Class D amps that are superior to all or most?


Recently, I have heard about some Class D amps that may be close to the best there is regardless of class. Certainly, this technology has been in development for decades. The main issue has always been the switching power supply. In this regard, I have taken notice of AGD. They have created a whole new power supply that “switches” at a frequency 100 times the normal silicon based MOSFET. The designer uses a gallium nitride based PS. Interesting, it is enclosed in the KT88 glass envelope that sits on top of his amps. I am aware of two more pricey amps that seem to be also at the top- the Solution and the Merrill. There must be others that compete for the title. After my thread, “Is there a SS amp that can satisfy a SET guy?”, I am still on the quest.
Don’t want to spend $50K!
mglik
I’m really having a hard time wrapping my head around why it is bad to improve the sound quality of a given piece of equipment by modifying it.

We’ve been doing it forever in this hobby (I’ll only go back 40 years ago to the Dynaco 70 as an example) & many have enjoyed the results.

Why the issue now?
Many moons ago when i owned my audio company with their blessing we would mod Bedini amps and sell them with our face plates. I did this with several TT’s, these mods allowed one European manufacture to enter the US market.

So mods have been happening for decades.
Back on track.

I continue to be impressed with my AGD amps, there is a feeling that the music is just right. Music comes to life, singers are real, instruments are real. My musical enjoyment has increased 100% i smile a lot while listening.
Its not that the issue is new.  Even 40 years ago you had people who only believed in numbers.  What is new now is that there is the internet....so people can let their feelings be known.  Some non tweaking believers are on a mission to let everyone know the emperor has no clothes.....trouble is, the emperor likes being naked....ie: most like the results of tweaking.  These non tweaking cult members can be relentless....like a mosquito on a summers night.

Most new models from most manufacturers are just mods of previous models.....they find better caps, wire, resistors, power supply regulators, circuits, jacks, bigger cap banks, larger transformers, better fuses, damped chassis, etc. etc. and that is what the new model is.....just a tweaked out older jobbie. 

When Bruno created the first N-core amp....the NC400...it measured extremely well.  People on DIY audio and other sites started to prostrate in front of Bruno......saying he was the ultimate genius because he made something measure so well......and that it was the "perfect" amplifier.  Well, I took this perfect amp and modded it with better output filter caps and it sounded much better......So, was it perfect before I modded it or after?....I say neither.  Nothing is perfect.  I just made a good amp better. The mod would not change the distortion measurements.  Rarely does anyone mod their NC400 so I no longer make money on this mod.  Here is a link to people talking about the mod: 

https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=118868.0

No matter what these pesky anti modding/tweaking mosquitoes say.....we all benefit from better parts and execution......we get better sound.....but not necessarily better measurements.  When we come up with measurements that correlate to what we hear it will be very interesting.  So far, we cannot measure anything different in most sonic changes.....but we certainly can hear them.  Long live our ears and our belief in our ability to discern better sound!


I am really glad the Audion’s are rocking a lot of people. What we need is a cheaper version and alternative lower priced competition. If AGD put all the circuits in one box and got rid of the silly tube thang they could sell a dual mono single chassis amp for half the price. We have GaN amps from LSA now and coming soon GaN amps from Wyred for Sound and Mytek. Let’s see if some of them can compete with the tuberators.....and for less money. Fun time ahead.