2. amps-preamps
  3. 176820-68726

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
niodari's avatar
niodari OP
299 posts
 

Good news! It looks like that we both will be reporting our impressions on the amplifier almost simultaneously.

tokushi
53 posts
 

  1. NAD Electronics: NAD has a range of Class D amplifiers that are well-regarded for their sound quality and value. Models like the NAD D 3020 V2 and D 3045 are popular choices among audio enthusiasts.

  2. Parasound: Parasound's ZoneMaster series offers reasonably priced Class D amplifiers with various power ratings, suitable for both home audio and custom installation applications.

  3. Emotiva: Emotiva is known for offering affordable audio equipment, and they have Class D amplifiers that are praised for their performance and value.

  4. SMSL: If you're looking for compact and affordable Class D amplifiers, SMSL has a range of options that are popular among budget-conscious audiophiles.

  5. PS Audio Sprout100: This is a hybrid integrated amplifier that combines Class D amplification with a tube preamp stage, offering a blend of modern and classic sound.

  6. Remember that the perception of sound quality can be subjective and influenced by personal preferences and the specific system setup. If possible, try to audition different Class D amplifiers with your speakers to determine which one best suits your taste and complements your system.

niodari's avatar
niodari OP
299 posts
 

Today is a remarkable day in my audio hobby realm - I received a new pair of Atmosphere Class D monoblocks, sent with a care. I plugged in them a few hours before I started to audition them. During the first few  minutes of auditioning, my initial impression was the presence of solid low and mid-low frequencies, perception of body and space and lack of mid-high and high freqencies. The latter issue somehow disappeared relatively soon.  The amplifier is in its first 2 hours of break in now. I'm already enjoying the sound and I feel that it will get gradually better. I think there is a lot of more to explore with these monoblocks. 

I will carry out a more substantial analysis, also comparing the amplifier with a few other ones that I'm using after I return from my trip. I hope this will happen in about 3-4 weeks. Stay tuned. 

ghdprentice
6,540 posts
 

OP,

 

Congradulations and thank you for sharing.

niodari's avatar
niodari OP
299 posts
 

Just an update on my earlier post on my LSA Voyager GAN 350 map. Mr. Walter from Underwood hifi was so kind to replace it with another new one. So far the new one works without showing similar problems. Walter has also recommend an SPL Elector SS preamplifier, which I think is a good match, it compensates a bit a lack of the body and "inanimateness" in the sound reproduction of the Voyager. 

More to discover