Has anyone tried an amp from Class D Audio?

I'm running a pair of Silverline Minuet Supreme Pluses.

It was my intention to put something together using Hypex modules, but then ran across the stuff from Class D Audio and it seems that what little there is about them on the net has been good.

The model I'm considering is the SDS-254. What I'm afraid of is that it's just going to sound dead. Everything being right with no soul.

What was your impression of the sound quality, other than it being loud and clear?

Csontos,

That's the same conclusion that I came to, based on research. Still, the little company, "Class D Audio" is interesting, I think.

From what I've read, the N-Core is supposed to be a true drop in a box module that yields excellent results, as opposed to the Ice Power modules.

From what I understand, taking an Ice Power module and dropping it into a box yields results that lean way toward the cold side, requiring companies like Bel Canto to have to doctor up the input and/or output stages to get good results.

So, who's to say that this guy building his own amps (here in the U.S.) hasn't come upon a recipe that yields similar results to that of the N-Core modules?

I know that there is a large price difference, but I think that most of that is due to the exchange rate and VAT.

In any case, I am curious about these amps from Class D Audio. I'm just not curious enough to flush ~$600 down the toilet, if they are just another run of the mill class D amp. $600 can buy a heck of a nice, used Class A/B amp on the used market.

This isn't anything pressing for me. It's just something that I'm starting to give some thought to. My Aragon 2004 is getting very long in the tooth and when it goes, I just don't think it's going to be worth fixing.

Strateahed,

Thanks for the info. What does the rest of your system consist of, in terms of pre amp, speakers and DAC?

How would you compare the SDS-254 to a mid range traditional amp, if you can make the comparison?

Nobel100, it was your thread that first brought my attention to the amps from Class D Audio; especially, since you were coming from an Aragon amp similar to mine.

Response34, I THINK that neutral is what I'm looking for. I recently got my hands on a Marsh P2000 pre amp, and, as much as I liked my previous NAD C162, I think that the Marsh is in another league all together. I'm just looking for an amp that will let me enjoy the upstream components.

The reason that I'm looking at the SDS-254, rather than the more powerful model, is that the 254 is pretty close to the rated power of my Aragon and the Aragon has been all of the amp I've needed thus far. On the other hand, with the adjustable gains on the CDA amps, I may be able to make the more powerful amps work in my system and be able to rest assured that I have more than enough headroom available.

And that leads me to another point. With the Marsh and Aragon combo, I'm only able to get up to about the 11:00 position on my volume control before it's so loud that I can't think. I'm hoping that the adjustable gains will allow me to get the use of more of my volume control.

In any case, I think I'm sold. My very next purchase is going to be an amp from CDA. I just need to decide between the 254 and the 440. I know that the Minuets I'm running are small, but they are rated to 300 watts. I wonder if I've been missing something with the "little" 100 wpc Aragon.

It's also going to be nice to get that 40 something pound beast out of my little audio cabinet. I'll have room for more toys.

Tim,

Thanks for the advise. I suppose that going for the more powerful amp would make sense. The main reason that I'm looking for a neutral amp is that I think I really like the sound of the Marsh Pre.

After the upgrade from my previous NAD pre, I think that I can characterize the sound of the March as not exactly tubey, but it does have tube like qualities that I've found I really like.

Although I would one day like to get into tubes, now is not the time. I do not have the space to accommodate tube equipment.