High end Class D amps?

I have Martin Logan CLX's which are difficult to optimally drive due to their capacitive load  which produces very high impedance in the bass and extremely low impedance in the upper treble.  I have used a number of good amps to drive them ranging from Class A Pass amps, the Pass Labs 100.5's, the Coda 15.5, to class AB, Krell Evolution 402e and Rowland 625's, and a good tube amp, the ARC Ref 150.  All had good points but one could criticize each depending on your tastes.  I also used a single Benchmark AHB2 which could not handle this speaker; however, two AHB2's in mono are surprisingly excellent and give away nothing to the previously listed amps.  The AHB2 is an overperformer but not Class D.  

Of the Class D amps I have personally auditioned on the CLX's, clearly the best was the Merrill Element 116's which can clearly handle the CLX's  providing transparency and detailing equivalent to the AHB2's,  a neutral tonal balance,  images extremely well and has excellent dynamics l.  It does not sound like any of the Class D amps I have previously heard.  I have not auditioned the Technics amp nor the most recent Purifi based amps or every Class A or Class AB amp out there, but I suspect that the Merrill Element amps would compare well against any amp near their price range.  In the end it comes down to your own preferences.  It is a platitude, but each of us may prefer one flavor or the next and how each amp's idiosyncrasies will interact with your room.

Atmashpere, how would one ever test that variable independently outside of other amplifier qualities? Plenty of seasoned audiophiles and reviewers alike that would argue subtleties in how a woofer is damped is second only to an amps ability to provide current into load variance in determining the best match.

@petland  Actually its pretty easy to determine if a woofer or other driver is overdamped with a fairly simple circuit. An amplifier does not need to be involved. This was demonstrated by the chief engineer of Electro Voice back in the late 1950s (it was EV and MacIntosh that led the way using the voltage rules for driving speakers). The physics of course hasn't changed since then.


Here's D.J. Tomcik's article, in case you are interested:

https://pearl-hifi.com/06_Lit_Archive/07_Misc_Downloads/1385_Critical_LS_Damping.pdf

I A/B tested LTA, Odyssey and Lyngdorf in my home. I auditioned them for my wife, with exceptional hearing as tested, and my Daughter, also excellent hearing, and neither having any idea about the technology. The Lyngdorf 2170 was the overwhelming choice for all three of us. I was very surprised. I've since constructed a Pass "First Watt" F5 power amp and B1 Korg preamp. The Lyngdorf sounds better than the Pass too. And that includes both digital and analog inputs. Just offering my personal experience.

@bullitt5094, Do you use RoomPerfect, and if you do is it a major factor in how good the 2170 sounds? 

Raise your hand if you like Class D amps! I'll let someone else count the results, definately not the democrats.