Which Class D Amplifier? PS Audio, Ghent, Nord, Merrill or other???


I’m looking for a new amp & want Class D.

I’ve seen various brands mentioned, such as PS Audio, Ghent, Nord, Merrel to name a few, but I’ve not heard any of them.

Which company is producing the best sounding Class D?
Which models should I be looking to demo?


Thanks



singintheblues

Showing 7 responses by plga

+1 to Nord
I have the Nord One UP NC500DM stereo amp and it outperfoms in EVERY field my previously beloved 300B valve integrated (use as a power amp) Line Magnetic LM-508IA, wich is a very nice class A valve amp, very popular among audiophiles and cost almost 3 times the Nord. 
Besides that, if you are in UK, may be you can visit Colin to test his products.
Like I said, I think you can´t go wrong with Nord.
Hulgich Audio, an australian speaker company, won the Best Sound Award in a HiFi Show on 2017 in Australia and second place in 2018, using Nord One Up Mono Amps and competing with system costing hundreds of thousands.
I think for the price is a no brainer.
Hello toetapaudio
What are your impressions about NAD, Gato, Nord and Mola Mola class D Amps?
Which ones did you like the most? 
Hello singintheblues
I dont have too many experience with different amps and Im still burning my Nord One UP NC500DM class D stereo amp, but to my ears and, in my I understand very resolving system, it betters my previous 300B class A Line Magnetic LM-508 integrated (used as a power amp) in every field (dynamics, 3D sound, black background, bass, instrument separation, tone, texture, etc), even with upgraded tubes. The LM-508IA is a very musical amp an a very rewarded one among audiophiles and it cost more than twice the Nord, weights 6 times the Nord, produces a LOT more heat and consumes more power. 
The highs of the Nord with the Sparkos Op Amps are so precise and no harsh at all that music is rendered with a beauty I can not explain. 
And to finish my post, the Nord has the Rev C boards an not fully burned yet. The Rev D are on their way.
I cant wait to hear it with the new boards! 
Hello guys
I have a Nord stereo power amp, two monoblocks in one chasis, with NC500 modules and the new Rev D boards with Sparkos Op Amps. It cost me about 2k.
I have no experience with other class D amps, but I've had some class A tube integrated, the last one (Line Magnetic LM-508IA integrated 300B tubes based) is a VERY rewarded one among audiophiles costed about 5k in US, with out the cost of upgrading the tubes. 
Using both as power amps and the exact same system, all I can say is that the Nord BLOWS it out of the water in EVERY field: pin point soundstage, depth, tonal accouracy, dinamics (WOW), noise, etc. May be the only thing they were close is midrange sweetness... Yes, this field in a class D amp vs a 300B class A valve amp!
The Nord costs less than a half, weigths 1/5, consumes much less power, generates much less heat and needs zero manteinance (the tubes on the LM are expensive, mostly the Power ones, and you need to replace them about once a year).
I dont know about the reselling price and for the price I've paid I dont care much, but the Nords are a bargain. My system never sounded so good!! 
I listen to all of my music streaming Tidal hifi (non MQA) with my Notebook with Audinirvana+ and Dirac Room Correction software (very recomendable).
From the Notebook, I have the Audioquest Jitterbug (not a big improvement), then the Wyred4sound USB Reclocker with a Linear Power Supply (a very nice improvement), the Gustard U16 USB converter (an incredible improvement, I still cant believe it), then with a HDMI cable to my Audio-gd R8 Ladder DAC (a very nice and extremely detailed DAC), connected via ACSS cables to my Audio-gd Master 1 preamp (another great piece of gear), then with XLR cables to the Nord (no words needed), and then Kimber Cables 8R to my Q Acoustics Concept 500 tower speakers (amazing ones).
Everything is connected to a Bada LB-5600 Power Filter with DH Labs AC Power Plus Cable and three PS Audio Noise Harversters.
I use in all my connections Sylclear Contact Enhancer.
Im about now to try the Synergistic Research HFT (10 Pieces). We’ll see if they are as good as some people say!!

Hello George
What about the HFT? Have you tried them? If they are snake oíl, I guess I should find out soon. What if they are not?