Class D for a Tube Lover

@boomerbillone 

The price on the Starke AD-4 320 shows $999 with free shipping as far as I can tell. Looks great and seems to be a hybrid of class d and a/b. When I search here it seems only you come up with any comments about it. How did you hear about this amp? Does the purifi amp you also own have any of the buffers?

If you live around a bigger city, you will likely find some discounted Peachtree products on Facebook Marketplace. If you don't like the sound, you can resell it for around the same price you bought for. Peachtree seems to be one of the most discounted product lines at your price point with a healthy resale market (in comparison to Cambridge Audio for NAD, say). 

I bought a ps audio S300 to use while my Musical Reference RM9 mkii (the best tube amp these ears ever heard) was being repaired... I thought I’d sell it once repaired. However, I kept it and sold my tube amp.

Does the S300 sound as good as that tube amp...? NO. However, I was shocked at how close it came.

It probably helps that I am feeding it with a really nice tube linestage (great synergy).

Ignore those that are making blanket statements against class D.

I didn’t like earlier class D sound either...but at least PS Audio.... and possibly others are now getting some incredible sound out of class D.

I don’t miss the tube replacement costs, heat, the weight, or the extra consumption of energy of tube amps.

My experience is that you can have the best of both worlds... With a nice tube pre.

YMMV

I never realized the likes of Audio Research, Rogue or even PS Audio had Class D amps in their caralogue.  So many brands and models I've never heard of.  Looks like I'll have a lot to look into.  

I've got quite a few different speakers that get rotated out (Dunlavy SC-I, JMR Trente, LS50, Totem M1S, Merlin TSM, C&C Abby, blah blah).  I counted yesterday as I had to rearrange where the speakers are stored and I have 20 pairs.  Stupid, I realize.

So an amp that's able to drive a good variety of speakers is a must.

I primarily listen through Cary tube amps but on a whim, I purchased a Bel Canto Evo2 for my LaScalas. It runs stone cold and provides an incredibly black background with a slightly warm presentation. Sufficient power and nuance to pair with Harbeths and DeVores as well.

I have not figured out whether it is classified as a Class N or Class T. A 300b its not, but I am impressed enough to kick myself for not buying one sooner.