Time to buy a class D amp?

dutchydog,

     Anyone who claims class D amps are noisy has obviously never listened to one, forfeits all credibility and any further claims they make on the subject are best ignored.


Tim 

they're all so noisy anybody who has had years of experience in audio file systems well tell you that class D amps are just for beginners

Noise is what the Class D amps have least of.

I suggest anyone considering a Class D amp to listen for themselves up against similarly priced gear. I've had linear and Class D amps at the same time, I've had a number of audiophiles listen to the Class D amps without knowing it. They never ever noticed.

noble100"Anyone who claims class D amps are noisy has obviously never listened to one"

This is wholly, completely, and utterly false, speculative, and prejudiced not only have some of us "listened' we have also actually "measured" using reliable, repeatable, objective measurement techniques that are recognized by engineers, scientists, and industry as fitting, proper, and appropriate but of course if you are happy with Class D you should absolutely enjoy it but you're reasoning, arguments, and suspicions are unfounded and false.

Hello clearthink,

     Can you please tell us, using your reliable, repeatable and objective measurement techniques, what your results were for class A, AB, D and tube amps in the standardized specification of Signal to Noise Ratio?
     As you’re certainly aware, your Signal to Noise Ratio measurements will settle definitively our little disagreement about whether class D amps are noisy or not. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is a measure used in science and engineering that compares the level of a desired signal to the level of background noise. The higher the ratio the less noisy the amp.
     Once you enlighten us all with your SNR measurements for each amp type, it will be obvious whether or not class D amps are noisy and which of the amp types is the quietest, in other words, which amp type has the highest measured ratio.
     Thank goodness you’ve been doing all your scientific measuring, ranking the various amp types from noisiest to quietest should be a breeze with your handy and definitive measurements.
     Oh, and just to guarantee fairness and honesty, it is stipulated that your failure to respond on this thread will be an admission that class D amps have the highest Signal to Noise Ratios of all the amp types and, therefore, can be scientifically declared as the quietest amp type.
     Sorry clearthink, I already know class D tops the list for highest SNR.  However, I have a suspicion you’ll be reluctant to freely admit this for some reason and the stipulation will at least guarantee your tacit admission of this rather well known fact.

Tim

I think Tim gave a very clear and justified response. Both, listening experience and scientific measurements prove that class D amps are the most quiet ones, not only with the highest signal to noise ratio, but also, with the highest ratio performance/price; i.e., take a class D amp and compare it with another amp of any other class with the same price, and you will have much better sound quality in class D amp, and it will be lighter, smaller and will consume much less energy than the other amp.

Other issue is the sound quality of class D amps, in absolute terms, regardless of the price and other parameters. This issue might be discutible but note that in this case you will be comparing a class D amp with an amp that costs much more. Its like  the two amps are not in the same weight category (so it would be unjustified to compete them). In this sense, class D has no completion.