Class D Amplification Announcement

@arafiq

@jjss49 Thanks for mentioning the AGD amps. How would you compare to an all-tube system in general? To be more specific, let’s say if someone like the tube sound and has not been satisfied with SS ... should this person consider AGD?

hard for me to answer specifically, as i am sure you can understand, all tube systems can vary alot in their degree of softness at the frequency extremes and their midrange ’bloom’

i still have alot of tube gear, mostly audio research tube amps (ref 110, 75, vt 100-2, v70, vt60) and still one a c-j linestage (et7-ii) and a don sachs pre - none of which i use hardly at all anymore... but my point in mentioning this is i clearly like a more extended, powerful and more transparent presentation, even from tubed gear

that said, i would summarize (as i did in an earlier post quite a while back when i first got the audions) what they do is rather like a beneficial cross-breed between the best of tubes and ss

-- treble is very clear, extended, fast and high resolution, but still exceptionally smooth and not at all harsh (think of a very very high resolution color photo or video picture, where the pixel count is so high that the texture is actually velvety, with absolutely zero perceptible grain or grit...)

-- mids are also very natural, detailed, fleshed out, but in proportion to the treble and bass, and not moved forward or accentuated relative to them (to many the forward and magnified midrange can be a defining aspect of tube-sonics... )

-- bass is airy but exceptionally tuneful deep and solid... here definitely this aspect is tip top solid state, which exceeds that of pretty much any tube amp -- short of truly mega ones with hundreds of watts of output power (think vtl wotan or arc ref600/610)

-- imaging is very open wide and deep, layered and highly specific... one can argue if image depth is 100% as good as my arc ref amps on their best day, but it is very close... i find that front end quality is very highly determinative of imaging/soundstaging quality

-- and of course, the behavior of the audions with low impedance loads is characteristic of a good ss amp, without the limitations of the classic output transformer based tube power amps

hope the above helps... i do believe that agd dealers (and alberto himself, if bought directly) will still extend a trial period with return privileges

several other agd owners are here, they can chime in to add to or differ from my observations above

I think high-power Class A is environmentally irresponsible. 

Well I guess you can look at that both ways, I think a case can be made that very low inefficient speakers are environmentally irresponsible. Happy imaging!😎

Mike

I have to say I love technology debates because they have been ranging forever. I  have a Technics SU-R1000 that replaced a McIntosh Integrated (MA-6300). TAS also loved this integrated, but it was Stereophile's review wherein they compared it to the Technics SU-G700 which is the lower cost version in order to discuss the differentials as well as to S-Phile's review and Artkinson's extensive testing reveal an amazing array of new technology. The LAPC and JENO circuits are real tech. I think it took a company the size of Matshusita Electric (Panasonic) to produce a $10,000 digital (not D per se) integrated that is phenomenal against most A/B comers. It also weighs 54 pounds, built with superb capacitors, unlike lighter (see Marantz, NAD, et al) Class D amps that feel lighter and tinny and ones that did not advance the new tech properly.

I am not here to advocate any singular position--but there are always revolutionary changes in HiFi that shake industry standards every generation or so. Tubes gave way to stable solid state Class A and then Class A/B amplifiers. Tubes are making a rebound as millenials and genzers flex their economic muscle in seeking retro tech like fine turntables and tube amps (I recently purchased a McIntosh MA252 hybrid and put in Golden Lion Russian tubes--sweet for a 2nd office system). Tubes are warm, but not as reliable as well-built solid state--technology moves forward regardless of nostalgia.

The reason why I think more manufacturers will be using their resources in developing Digital and even lower cost Class D amps is in part due to the energy efficiency. With traditional energy sources so expensive, a class A amp that needs 600 watts to produce a 150 watts per channel at 8 ohms is the equivalent of a 1970's gas guzzling V8. Digital amps are the rough equivalent  of a Tesla that can go 0-60 in 4 seconds with efficient battery power. Sorry gang, market forces drive changes.

Is this new Borrenson designed Digital amp the epitome' or state of the art? Well, at $30,000 + it should be. The tell-tale will be at the sub-10,000 range. Oh wait, Technics is already there.

go listen to a purify before you type

@jjss49 Really appreciate the detailed response. If I didn't know any better, I would have said "too good to be true." :) But since I'm well aware of your experience and expertise, I have to say that this is a ringing endorsement of AGD. 

A few days ago, I opened a thread about the possibility of moving from integrated to separates, but I purposely requested an all-tube solution (amp and preamp). Based on your impressions, I'm very tempted to give AGD a shot. 

I have gone back and forth between tubes and SS, and each time I come to the same conclusion that for my taste and preferences, tubes appeal to me the most and pull me in emotionally better than SS amps. If I'm forced to pick only one or two attributes of tube amplification that appeal to me the most, it has to be the holographic/3D soundstage and the lit-from-within qualities that good tube amplification does it better than SS (of course, in my opinion only). How do you think AGD compares in this aspect? Are there any shortcomings (vis-a-vis tubes) that you can think of?

Sorry, I know I'm asking you a lot of questions but I'm very intrigued now :)