Will new Class D trump a vintage Class A/AB?


After 6 years on a shelf, I finally got a 1986 VSP Labs TransMOS 150 power amp fixed. Back in its heydey, the Gold Edition of this amp was one of J. Gordon Holt's favorite amps for neturality and musicality. It's fairly heavily biased into Class A, as the VSPs run on the warm side. They weigh a ton--50-60 lbs depending on whether you have the 150wpc or 200wpc version. They are stable all the way down to 0 ohms, have a really high damping factor, and have deep, extended, tightly controlled bass. It's one of the first MOSFET transconductance amps--it's a solid state implementation of tube amp topology. I remember it being fairly fast, but especially liquid.

Now, I haven't heard a VSP in years (even though I have 4 of 'em--most needed recaps or something).

Anyway, in a fit of impulse-buying, I ordered an Onkyo A-9555 class D integrated amp, which has been enthusiastically reviewed and recommended by both Absolute Sound and Stereophile.

So whaddaya all think? Has amplifier development come far enough in the past 22 years that a high quality MIJ class D integrated could give a handmade boutique old school AB amp from the '80s a run for the money? I know I'll find out in a couple of weeks, but which way do you think it'll go?
johnnyb53

Showing 1 response by kijanki

Johnnyb53 - It is difficult to compare different amps without setting price range and even then it migh be not easy. Compare 2x200W class A design to my Rowland 102 (class D) I paid $1500 for. There is no such class A amps for $1500. Class D beats many class AB designs within the same price range.

I picked Rowland since it was $100 cheaper than Bel Canto S300 and had Rowland's reputation behind (no bad product in 20 years). I don't think Onkyo was available then.

Get Continuum 500 and don't worry about home equity. One can live without a home but not without great Audio Gear.