2. amps-preamps
  3. 186622-124012

Class D amplifiers. What's the future look like?

I have a number of amplifiers: Luxman C900U, Bryston 4BSST2, Audio Research VSI 60 Integrated, NAD C298 and some other less noteworthy units. As I swap them in and out of my main system, I've come to the conclusion my very modest NAD C298 is about all I really need. Granted if I had extremely hard to drive speakers, I might be better with the Bryston or Luxman, but driving my Harbeth 40.2 speakers, the NAD is just fine. 

I thought a while ago that class D would quickly overtake amplifier design type mainly due to profit margin which I think would be much greater than A/B and tube. I'm not saying the other design styles would go away, just that D would be the most common style. 

Clearly my prediction is not panning out, at least in the mid and high-end audio world and I'm wondering why? It seems companies such as Bryston, Luxman, McIntosh, Hegel and so many others are sticking by A/B. I'm no "golden ears" guy, but is the perceived sound issue(weather real or imaginary) still holding D back? Maybe my assumption of profit margin is not correct? Maybe the amplifier manufacturers are experimenting with D, but keeping tight lipped until release? Perhaps brand loyalists don't want change similar to what happened with "new coke". What else am I missing?

 

128x12861falcon
kennyc
1,227 posts
 

+1 @soix 

strawj's avatar
strawj
73 posts
 

Geese class D For Divisive?! Any way I actually love mine for one thing they save me a ton of money in initial cost -for -power and for running all night on streaming. Paired with some Harbeth 30.1's that are so easy to drive it works great. Only the Peachtree NOVA BTW. Quiet as a church mouse and no problems. Previous Krell equipment was a constant problem with clipping and grounding et al. Sometimes I wonder if I'm even still an "Audiophile"- Step 1 IS the MOST important 1 after all.

invalid
1,102 posts
 

You must not have had a big krell amp if you were constantly clipping it.

pennfootball71's avatar
pennfootball71
250 posts
 

Class D is better if you are not cheap and look at a New Products from AGD and Mola Mola. However you need a budget from 15.8-25k. Then you get the good class D products from the top products.
there is no cheap magic bullet! If you spend the money you can get class D that sounds better than most AB things under 100 grand!

deep_333
895 posts
 

15k to 25k for 2 cheap Chinese boards in a box, aka class lousy D, so D maker can laugh his way to the bank? (Laughing at the big ol’ dumdums who paid him, bwaaaahahaha) No thanks...

Lousy D beat any class A under 100k? The Class D maker/naked emperor’s pride must be on a serious rise these days. Either that or the D lovin ASR psycho train chasing 0.00000000001% THD must be making more stops at the Audiogon station too these days.

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