I agree with George on this one. I went from Clayton Class A to Class D Ncore NC1200 for about a year but ended up on a circuitous path to McCormack, Lamm and then back to Clayton. An expensive lesson but well learned.
Thinking of replacing my Bat spaceheater with class D, real world thoughts please
Ok so I know there are already lots of threads on class D both negative and positive
As I have had a very positive result with replacing the ss amps in my ht rig with a single tiny Nuforce class D amp I was tempted to look into the same for my stereo rig.
This is a little more difficult as my present amp is a BAT VK600SE, 120LB of muscle and heat.
Now I am in love with my present sound but still am very curious if class D could do anything for me as it certainly did in the ht rig although those ss amps were not in the BAT league to start with.
So I would like to hear from people who have actually gone this route, replaced their expensive, heavy, power consuming amps with tiny little cold running boxes and what their results were.
Was it uplifting, about the same or make you wish you had never heard of class D!
As I have had a very positive result with replacing the ss amps in my ht rig with a single tiny Nuforce class D amp I was tempted to look into the same for my stereo rig.
This is a little more difficult as my present amp is a BAT VK600SE, 120LB of muscle and heat.
Now I am in love with my present sound but still am very curious if class D could do anything for me as it certainly did in the ht rig although those ss amps were not in the BAT league to start with.
So I would like to hear from people who have actually gone this route, replaced their expensive, heavy, power consuming amps with tiny little cold running boxes and what their results were.
Was it uplifting, about the same or make you wish you had never heard of class D!
Showing 5 responses by mitch2
The only way to be satisfied with the end result will be to try the amps in your own system and compare them directly with your BAT. I suggest you listen closely and objectively since, in my experience, the results may not be a night and day difference, but rather one or the other may be better at certain things. Be prepared for the Class D to be much quieter but I wouldn't get overly hung up on that benefit. Compare note development and soundstage between the two and listen for fatal (i.e., dealbreaker) type issues that you just cannot live with long term. If you want to try NC1200, I think I know who to contact so you can audition a pair in your system. Some Class D amps you may need to actually purchase and then have a 30-day "return" period, with or without restocking fees. Small price to pay IMO to get what you want, or to not make a big mistake. Since you are so curious, I suggest deciding how much you want to spend, and then asking the folks here for Class D amp suggestions in your price range and then contacting those manufacturers to try and set up an audition. BTW, they are mostly easy to ship and some come in flight cases which would make it very hard to damage them. It sounds like you are at the point where you need to hear some for yourself in your own system. |
I don't see Ncore on your list but Rowland uses NC1200 amplifier modules in its upper end amps and BelCanto also uses Ncore - custom modules in the Black, and Ncore NC500 modules in the REF 600M, which has received all the rave reviews. Acoustic Imagery offers a bare-bones pair of NC500 monoblocks for $2K - for the pair. Between Rowland, Bel Canto and D-Sonic, you certainly have the price range covered. |
When I owned my first two Clayton Class A amps (M200 and M300) I used to believe I needed to leave them turned on most of the time so they would sound their best, in spite of the heat and energy usage. This time around with my upgraded M300, I am more relaxed about turning them on only when I am ready to listen. Sure, they sound better and better throughout the approximately 30-40 minute warm-up period and sure, maybe they sound another 3-5 percent better if they are left on for longer periods of time, but they sound so much better than the really good Class AB amps I have owned and so much more satisfying than the NC1200 amps I owned, that I can enjoy them from the minute I turn them on. Basically, I am saying don't worry about the heat - if you like the sound of your BAT amp you may find the sonic trade-off is not worth switching to a smaller, cooler-running Class D amp. If you want to try Class D, decide which amps you would like to try, and obtain loaners so you can compare them head to head with your BAT. |
Since you asked, and you are apparently still interested in the topic, I suggest you read the following review of the Mola Mola Kaluga by Mono and Stereo. Their conclusion describes pretty much what I heard from the similar Ncore NC1200 amps by Acoustic Imagery, which I sold in favor of conventional, SS, Class A power. http://www.monoandstereo.com/2015/08/mola-mola-makua-and-kaluga-review.html |