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Class D Technology

So I get the obvious strengths of Class D. Efficiency, power output & running cool which allows for small form factors. I also understand the weaknesses somewhat. 1. Non-linear & lots of distortion that needs to be cleaned up with an output filter. 
So my question is, if it weren't for efficiency & power, would there be any reason to own a Class D amp? Do they beat Class A in any other categories that count for sound quality?  
seanheis1
timlub
2,039 posts
 
Hello all.  I'm not able to be on here as much as I used to, but I will answer when I can. 
@atmasphere   Hi Ralph,  You are correct, I don't necessarily use engineering terms,  but that may be because I am not an engineer. 
I have posted in the past that As much as I do know and practice about speakers, I've spent my adult life working on, building, modifying and designing speakers,  I found that I was only touching the surface with amplifiers.  I was out of place in some more technical conversations... So I decided to learn.  6 or 7 years ago, I started buying bad amplifiers,  repairing and rebuilding and in general just learning about amplifiers.  I have repaired or rebuilt maybe a dozen old classics and today am fairly competent doing most repairs or modifications on amplifiers. Compared to those builds,  my class D quest has been fairly simple.  I have been purchasing class D modules and doing changes.  With these modules, I built with linear supplies and switching supplies,  both when hefty enough supplies were used would produce quite good results.... I started mostly just upgrading parts on these boards to very high quality parts.  I have done very few circuit mods,  but I have done a couple.   Many of these amps do a good job.  
kw6
691 posts
 
Bottom line is until we can get rid of the nasty 3rd harmonic distortion in class d our ears will always prefer the cozy 2nd harmonics that tubes generate!😮
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 

I cannot hear any trace of harmonic distortions on the 3rd or any other partials when I play music with my class D Rowland M925 monos or class D Rowland Daemon integrated.... Nor do they intermodulate. They are as sweet and stunning as can be.


As fashionable as it might be, generalization is a dangerous tool. Best to avoid the infimous logical trap of "1, 2, 3.... 99, 100".


Like with any other class of operation, the performance of class D amps can be evaluated only one amp at a time... And only through actual listening to boot. There is a huge variation of audible performance characteristics and tonal qualities amongst amps to make any sweeping proclamations one way or another.


 Regards, Guido



noble100's avatar
noble100
2,419 posts
 
guidocorona:

"I cannot hear any trace of harmonic distortions on the 3rd or any other partials when I play music with my class D Rowland M925 monos or class D Rowland Daemon integrated.... Nor do they intermodulate. They are as sweet and stunning as can be."

+1  guidocorona

          I also hear no traces of harmonic distortions on the 3rd or any other partials when I play music with my, much less expensive, class D D-Sonic M3-600-M monos or 2 other class D amps that I formerly used for music but currently use for HT 5.1 surround sound, an Emerald Physics EP100.2-SE and a Class D Audio SDS-440-CS, which are both excellent performing and very reasonably priced stereo class D amps.

      In general, I view class D amps as an excellent alternative to the more traditional ss and tube amp types that represent a bit of a revolutionary approach and a breath of fresh air.  They're the very competent, silent, efficient, straight talking and cool running guys in the amp neighborhood who just even handedly and confidently tell us what's what without distortion or ever getting overheated.  

    No, they don't all sound the same, not everyone likes them, some refuse to even listen to them, some are prejudiced or jealous and others just bad mouth them out of habit.  But these confident, competent and cool guys don't care.  They know how good they already are, that they're constantly only getting even better and that their technological future is bright.

Tim

guidocorona
4,298 posts
 

I should however like to point out that as with any other class of operation and topologies, class D amps range from the marvellous to the horrid. When I visited RMAF a few years ago, there was an equal proportion of class D amps and tube, class A, and A/B that left me befuddled for their total lack of musicality, be their tone dull and wooden, or acrid and shreaky.


Bottom line... Let’s use our ears when choosing an amp best for our music genres, and avoid preconceived abstractions. Old and trite urban legends are bound to drive us down some suboptimal path.


G.




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