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Competitive class D amp suggestions

I have been Class D fun since a few years ago when i bought my first class D amp. I like the concept, in general, and all the attractive features of this class of amplifiers. I tried 4 different ones, currently i  stayed with one of them that i consider to be the best among all four amps. I do enjoy and like it. At the same time,  my 5 watts SET amplifier (with more than 100 times higher distortion according to the specs) gives more natural and (surprisingly) notably cleaner sound (THD of the class D amp is 0.001). The soundstage  of the class D amp is not so bad but that of the tube one is still better.   

I remain attracted by class D amps though. 

Any fresh suggestions on reasonably priced class D amps (i mean excluding  non-reasonably priced class D amps, e.g., Merrill amplifiers)?

Any comments on non-reasonably priced class D amps are also welcome (so far i was not able to audition many class D amps and am curious if there are some which could really compete with Class A). 

128x128niodari
jerryg123's avatar
jerryg123
3,429 posts
 

a lot of player with quality sound.

new bel canto 600m

merrell audio

agd

mr ralphs class d.

".."…..

niodari's avatar
niodari OP
297 posts
 

Might well be the case. But then there should exist some objective evidences that these amps are essentially superior to other more reasonably priced ones including LSA Voyager GaN 350. Honestly, i would not order one costing a few times more without having such an evidence. 

rsf507
2,227 posts
 

Who here actually heard in their own system the Atmasphere class d amps? I'm in line to hear a pr when my dealer gets his demo set. 

snapsc
663 posts
 

I'd like to ask Ralph two questions about class d in general but I will use his class d to ask the questions:

1.  How do I equate a class d amplifiers power output with its power draw.  So for example, your class d amp is capable of producing 100 watts at full power...at full power, how many watts would it draw?

2.  It seems that most class d amp designers are going for the lowest distortion possible. I think I've read correctly that Nelson Pass said that if 2nd harmonics are dominate, an amplifier will sound very musical for music that is not complex and 3rd harmonics are probably preferable for complex music.  I also believe I've read that your goal was to get distortion as low as possible and to have 3rd harmonics be the dominate of any remaining distortion.  Is there a particular reason for 3rd vs a blend of 2nd and 3rd?

I hope I've represented all of the above correctly..

 

 

rc22
123 posts
 

+1 @snapsc

I just heard Mr. Pass mention 2nd order harmonics in an interview. But your question about whether 3rd order harmonics is pleasing for complex music is interesting.

And, while it may seem intuitive to presume that a system that can do complex material can easily tackle less complex music, maybe there is more to it than that.

And now for a movie reference that hopefully someone besides me, gets…

Bueller, Bueller, Bueller?   LOL.  I mean, Ralph.   

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