New Class D amplifiers

@wrm57, I just sold my Pass XA30.8 after purchasing the AtmaSphere Monos.  I like a few things better with each amp, and more than not I find they sounded pretty similar.  Of all the other SS amps I've tried against my Pass amps I find the AtmaSphere the closest in terms of smoothness, warmth, and lack of fatigue.

In the end, two 14 pound boxes and zero heat swayed the decision...  Packaging and shipping the Pass (106 pounds boxed and that is the baby of the family) was not fun :)

 I most recall from my brief time with them, which left me wanting more air and sparkle. But that’s my ears, my system, of course.

@wrm57, yea that is one of the differences I heard between the AtmaSphere and the XA30.8.   I found the Pass to offer a little more detail/resolution, or at least present things in a more forward way compared to the AtmaSphere.   In the high frequencies I did find my Pass offered more 'sparkle' and maybe more finesse in the small details overall.   With a handful of other amps I've compared with either a X250.8 or XA30.8 it was always the other amps offering a little more detail over the Pass, so its strange for me to hear a solid state amp that presents a more laid back presentation than the Pass.   AtmaSphere does specialize in tube amps after all :) 

I switched between both amps a few times and its not like the general details are missing, its just they are more detailed and noticeable with the Pass, where the AtmaSphere seems to paint the overall sound with a wider brush and maybe has a little more color/fullness (think meat-on-the-bones) sound.    My speakers are pretty detailed and not forgiving at all so I can live with the few rows back sound.   

I found the AtmaSphere to offer a blacker background, way better bass, and excellent imaging, along with a very similar sound signature to the Pass.

Being the Pass is now $7100 I think the AtmaSphere Monos like most good amps I've compared to the XA30.8 (some more and some less expensive) are all in the same league, its just more personal taste/system matching.   At this point to my ears at least, it is no longer the Class A design just beats the Class D design, its more of a what sound signature and attributes am I looking for...   Compared to my first Class D amp I tried back in the early 2000s, that is a big step forward as the XA30.8 is great sounding amp!

No rational reason whatsoever, from a performance standpoint, to spend $5000 and more for a class d amp. Of course if someone wants to spend $4000 for a flashy case to get performance that can be beaten by a $1000 Hypex or Purifi amp, it's their money to squander...

A solution in search of a problem. The best performing class d amps on the market today do not use GaN fets.

@kuribo, these and the many more you post are just your opinions, nothing more...

but unlike many others, they are based on facts.

Show me a GaN amp other than Orchard’s product that performs as well as Hypex or Purifi. Show me a $5000 class d amp that performs 5X better than the $1000 class d amps using Hypex or Purifi modules.

@kuribo, what are the facts you are talking about that create your absolutes in performance and value?   You are always talking in absolutes, but can't explain what you have listened to (or own) and what makes one perform better than another...  Does one sound better to you?   If so please explain the differences you hear?  What different speakers have you tried these different amps with?   Are you only going by measurements, then clearly say so that we all know your opinions on what is best and what offers the best value is based solely on the measurements you consider important.

Throwing it back at you, please show me why the $5000 AtmaSphere amplifier does not 'perform as well' as the Orchard or the Hypex, or the Purifi.

I haven't told you what speakers I own, but I'm guessing your answer will take that into account, right?

I have no personal agenda, other than to call out over priced, under performing products when I see them. 

more further proof that audio is full of insecure, status seekers who like to spend extravagant amounts of money on products to assuage their frail egos.

@kuribo, well done, after incredible amounts of excruciatingly repetitive posts on almost every Class D related thread that is created on this site, you now make it very clear your agenda and also what you think of us (likely the majority of the posters on these objective forums too) as 'status seekers'  who like to 'spend extravagant amounts of money on products to assuage their frail egos.'

Nice; from my perspective, all the more reason to skip over your posts...

Oh yea, what system do you listen to again?  Just a hint, if you have mandated yourself to save us 'status seekers' from spending too much on Class D amplification, you might want to tell the rest of us what your system consists of and describe to us how it sounds and performs.

I wouldn't ever even begin to believe that what I prefer in audio components would have any relevance for others. 

@kuribo, really?   Then why do you continue to post your recommendations on Class D amplification and ridicule those who choose to spend more than your  mandated $1000?   You are contradicting yourself.