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Time to buy a class D amp?


Will some new class D amplifiers outperforming the current ones appear soon

(the newest ones i know were released a  few years ago)?

Class D amps attract me as I consider them the most ecological ones with obvious non-auditionable benefits.

I have no doubts that they posses the maximum ratio performance/sound quality among the amplifiers of all classes.

At the same time, the sound quality the class D amplifiers that I have auditioned produce, although is quite good,

but not yet ideal (for my taste).


I use PS Audio Stellar S300 amp with PS audio Gain Cell pre/DAC with Thiel CS 3.6 speakers in one of my systems.

The sound is ok (deep bass, clear soundstage) but not perfect (a bit bright and somehow dry, lacking warmness which might be more or less ok for rock but not for jazz music).

I wonder if there are softer sounding class D amps with the same or better details and resolution. Considering two reasonable (as to the budget) choices for test, Red Dragon S500 and Digital Audio Company's

Cherry  2 (or Maraschino monoblocks), did anybody compare these two?



128x128niodari

Showing 9 responses by erik_squires

erik_squires
15,908 posts
 
The good Nelson Pass posted some interesting musings on high vs. low impedance amps and drivers and how they might be matched up here:

https://www.passdiy.com/project/amplifiers/current-source-amplifiers-and-sensitive-full-range-driver...

Fun stuff.
erik_squires
15,908 posts
 
I went from a Parasound A21 to Class D, no difference in sound.

With no difference in sound, the Class D was a better amp. Cheaper, cooler, less expensive to run.


The Luxman I replaced it with beat them both, at 6x the price.


erik_squires
15,908 posts
 
Last I checked this is about listening to music not about technical
specifications.



When you keep using specs which are unproven to related to listening experience one way or another, you might as well be using dowsing rods.

erik_squires
15,908 posts
 
they're all so noisy anybody who has had years of experience in audio file systems well tell you that class D amps are just for beginners


Noise is what the Class D amps have least of.

I suggest anyone considering a Class D amp to listen for themselves up against similarly priced gear. I've had linear and Class D amps at the same time, I've had a number of audiophiles listen to the Class D amps without knowing it. They never ever noticed.
erik_squires
15,908 posts
 
For me first thing I noticed it took 5 days 24/7 to sound right


I have experienced this, and so have others. Weird.
erik_squires
15,908 posts
 
If a Class D amp sounds great to you, buy it.
If you need some sort of test gear to tell the difference, you might as well be using dowsing rods.
erik_squires
15,908 posts
 
Hi schwos

I don't know what PS Audio is doing, but my experience with ICEpower was that they weren't bright, they were warm.

As you may know, these modules, like Hypex, allow a lot of customization in the front end. I was listening with stock modules.
Best,
Erik
erik_squires
15,908 posts
 
Yeah, imagine coming to Audiogon, and saying "This is my setup and I want to buy this kind of gear, what would you suggest?" and actually getting useful, contextual advice.
What kind of place would this be?
erik_squires
15,908 posts
 
Try an ICEpower based model. I find them quite warm sounding. The equal of some Parasound linear amps, and the better of some megabuck class A amps to my ears.

I'd ignore the class though, just go by what you hear.


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