Class D amps seem poised to take over. Then what?


I am certainly biased by my lifetime final amp being a Class D. But I know that after 30+ years of development, Class D seems to be on a high plain. I know there are now many, many companies focusing on Class D and, maybe, a good handful already as good as it gets. My Class D amp is as smooth and beautifully musical as a great tube amp and as punchy and detailed as a great SS amp. I am satisfied and done with my search. A class D amp has effectively taken me off the amp merry-go-round. It’s about time after 50 years. And, for me, this Class D is a milestone. Will all other classes of amps fade away?
mglik
I’ve tried a couple class D units. They were good but not great to me. I’m game to try some more. 
Anyone try a class G amp?  I had a Creek class G. Very cool topology: first 25 watts was all Class A and the switching side kicked in north of that to output 170 watts into 4 ohms. Sounded lovely with PSB Imagine T2s. But I went horns and tubes.   
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...yes, but is Class D stable into 2 ohms?
Sadly not, like good Class-A/B's can be using BJT (bi-polar) output stages, especially in current delivery.

Cheers George


jbhiller
I’ve tried a couple class D units. They were good but not great to me. I’m game to try some more.


If you can get hold of a Technics SE-R1 flagship or at least it’s cheaper integrated the SU-R1000
The SE-R1 addresses the "Achilles Heel" of Class-D, (ultra sonic switching noise down into the audio band) Technics takes it up 3 x higher and so filters it up 3x higher also, which results in 3 x less switching noise in the audio band.
It’s been said the SU-R1000 integrated does it also, but not confirmed by Techinics.

These are the only Class-D’s so far to take full advantage of the GaN Technology’s far higher ability to be able switch 3 x higher.
Other manufactures using GaN are only half exploiting it, and still using the old 3 x lower switching frequency, like all other Class-D’s do since the 90’s, so really not much advantage using GaN if not used like Technics have.

This top pic is what the switching noise looks like on the output of a Class-D going to the speakers a 10khz square. https://ibb.co/qBnNwVJ
Now Stereophile use an "AP (Audio Precisions) temporary test bench filter" on the output to give the illusion of a cleaner bottom pic, and they never give the top pic anymore, this is done in my view as to to not freak potential; buyers out.

Cheers George