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

Paging Ralph at @atmasphere -

If Class-D amps can be carefully laid out in a stereo two channel format with "plenty of power", relatively low distortion, with careful isolation of components for each channel, in a shared chassis - what would be the Top3 reasons some manufacturers still choose to make Class-D amps as mono amps?

I realize your amps are set up like this is why I bring it up, and PS Audio does something similar. I wonder if you might be willing to present your case how your Class-D mono amps would surpass some of these mainstream stereo Class-D amplifiers?  Its a legitimate question.  For reference I’ve owned many SS and tube amps in stereo and monos and usually hear a compelling difference in Class A, AB tube or solid state mono amps to this day. I enjoy the channel separation mostly.  

How’s that work with Class-D amps with stereo vs. mono, pros/cons/benefits with Mono Class-D amps.- can you break it down for us as you normally do here on Agon?  Thanks in advance for chiming in.  :) 

@atmasphere I’d love to hear your response, also.

I sometimes wonder – not about Atmasphere but generally – about products that incorporate features meant to convey "serious equipment" to buyers using what implementations that are really cosmetic, not functional. We see this all the time in products; engineers and marketers dream up the product together. The question becomes, does this ever happen with mono designs? In other words, are there some products where something is made "mono" mostly to fluff customer expectations rather than electronic and sonic priorities? How would a layperson figure that out?

If Class-D amps can be carefully laid out in a stereo two channel format with "plenty of power", relatively low distortion, with careful isolation of components for each channel, in a shared chassis - what would be the Top3 reasons some manufacturers still choose to make Class-D amps as mono amps?

@decooney @hilde45 The main reason is to reduce colorations.

Mono amps insure there is less noise in their power supplies and allow you to place the amp right by the speaker, thus keeping the speaker cable as short as possible. The reason that is important is no speaker cable is really correct; they all have mismatches with the speaker. Your best bet to minimize those errors is to keep the speaker cable as short as possible.

That is also the reason we use a balanced input. If your preamp supports the balanced standards then the interconnect cable's artifact (the reason interconnect cables can be really expensive) is minimized or non-existent. As an example I run 35 feet of interconnect cable at home and often at audio shows too. 

So that allows for the least coloration; something that is a lot harder if a stereo amp is used. 

Thank you, Ralph!

My WT amp ultra (upgraded Wiim amp) is only $1300. It sounds clean and musical. Compare their sounds below. Alex/Wavetouch audio

The sound of  NAD C298

The sound WT amp ultra

WT amp ultra