Based on the photos of the inside of the Rogue “tubeD” amp, the amp uses a standard class D module with a proprietary tube input stage and a linear power supply.
High end Class D amps?
Just an observation and a question. Are there 'high end' Class D amps out there that are just as good as Class A, A/B amps? I realize that's a sensitive question to some and I mean no disrespect---but whenever I see others' hifi systems on social media, all of the amps are A or A/B. There's always Pass, McIntosh, Moon, Luxman, Accuphase, etc. Where are the Class Ds? For folks out there that want more power for less efficient speakers and can't afford the uber expensive Class As, A/Bs, what is there to choose from that's close to those brands? Thanks
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Rogue isn’t putting tubes in the Hypex module. Go to their site and look at the inside of the Sphinx, those 2 small boards on the top are the hypex amps the huge board at the bottom with the tubes is theirs. Compare the hypex photos of the inside of the Sphinx to the stock photo at hypex they’re the same ucd 180’s http://www.rogueaudio.com/Images/Sphinx3insidemed.jpg https://www.hypex.nl/product/ucd180-oem/53 Here's the stock hypex module they use in the TubeD thing on a Dragon. http://www.rogueaudio.com/Images/Draginsidemed.jpg https://www.hypex.nl/product/nc500-oem/50 |
As I've said, I'm no EE but the board's "wiring" or circuit path into the Sphynx's modules seems infinitely less complex than what's going on in the Dragon board's circuits going into the Dragon's modules. Rogue clearly describes inserting the tubes somewhere within the module path, both in their product descriptions online and in several interviews and reviews online with designer Mark Obrien (one is at Dagogo site, another is at Positive Feedback issue 60). Just sayin. |
tweak1: " I have owned many different class D amps for over a decade. A few I would say would have benefited from a romantic tube somewhere in the system, BUT, D has gotten much better, especially in the high freqs, to where, IMHO, changing cables would be the better option. The Cable Company would be a good source to try a variety of cables I have a Tweakaudio EVS 1200, which uses the same IcePower AS1200 modules as PS Audio M1200, but are highly tweaked by Tweakaudio. No tubes anywhere in my system, and it's very detailed without being edgy" Hello tweak1, You made a couple of excellent points I can tell came from personal experience: 1. Class D, in my experience, is so accurate and neutral that it facilitates the perceptions of how changes upstream in the system effects the overall system sound quality. This applies not only to more significant system changes, like the source components and the quality of the recordings themselves, but also down to smaller changes like in the ics and power cords utilized. In my opinion, this qualifies as very high quality transparency. 2. I've come full circle about my thoughts and perceptions of combining tubes with class D amps. I began by using a VTL 2.5L preamp with an expensive set of 4 NOS Mullard tubes swapped in for the standard Russian or Chinese ones. I used this for several years with my class D amps and liked it so much I thought I'd never take it out of my system. But I happened to hear a Mark Levinson 326S ss preamp at a local hi-end shop. I was so impressed with its performance, especially the amazingly real stereo sound stage image it presented, that I bought a used one and tried it out in my system. Well, the midrange and treble sounds just as sweet and euphonic as the VTL with NOS tubes and the palpably realistic stereo sound stage illusion the ML presents was just too good to resist. So, I sold the VTL to a friend and I haven't regretted it since. So I've come full circle from thinking I had to have tubes somewhere in my system to discovering that my system without tubes can sound even better. The only qualifier is that it took a very good and expensive preamp to top the tubed VTL. My current opinion is that tubes combined with a class D amp usually results in very good overall sound quality. But I also agree that the quality of the midrange and treble performance, on good quality class D amps, has generally improved to such a degree that tubes may no longer be needed. As usual, it'll probably come down to the specific and unique amp/preamp combination utilized. Thanks, Tim |
I'm no EE but the board's "wiring" or circuit path into the Sphynx's modules seems infinitely less complex than what's going on in the Dragon board's circuits going into the Dragon's modules.If you look at the photos of the Dragon the hypex module plugs into the board the same as any other input buffer board. The tubes are not inserted into the hypex board and the input buffer board doesn't look anymore complex, that's not to say something in the buffer board could be different but the tubes in no way are inserted into the hypex, it's marketing speak for look we added distortion to a perfectly good amp. |
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