sounded a bit fake, even with a tube pre. Full-bodied, lush, but too fast. I've heard the Hypex modules from Holland have nailed the decay issue but they're miles out of my price range. Just wondering if the ClassDAudio kits are close in terms of decay.