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The Hifi Trajectory Of Class D Amplifiers

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I bought my first digital SLR camera back in 2005. Film SLR cameras were still king back then. Longtime film camera hobbyists and pros thumbed their noses at digital. Ten years later, film cameras have been surpassed by digital cameras and are nearly extinct. Millions of people use cameras. The market was already in place for anyone that would advance the technology of digital photography.

With Class D amps, you don't have a marketplace the size of the camera marketplace. There doesn't seem to be enough economic incentive to spend the necessary research dollars to advance the technology to get the same sort of improvement trajectory that digital photography has enjoyed.

Anyone care to speculate how long it will take for Class D amps to consistently rival the best tube, Class A and Class A/B across the board....and do it without resorting to the stratospheric prices that current non-Class D amps are priced at.
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mitch4t

Showing 9 responses by mapman

mapman's avatar
mapman
22,687 posts
 
I have Bel Canto ref1000m mono blocks and c5i integrated amp.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,687 posts
 
One can argue that we're already there except that Class D technology will likely continue to improve and become more affordable still for the foreseeable future.

I've heard many amps and systems over the years. I could not be happier with my Class D amps. I expect only even better things down the road.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,687 posts
 
Screw the technical theories and assessments.

Listen to some and make your own assessment.

You might like them better than a tube amp or not. There is a chance. It all depends. There is a lot of top notch performers out there of all types to consider.

Class D is a bigger threat to Class a and A/B I think than to tube amps. Class D and Class a/b amps will tend to work best in similar systems whereas tube amps are a different paradigm that requires other differences as well to work their best.

No doubt in my mind a $35K 1500 w/ch Class D integrated amp by Rowland will hold its own own with most anything and possibly even win head to head if all is done right.

But,if its loose, warm euphoric tube amp sound specifically you are looking for, Class D amps will not give you that.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,687 posts
 
Although technology is much different, I think it a good analogy that Class D eventually will do to other amp designs what digital cameras did to film cameras. it may take another 5-10 years of market growth still to totally dominate in most common applications. The reason will be because the technology is "greener" as well as being capable of doing the same applications as older amp technologies better and for less in general.

Tube amps have enough unique properties though I think to stick around even longer as a niche technology, much like phonograph technology.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,687 posts
 
My Class D amps at home are top notch.

At the gym, they use inexpensive pro Crown Class D amps with large horn loaded speakers and instructors use their Apple devices as source. Not audiophile material in there with lots of echo and speakers in corners near ceiling but gets the job done nicely.

Very versatile technology!
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,687 posts
 
In terms of sound good Class D amps I have heard and good tube amp setups I have heard differ not just in components used end to end but soundwise as well. Tube amps often provide some degree of warmth through the midrange. Class D amps I have heard deliver more of a "liquid" midrange but not warm at all. You have to add that somewhere else if warmth is what you seek. A good matching tube pre-amp does nicely.

I have one mostly digital (with phono and line level analog inputs plus various digital) integrated amp (Bel Canto C5i) and my main rig with BC CLass D amps and ARC tube pre-amp. They are both excellent performers but have their sonic differences, mainly the touch of warmth the ARC preamp delivers. I can listen to either happily for hours.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,687 posts
 
Kijanki, agree.

Neutral liquid midrange is a good thing.

I have insufficient data points to say all class d sounds that way but ice power does seem to.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,687 posts
 
Most pro audio applications call for high efficiency easy to drive speakers in order effectively fill large rooms. That helps assure tube amps will be able to do a good job as can good SS or Class D. Most will opt for the lower cost and maintenance solution out of practicality as long as results are good. So few would choose a tube amp these days even though I have no doubt some might sound very god.

HOme audio is different as Kijanki points out. Tube amps are not suited for many home speakers designed to deliver more bass out of a smaller package. A god Class D amp will have little problem with most any home speaker.

What sounds best in each particular case will obviously depend on a lot of things.

So I agree pro use or benefits of tube amps is not really useful for this discussion.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,687 posts
 
I'm a class D guy. Tube amps are fine but have not lured me to the dark side. 🌚
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