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Digital, Low Mass, ClassD, Less expensive, Let it happen!

Well here we are! Not that you can't go back and buy boat anchors, but now we know sound is better with low mass designs. Digital source? Yep, the tide has turned. ClassD amplification is also here to stay. Lower mass speakers, on their way back too. The audiophile hobby is getting less expensive and better sounding.

I guess we can debate this, but it's happening anyway. The hobby is simply growing up and becoming more aware of how to get great sound, and get it smart. There has been a lot of myths passed down when we only had paperback magazines, mostly for marketing, but the internet has finally caught up with audio reality. Instead of $20,000.00 components we have $20,000.00 whole systems (including all the trimming). Shoot, there are $5,000.00 systems that excel. The Trade Shows are changing, the market is changing and we are changing. Want to stay old school? No problem, there will always be old school and plenty of used gear (at least for our lifetimes). There will also be smaller niche companies that spring up to tempt us.

The hobby is entering a new era for the extreme listener. It will be a hobby of doing and exploring Electrical, Mechanical and Acoustical as equals. Components will be much smaller and more flexible, and more time will be spent on playing our whole music collection, and not just a few recordings. Many HEA debates will be making their way to the archives as the hobby grows closer to mainstream. Mainstream as in higher quality audiophile mainstream.

Are you ready? I sure am!

Michael Green


http://www.michaelgreenaudio.net/

128x128michaelgreenaudio
michaelgreenaudio's avatar
michaelgreenaudio OP
1,019 posts
 

For a point of reference

I have Audio Note, Jolida and a few others, but the tube designer I've enjoyed listening to this last couple of years for amps and preamps is....

http://audolici.com/

Especially the A25-M and the AP-01. I mention these as a reference to what I use to ping pong back and forth with the Class D world. I also have  outstanding relationships for borrowing equipment. Nice to live a few blocks from the CES. So I'm not that far from anything I want.

One thing I will mention about class D is how one mates them with the rest of the system. I have heard class D sound thin with speakers that have more components in the crossover. Class D likes simple crossovers or in my case only one capacitor. As with any type of amp design using the best speaker type match is important. If folks put a class D amp into a system use to A or AB they might find themselves coming up short. Class D is a different animal and really cool design once you find the variables that fit, like with all things audio.  

MG

michaelgreenaudio's avatar
michaelgreenaudio OP
1,019 posts
 

And look at these Class D threads taking off, good for you guys!

There's more, much more, but this is a good introduction to the paradigm shift that is taking place in playback for those who have not already made the move to low mass.

It's interesting setting the components side by side, as in two different rooms, one room having the extremely expensive heavy system and the other room with low mass, high tech and low cost.

mg

also thanks for the emails 

erik_squires
15,657 posts
 
Let's not forget headphones and desktop systems.

I'd venture to say more headphone high end systems are being sold than living room stereo.

Best,
E
michaelgreenaudio's avatar
michaelgreenaudio OP
1,019 posts
 

Headphones of course are always in the equation. Most of the folks I know have all 4. Headphone, computer, theatre and in-room listening systems. Sometimes the theatre and listening are combined. Well now that I think about it they are all part of each other with more than one place for entertainment. Since Class D the look has changed dramatically as well the system function. The big amps in the middle of the room are gone. Not saying that area is empty just reorganized or the equipment is in another room.

The younger generation is either looking at the soundstage or soundstage and video, not so much looking at the components.

Michael

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