Class D - A Fork in the Road


So it seems these newer Class D amps are splitting into two paths. Now I'm not asking which is better, the Purifi Eigentakt, or the GAN models. I am asking is if you can describe the sound of each compared to the other. I understand which one is better is subjective, and opinion based, but a general description would be helpful to make my choice closer to what I want to hear. Thanks.

koestner

Yes @atmasphere that is a perfect example of where you misunderstood. I was saying that comparing GANFET'S to regular silicon D amps such as those from China and the lower tier Western silicon based D's is disingenuous. They should be compared to the top tier silicon based D amps. But they never are. There. Was that spelled out better? 

@ericrhodes1 Yes, and I agree with your first statement. Some GaNFET amps are compared to top tier class D amps; that seems to happen a fair amount. 

 Also I don't think I could make a proper judgement in just a 2 week trial.

@koestner A lot of the customer feedback we have suggests our class D amps take about 450-500 hours to break in properly. That would be very hard to do in a two week period. When people are auditioning our amps I point this bit out. 

New to Class D. I had a Wyred 4 Sound that I really, really wanted to like, lot of power, not bad but it did sound 'clinical' to my ears, and the high end didn't have something I was used to in terms of realism and sparkle. Tried a Fosi, yech, not for me. Someone I trust raving about Aiyima A70 stereo, may try it, but so far I can hear the differences from Class D, even the 'new and improved' ones out last few years.

they’re pretty much the same sounding if designed by competent people

This is not true, different circuit designs and parts usually sound noticeably different.  The differences may be small or possibly not noticeable, but usually there is a difference enough to make user subjective preferences meaningful.