Totally agree George.
But if I can get the best sound in my system AND reduce heat production and power consumption, it will be a very worthwhile trial. |
Two main rationale for the experiment.
Can class d provide the same audio experience for me as present very ungreen ss power amp.
Reduce the heat and power usage the amps kick out.
Both intertwined obviously.
I managed this feat in my av system and I am still very impressed with the sq from such a diminutive little box compared to the pair of 77lb behemoths that were serving duty previously.
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I must admit that now it is cooler it does not feel as hot...lol
Still have the urge to experiment, dontcwe all.
The nuforce will be here next week, we will hear what we hear! |
I have just purchased a pair of Nuforce Reference 9 v2 mono amps for very very little dollars so going to give these a whirl in my main system.
If I do not like I am not bothered as they will go to make my third system in the bedroom that at present is relying on a sound bar for amp/speaker.
Yes it means buying speakers and speaker cable but that is half the fun of it all right?
SQ impressions later...... |
For now there will not be any class d being tried in my system , not made of money and the Wilsons took all my spare "hifi play money"...lol
The brief trial of my nuforce in my stereo rig did not go well although I am sure there are really good class d amps out there at a price.
I have never tried tube power amps so have no basis for comparison there, did have a couple of tube pre amps but always been ss power amps
And right now the marriage of mcintosh pre, bat power and wilson speakers gives me goose bumps with the right source material! |
Again thanks to all but for now the BAT/Wilson. McIntosh combo I am using right now is making me very happy and I am doing just what any good audiophile should...which is just sit back and enjoy the music!
TBH the room where my rig is located is acousticaly terrible being mainly glass and tile so until I move in the next 2 years or so I am probably just going to leave well alone as any changes may be more noticable in a well damped room not the glass palace I am relegated to right now.
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Thanks George
It was an avenue I was interested in exploring simply because of the good results I had with the ht rig.
However in retrospect majority of the listening is dialogue and special effects...loud ones!
Not too much finesse needed there, just good muscle which class d certainly has in spades.
Just as another test I actually played some cds through the ht rig and although it sounded ok it is in a much lower league than my stereo rig. But it is oriented towards movies really with a large Martin Logan center and big psb sub for "effects" .
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Just a quick update
I did find time on Monday to play around and moved the nuforce ht amp over to the stereo rig for some tests.
Now it may be a little unfair as this cost $1600 vs $8500 for the BAT but I was very dissapointed in the results. Very metallic and the bass was more of a thud than controlled. Volume and power certainly but finesse and tonality, no. Soundstage and imaging also suffered badly compared to to the BAT.
Next test was Tuesday when my new( well new to me) speakers arrived, a pair of Wilson Witt mk1.
These hooked up to the BAT were a revelation, such solid controlled bass and nice and low, I was hearing notes I had never heard before on familiar tracks. Soundstage, vocals and acoustic guitar were probably on a par with the Focals ( these punch well above their price point imho).
I have read elsewhere that Wilson and BAT make a very good marriage and this seems to be the case.
So pretty happy with the new speakers I hooked the nuforce back up
Oh dear....pretty awfull to tell the truth, I do think Wilson speakers need very good electronics behind them to sound right and this appears to be the case.
Now what a pair of higher end monoblock class d might do is another matter but the music I have right now with the BAT/Wilson combo does not make me want to pursue the class d route at this point.
Blow the heat and power consumption, I can live with that!
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@mitch2
The BAT is just the same, i can tell a difference in sq after it has been on and played for approx 30minutes but not enough that I leave it on all the time, it comes on with a 12v trigger from the pre and that is it.
@mains
I checked out the NORD, looks good and fair price but if I went the ncore way I would more than likely stick to a homegrown company like dsonic or similar but thank you for the headsup! |
Yes the BAT certainly is a very efficient heater for sure...lol
However I have to say that since starting this thread I have made a few changes that have left me in quite the sonic nirvana for now,
New speaker cables, wooden blocks under the speakers, very carefull setup of speaker position and angles and swapping the sub with the one that was in my ht rig so now is a REL Stentor which is a very musical 10 inch 500w sub.
All this has mightly improved the imaging, soundstage and tightened up the low bass no end
For now I am doing what we all should
Enjoying the music
Class D adventures are on hold right now...lol |
@asvjerry
Cant say as I have done a study on the heat but after a couple hours of run time even at moderate volume levels it sure is pumping out the heat above it.
That and its 120lb bulk are reasons it sits on its own little amp stand in clear fresh air away from the other electronics! |
@rhljazz
A very interesting scenario there
Very easily accomplished too as any class d amp could sit right on top of the BAT and just move the power cords, xlr connects and speaker cables up it without changing much of anything.
More food for thought..... |
@jafant
I do not use a BAT pre simply because the mc. c48 is a all in one solution and was a big step up from the older arc ls2b I was using previously.
I considered BAT pre of course but the c48 let me get rid of 2 other boxes and simplfy matters. it has 4 digital inputs, mm and mc inputs and a headphone output so i could get rid of my phono stage, headphone amp and run the vault straight into the c48.
@asvjerry
TBH I am not really asking if I will like it or not, that is obviously all up to the individual and their system but rather just others views who have gone this route from possibly years of ss or tube power amps.
One thing I may do as I have a nuforce multi channel amp in the ht rig is pull it and install in the stereo just to see. would mean running rca connects but could be a worthwhile test...... |
I entirely agree that it will all depend on how it sounds in my system and am prepared to do a number of a/b comparisons of a lengthy nature.
However my main focus was to see how many had actually gone this route and if they regretted it and just some general views on the many class d amps out there.
Ones I had considered so far include Bel Canto, Jeff Rowland, NuForce, D-Sonic to name a few.
All claim to make prodigous power from a small box up to 1500 watts in some cases, although we all know numbers on their own do not mean a great deal. |
Ok my present rig is
BAT VK600SE
McIntosh C-48
McIntosh MVP-851
Bluesound Vault2
Clearaudio Emotion4 table with Clearaudio Ebony v2 cart
Mostly Cardas cables apart from speakers which are Van Den Hul
Focal Chorus 826V
Listen to 90% modern rock music, think Avenged Seven Fold, Alter Bridge, Seether, Shinedown etc.
Sometimes take a blast down memory lane with vinyl |
Oh I can see this being a journey of discovery for sure
Yes I do like what I have with the BAT but am also open minded considering my positive experience with the ht rig and the NuForce amp.
One thing is for sure, the BAT will be hanging around for a while as I try some variants out and see just what I like and do not like.
One nice thing about the majority of the class d amps is that the cost is not anywhere near the cost of a pair of top flight a/ab amps so can afford to give a few trials without a second mortage |
Thank you Greg, just the sort of info I was looking for
Obviously as Erik also wisely states it is all in the ear of the beholder but a nod in the right direction is always welcome.
And yes the sound of the BAT does change a fair bit depending on volume, it almost seems to have stages where it changes character and life.
I would say it is at its best at what I call mid volume, enough to feel the bass in my chair and the wife to demand I shut the door...lol
Down low for late at night it definitely lacks some of the previous energy I hear at a higher level.
I was recommended to dsonic when i was upgrading the ht rig but along came a superb deal on a new nuforce 8 channel and processor and have never looked back on that system! |
I have read many reviews that say class d amps are more susceptible to poor sound from poor cabling than other types and that especially good pc pays big dividends.
I was fully intending to keep the BAT for some time to start with as wanted to run direct a/b comparisons with whichever class d crosses my doorstep.
Thoughts had revolved around dsonic, rowland, bel canto but would love to hear actual owners experiences
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