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
Canor Audio AI 2.10 for an integrated https://www.audiophilia.com/reviews/2023/11/29/canor-ai-210-integrated-hybrid-amplifier Mono Blocks. Goldnote PA-10 (GaN) https://www.monoandstereo.com/gold-note-pa-10-amplifier-review/ All Stop, Period, Exclamation Point.
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Ditto on the Orchard. I did the kit of the Starkrimson Ultra. 500 watts a channel. Went from all tubes to Rogue Rh5 preamp with tubes and the Orchard. Never going back. Also Leo, the creator is a pleasure to deal with. I had some questions during the build and he answered pretty fast. Can’t go wrong at the price point. https://orchardaudio.com/shop/starkrimson-stereo-ultra-diy-kit/
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The finished amp costs $2600 but the kit costs $2350. Just sayin |
Wrong.The dual mono which is the one I built is 4249.95 https://orchardaudio.com/shop/starkrimson-stereo-ultra-2-0-dmc/
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I will go for the D-Sonic Amps for 50 bonus points, Bob.
Here's a review I wrote when I initially purchased mine: I received my D-Sonic M3a-2400-3 amp this last weekend and after listening I realized that I need to take some notes on the significant difference this amp is having on my home theatre / Stereo system. I’ve been enjoying my system as it’s grown and improved for 40 years and never felt the need to take notes. This amplifier isn’t just a significant upgrade, it’s dispelled my previously held thoughts on how much power is required to properly drive speakers. My front channels are all Martin Logan, ESLX for the left and right and a motion 50XT center. The ESLX are rated at 91 dB and the center at 94 dB. Why in the world would I require 800 watts per channel when all speakers are reasonably efficient? I was running PS Audio M700 mono blocks at 350 watts per channel at 8 ohms and that apparently wasn’t enough (or the amp wasn’t). With as much hype as these amps have received, I expected them to be more that enough. This is where my previously held thoughts on how much power is required were changed. I listened to the M700’s and then the M3a-2400-3. I was literally shocked at what I was hearing at normal sub-reference volume levels. What I previously mistakenly thought was an inability to play clean lower base notes was actually the M700s inability to control my speakers. Now, I’m amazed at the quality and clean reproduction of the lower bass notes. From top to bottom it sounds as though I have upgraded my speaker system. I love trumpet and I’ve always perceived that as FAST as Dizzy Gillespi is, he wasn’t completing the notes. He was blasting them out. Now I realize that my previous amplifiers from the last 12 years haven’t been fast enough to keep up with him. Now I am hearing how crisp and clean each note he plays is. Amazing. People often describe sound with depth and width. With this amp I’m describing it as a “sound field” There is a comprehensiveness to what I’m hearing now that previously didn’t exist. I’ve never heard anything like this. In my system, this is quieter than the PS Audio amps. Quiet as in “dead quiet”. I have experienced some difficulty though. My Silnote speaker wire spades are too wide to fit the amps connectors and the AC power socket isn’t a 15 amp socket, it’s a 20 amp socket. Fortunately, the amp comes with a quality power cord, yet I was frustrated by this. Apparently, I don’t get to use my expensive cords. Now back to singing this amps praises. It’s outward appearance is quite attractive to me. Everything about it shows excellence. From the paint to the D Sonic logo, it’s elegant in it’s simplicity of design. It’s wonderful to finally have the sound that has been lacking due to my previous amplification. I play my system 3 dB louder than before without the boominess I was experiencing. I am a grateful man.
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