I believe that all good audio products have robust conventional linear power supplies. Chord is anathema to that. I know that the OP has clarified that he is asking about their amps but the Dave is a great example of what I am talking about. John Atkinson can drivel like Pavlov’s dog (or a comatose patient) as all he wants to talk about are the "impeccable" measurements but much like a Benchmark product, the lack of a beefy heavy-iron power supply dooms the product to listener fatigue and lack of body, lack of "there there". Time and time again, the products that sound the most organic have beefy power supplies. I have a twenty year old Classe’ CDP.5 cd player that all these years later can stand toe to toe with the very best digital players and I attribute this to the fact the coming from a conventional amplifier specialist, Classe’ built it with a huge power supply. I am currently THRILLED by an eight watt SE amp that weighs almost 70 lbs! Talk about heavy iron.
Like the much-missed Victoria’s Secret "Miracle Bra", imho a lightweight amp with a switching power supply is little more than a cheap trick. Cheap, amusing, and sure to lead to dismay and let-down.
Like the much-missed Victoria’s Secret "Miracle Bra", imho a lightweight amp with a switching power supply is little more than a cheap trick. Cheap, amusing, and sure to lead to dismay and let-down.