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Switch from AB to D

I have a Onkyo TX NR 3007 that eats up electricity because of 4 amps inside. I would like to switch to the Vidar class D from Schitt's. I really like what I've read about it and the reviews. I am handicapped and can't get out to listen to any class D units in my area so I'm going to depend on some people here give me a good idea where I'd be going from class A B to class D what's my sound. I will be using the Vidar with a Audio Experience Symphony preamp with three matching Telefunken tubes that have been in there since I bought it and it's serviced me well along with an Audio Experience Concerto Plus phono preamp. I have an older Soto Sapphire turntable with a clear audio virtuoso cartridge wooden body that has been rebuilt by the soundsmith what a great sound. Oh by the way I have an Oppo 103 Player for my digital along with PSB image five speakers which I got for a great deal of many years ago and they still sound good with my system.
So the bottom line here ladies and gentlemen what am I going to experience putting a Class D amp with a hundred watts per Channel in place of my Onkyo with 140 watts per Channel at class A B power?
Thank you much
Ron in Highland Michigan
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limomangus's avatar
limomangus
1,426 posts
 
I feel class D ,amps just just cut it.You get power but you lose the quality sound.
hgeifman
2,187 posts
 
@mr_m,  As you requested, I owned the Hypex NCore NC400 Class D Power Amplifier dual-mono blocks (2 NC400's per box) and the Mola-Mola Kaluga NC1200 Class D Power Amplifiers.

Based on my listening experience, with both the Hypex Class D amps and then the Mola Mola amps, I did not feel they sounded very musical in my system and environment.   In other words, they did not sound natural and I had problems listening for long periods of time.
  
I asked several 'experienced' audio friends over for a listen and they agreed with my thinking.   As I said in my above post, this is MY opinion and others may disagree.   In fact, based on other Audiogon posts, I know that some people like Class D amplifiers.  I do not like Class D amplifiers based on my listening experience with theses amplifiers.   I hope this helps.  

I then purchased the SimAudio 700i V2 integrated amplifier.  My SimAudio 700i V2 amp sounds excellent. It sounds clearer with more musical detail, better bass and more.  The sound quality of the SimAudio 700i amp was exactly what I was looking for.   



racecoach
6 posts
 
Devialet could be an interesting option.
asvjerry's avatar
asvjerry
4,610 posts
 
I think class D amps suffer from a bias issue.....but I'm not talking circuitry.

I'd wager that the initial A/B amps suffered the same group stoning...but I wasn't around for that, nor likely to care at the time...
oldschool1948's avatar
oldschool1948
501 posts
 
I have a NAD M22v2 power amp paired with a Herron tubenpre amp.  The SQ is very good.  

Having said that, I'm going to purchase a tube power amp because I've never tried a tube amp before.
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