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Class D for a Tube Lover

First, I'm sure this has been asked many times but searching the subject wasn't too helpful to me.

So apologies in advance.

I enjoy tubed electronics and class A amps, which tend to be a bit warm.  My current Cary 805s warm my small (12x16) music room even in the cool/cold of winter.  I've got other amps that don't produce much heat, but am looking for something that produces no heat.  Living in a home with no central AC the room gets uncomfortably hot during the summer months.

So...I'd like to try some Class D amps.  Stereo or mono is just fine.  And my speakers aren't difficult to drive so I don't need a thousand watts.  But if that thousand watt amp sounds great, I'm not adverse to that, either.

I'd like to keep the price under 2k used.  

Please help.

Thanks.


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Showing 5 responses by daveman2

daveman2's avatar
daveman2
58 posts
 
I have a used NAD M32 on order that should be here mid/late next week. I've read good things about NAD's newer class D amps and will try and remember to post my thoughts here. I can also vouch for the PS Audio M700s. I would describe them as balanced and neutral (in a good way) more than warm and syrupy (to continue using the term, lol). However, they are fairly smooth, grain-free, and lacking edge. I would have to agree with the comments that 1) you probably won't get "warm" with a class D (at least under 2k?) - at best you'll get smooth, and 2) it would probably be best to add warmth with a tube pre. Happy hunting!
daveman2's avatar
daveman2
58 posts
 
Just to be clear, the M700 monos are very good amps, just not warm.
daveman2's avatar
daveman2
58 posts
 
One more PS Audio recommendation. I picked up an older Trio C-100 Integrated amp a few years ago, and recently tried it in my system. It’s actually a really nice sounding amp, and I paid $550 for it (in mint condition). EDIT - by "nice" I mean competitive as a high-end amp. There are a couple companies that offer mods/upgrades that (supposedly) sound even better, too. Underwood HiFi still provides it’s upgrade services on the amp, actually. It is a pretty rare find, but if you can snag one it would be a relatively cheap foray into class D territory.
daveman2's avatar
daveman2
58 posts
 
Following up on my new(used) NAD M32. So far, it betters my last DAC/amp combo, the PS Audio DSD DAC + M700 monos. It does so many things right (insert a long string of audiophile descriptors here) and very few things wrong - in fact, nothing to my ears, yet. It is not *warm* but I agree with JA in Stereophile, "[...]what emerged as a consistent signature was a clean, clear quality of sound that stepped out of the music’s way[...]" and "Highly recommended." Purchased for $2450 used, and SafeandSound (a NAD authorized dealer) sometimes has refurbished ones available.
daveman2's avatar
daveman2
58 posts
 
This has been a very interesting thread. I've learned about all manner of great class D manufacturers. Good stuff.
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