Comments please on: NAD M23 vs c298 vs. other newer Class D

Apos audio  has some class d gan fet that mono into 500 watts, 600$  the only problem is soft start is not so soft .so this is one amp that I just leave it on. I do like the new gan fet because the switch much higher leaving less time in off mode than other class d . Happy hunting.

@hilde45 nice use of the Stein quotation.  Thank you for that.

@decooney , i did not A/B the 2, but @mgrif104 ‘s comments capture my experience with the M33, and also my caution that the issues may stem more from the M33’s streamer and DAC section than the amp module.  As @hilde45 is looking at only the amp, those experiences may not be all that concerning to him. 

how were you able to make a Class D module that competes with companies like NAD, Purifi, et al.? It seems like the kind of thing that teams of engineers and iterations of product development would require and you did it alone? That's astounding.

Second, will there be another iteration of your class D amps? The ones you have now are the first generation, while other amps in this class seem to have gone through a number of "evolutions." Is there a new Atmasphere Class D amp version in the works?

@hilde45 A lot of people think we're a tube equipment manufacturer. We are, but really we are an engineering firm. As to how we did it, it took time, patience and an understanding of math. There's not a new version in the works. The amp has met our expectations out of the gate. 

@atmasphere Thanks for your reply. I've heard your amps once, here in Denver. They were played with large Tekton speakers in a room that was too small. The brightness and shrillness was unbearable, but I'm sure it was the fault of the speakers and room. If I am able to try them out for myself, in my own system, I'm most curious to give them another listen. I admire your work, your career.

@hilde45 "...speakers in a room that was too small. The brightness and shrillness was unbearable, but I’m sure it was the fault of the speakers and room.".

"Unbearable" you say. I experienced this once in an audio show room with a very well known high quality amplifier manufacturer paired with a well known speaker manufacturer, and music tracks being played by someone who does this regularly. 

The components were great. The room setup and result was absolutely horrible.  The worst sound out of 87 different rooms.  I’ll never forget it. Embarrasing, and I felt bad for the people running the room, as visitors came through, and you could see the expressions on their faces as the room emptied back out, quickly. 

As we well know @hilde45 until we get any of these components into our own rooms, running with our sources, our cables, our setups, its a crapshoot guess at best if any of us take other’s feedback too seriously. I remind myself of this regularly now when I see posts by folks about gear that sounds great in my room and horrible in their rooms and setups.  Lots of other variables as we know.  :)