@ron1264 All class D amps are analog. If its digital, its not class D. FWIW the on and off states in a digital word have significance whereas the on and off states of a class D do not. So I doubt there is any such thing as a 'digital amplifier'; there are DACs integrated into an amplifier system that employ a class D at the output.
AGD Tempo in the house
It is very interesting to spend time with amps. You go to shows or even go to someone's house and listen to and amp and because it isn't on your gear and in your environment, it sounds good but it is insanely difficult to judge vs other gear.
So AGD is a brand I had been flirting with and finally a customer asked for a demo so I put in my order and a few days later the Tempo arrived. I dropped in into my system and all I can say is WOW. It has all the grunt required to drive my Vivids. Is warm and sweet with an extremely wide sound stage.
Even fresh out of the flight case, (no box here) it didn't sound digital at all. This sounds closer to Class A to me than Class D. I have not heard a different GaN at this point but I am fascinated by this and how good it sounds compared to other Class Ds and even Class ABs.
The other surprising part is this unit is about 1/3 the size of a normal component. I know I am a hair late to the game with GaN but damn, is it ever too late to celebrate a product.
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The manufacturers that make digital input amps that change PCM to PWM call their amps "digital'. Yes, the output stage is class D so it is not digital but the input stage is digital.....so you might call it a half digital/half class D amp. However, I think it is a good idea to call these amps digital because you then know what you are dealing with. Some of these "digital amps" use no feedback....since they have no analog stages to take feedback to. Technics, Tact, and Lyndorf use this kind of "digital" amp. I am sure there are others. There are no DACs in a "digital amp".....they only need a digital signal. However, some "digital amps' have analog inputs and then they use an ADC to change the signal to PCM and then convert to PWM for the output amp stage. |
Tempo di Gan in the house! First impressions, paired with my Harbeth 40.2s: I can endorse most all of the positive comments so far. What really struck me: bass and bass control. The last two amps I've had in house (both monoblocks) were technically more powerful than the AGD, but the Tempo really impresses. Other thing is definition/resolution. Time to trot out one of those very well-worn audio cliches: put on a live recording of Eva Cassidy, and yes, I did hear for the first time a few details that I'd never heard before. (I usually roll my eyes my I read a reviewer writing that.) Sonically, at least to my taste, it sounds very even-handed. middle of the road, neither markedly warm or cool. Imaging and soundstaging are good. Will follow up when it's had time to settle. |
Congratulations @twoleftears, on the new amp. Great first impressions. Looking forward to read about your thoughts once the amps have settled. I know you were in two thoughts about GaN vs Purifi. Glad that you made up your mind. What about the volume position on the Backert? You had to bump it up or down? |
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