Oh how I wish Class D amps ...

Heard them all-what did you think of the Devialet

Timtim, your interest for switching amplifier improvement and your appreciation for their obvious strong points is refreshing.

Not to devaluate system synergy I feel there are obvious similarities of the basic amplifier types that are distinguishable regardless of synergy. I still own a tube amp, linear solid state, and two switching amps. and I'm sorry none of them sound like the other contrary to all the, "sounds like a tube amp," statements one reads.

The weakest aspect of switching amplifiers is they are not plug and play. They may need a little effort to integrate them into a system and more importantly the systems electrical supply. If a class D design has any of the sonic generalities you read about, more than likely they can be tuned in or out. As Muralman describes it can be a substantial tuning process or as simple as a cable switch. Unfortunately, you seldom read of a major reviewer taking any special effort to integrate them.

Currently, I'm listening to a standard Asthetix Atlas (hybrid?) on loan. To my ears the Atlas comes very close to bridging the tube to solid state gap. At some point a direct comparison with an Acoustic Research VT would be interesting. The Sanders Magtech linear solid state with its unique regulating power supply and the Devialet integrated switching amp running in class A whatever that is are very interesting. As I understand it these amps have some unique design innovations and initial reports of both designs sound very promising.

"Atmasphere, OK. But FWIW, there should be no problem with almost any preamp, tube or transistor, driving a class D amp.

From my non professional experience. I was immediately taken by my first switching amplifiers lack of fatigue and its unusually transparent presentation. It did, however, pose some difficult issues regarding RF and/or EMI. An afternoons worth of a VAC upgrade and the RF issues were resolved. Now I was hearing my tube preamp, its noise and sonic colorations. After some extensive auditioning I found my current battery powered solid state preamp to be a key partnering with my switching amplifiers technology.

I agree, there shouldn't be a problem with other preamps and to a great extent there aren't. Still, the isolation of a battery powered pre proved to be a surprising sonic advancement in my system. Partnering the H2O with the Fire pre is another example.

I'd like to mirror Muralman, switching amplifiers require system refinement to varying degrees. Cable materials and size, shielding, and VAC supply all play a large part in system refinement.

All my amplifiers have their shortcomings but the switchers have far less. They are different and they do have their own presentation. None that I've auditioned even come close to sounding like a tube amplifier or solid state.