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What is your favorite Class D amp?

Moving to a new home with a smaller dedicated listening room has caused me to rethink my entire system.  I have always been a fan of EL34 tube amps and presently have a Primaluna HP (4 tubes per channel), but the size and heat make this a bit more difficult in my new set up.  So I have been thinking about going with a smaller, less hot class D amp.  But being a tube guy, I have never seriously looked into or listen to these amps.

so what is your favorite class D amp?  New or used, in the 5k range, but could go up to 10k.  Preamp is a Conrad Johnson ET-7.  Speaker will be in the monitor/mini-monitor class (so I don’t need high power for a smallish room) but have not made my final decision on speakers as the amp/speaker synergy makes this kind of a joint decision.

I purposely asked for “favorite” to be a bit more open in your relies.

thanks, Bill

meiatflask
up4hours
3 posts
 

I have recently moved to Class D in my system. After trying the SMSL PA-X GaN amp (sounded nice but kept dropping a channel at volume), then a pair of Cambridge Audio MXW70 mono locks that also sounded really nice however I later found out that these can only be used on 8 Ohm speaker I have settled on the Peachtree Stereo X power amp. I haven’t had chance to have any real sessions with it yet but the listening experience so far has been great. 
 

I hope you find something that suits your setup and you like the sound of. Good luck with the search!

dseltz
226 posts
 

I have a pair of the AS Class D amps and am very pleased with the sound. My other amp is a SET 45 and I give the AS credit for a very smooth and tube-like sound. New is well within your price range and everyone probably knows, Ralph is a great guy. 

goleksiak
75 posts
 

@reavesdc I have them paired with VSA Ultra-55s. I haven't tried any tubes. I find them to be very detailed but without bitterness. Very powerful too - they scream in my rig  while drawing around 15w. 

carousel's avatar
carousel
31 posts
 

I went through a series of Class D's over the years, from ICE through Hypex to Purifi. Had a chance to borrow a pair of Benchmark AHB2 for a couple weeks and sold the last Purifi after that. Like the person who posted above, the buddy who lent me the Benchmarks uses Atma-Spheres to heat his listening room in winter. Burnt my arm once on them while trying to reach behind to move a cable.

testrun
254 posts
 

I moved from Primaluna HP to Bel Canto's 600's and did not like the end result.  In my system / room music had no life.  I really tried to make it work but after 8 months I sold and started over. I moved from Bel Canto to AGD Audion.  Everything was back, sound stage, warmth, with a llittle increease in detail, light weight and little to no heat.  All in all it was exactly what I was lookng for.  Like @marco1 I use a tube pre - Cary SLP 05.  I've never heard Atma-Sphere Class D but, from my perspective, AGD and Atma-Sphere is where I would focus.  I would not heistate to buy used but I rarely see either amp for sale used; may say something!  Good luck with your search!

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