High end Class D amps?

@greenwichct How does it compare to linear amps? What's your frame of reference?

It was the SU-G30. I bought one used for $2500 if I recall. I meant cheap in relation to the other Technics GaNFETs. The Stratos was picked up as a "filler" amp until I get get something better like a Mark Levinson, Esoteric, etc., but they worked so well with the ProAcs that I haven't been in a terrible rush to move on.

Class D is for subwoofer boxes. It should be illegal to push that junk on people. OP should leave this thread and never look back.

George is correct. Lack of switching bandwidth is the problem. I know Bruno Putzeys claimed differently in an old interview, but he's mostly a self-promotor so no one should take what he says as gospel truth.

I tried the low-end Technics integrated which only had around 800 or 900 kHz of bandwidth and was generally unimpressed even if it wasn't terrible. There is going to be a huge difference between that and the SE-R1 which I haven't listened to.

I also own a Cherry amp, the older lower end one with the external power brick. I was told Cherry was the revolution of class D, etc etc. It wasn't THAT bad, but it didn't hold a candle to my Odyssey Stratos. It's currently on PC speaker duty.

I don't think you guys really appreciate how deadly to euphonics that traditional class D output filter is. I didn't start out hating class D I developed that position after being burned many times being told this or that class D module was the revolutionary savior of the topology. I remain interested in GaNFET because it seems like that is what will finally be able to pull class D into the realm of quality audio.

I don't know it seems to me that George is coming from a position of a lot of experience and the fact that he's holding his ground here suggests to me that he's on the right side while you guys are just compensating with confirmation bias and group-think. Many people don't care at all about what is true, only that they feel good about something, so when someone is willing to call out something as being garbage many people won't want to hear it.

Here are the class D I tried.
Old ICEPower: Unlistenable junk. To be fair I didn't burn it in much (didn't know about burn-in back then).
DriveCore 2: Very poor.
Pascal (newer version forget the designation): Very tight control good imaging but also empty and not pleasing. MAYBE it needed more burn-in but I was running into the return widow.
Cherry: Decent in some ways, couldn't compete with my linear amp. Actually I just moved it back into my main system to contrast and compare again now that I have new pre and source gear.
Technics GaNFET: Dry, sterile, boring. Burned it in for over a month. The cheap integrated unit.

I haven't owned any Hypex amps. I've listened to some at shows but I do realize those are poor environments for critical listening.  There was one nCore 1200-based unit I thought MAYBE warranted further listening but that was based on the "wow" factor of high-end class D's first impression.

How many class D do I have to listen to? Is there a The class D which disproves the "myth"? Did I just happen to miss the good ones?

@audio2design Okay what class D amp today can beat my Stratos? I can’t have fatiguing sound. Does the little Cherry just lack juice? My speakers are ProAc D30R.

Edit: it's a Stereo Maraschino with an external power brick, less than the 48V listed on the website but I forget the exact value.

So....I think I'll buy a VTV Purifi. I suspect I'm heading for disappointment again, but there's a 30-day trial so why not? Maybe I'll be wrong this time and I can convert over to class D. I have an all-tube preamp currently. I assume the tube buffer option isn't worth it but what about those op-amps? If all they do is impart color than I can rely on my pre. Is the custom input board worth it?

It's problematic for class D when Bruno P. himself in an interview states that if you don't care about efficiency there's no reason to get anything but class A.

So, uh, why can't anyone ever describe what their mind-blowing revelatory class D amp sounds like vs what linear amps they own? I do that all the time.

Missing from the calss D story is, of course, the linear A/B amp is what allows for such a great stereo image. Note the story stops at having purchased the preamp. I trialed a dual-mono stereo D-Sonic; didn't like it so sent it back. I recall being happy with the strong dynamics and powerful grip, but if I recall correctly they had bad imaging as with most class D I've tried and a messed up / unconvincing midrange, again as with most class D -- dry and thin. They also had a really weird unstable soundstage while they were burning in. And finally, the Achille's heel of class D, the deadly lack of musicality / engagement. 

Unlike the D-Sonics (Pascal modules I believe), the VTV Purifi I'm trialing now has mediocre dynamics -- something I'm sure would be improved with a monoblock or dual-mono system. Unlike other class Ds I've heard, the Purifi seems to have taken steps to return richness to the sound, and this is somewhat successful IMO. The midrange is unconvincing / sloppy / blurry. Imaging is...present but not wonderful. Possibly better input buffers would improve this. There is some depth and height, but width isn't that great, doesn't extend past the outside edge of the speakers. Imagine solidity is okay. I fear that the lack of musicality is still a problem; all today I didn't feel like listening, that's a bad sign. When I have sat down to listen, I don't feel like I'm being engaged / drawn in. Up until now I've been willing to overlook that for the sake of burn-in but it's getting to the point where I'll have to accept that burn-in isn't the issue.

I'm bringing in another Odyssey, this time a Kismet that's 3 years old. It's used so there shouldn't be any burn-in required. I suspect it's going to crush to VTV, but we'll see. It's coming tomorrow. I'll be sure to update everyone on my findings.