Always happy to hear happy news and reviews when someone gets some new equipment. Here’s to many many hours of listening!
My wife and I sat down last night, and played a variety of music, from the Baetis server.
My thoughts on my first Class D amp
I recently started 2 threads on this site, Narrowing down choices in a Power Amp and also High Power Amp, Does it Matter at Lower Volumes.
I am grateful for all the input, and thought I would share the results of those posts.
Summary is: I have a Baetis Audio Server, going into a T+A Dac8, into a Mark Levinson ( ML ) 326S into a ML532H power amp. The amp loses a channel on occasion, with strange popping noises sometimes, other times just a single ( not very loud pop ). Time to get this amp fixed or buy another amp.
Well, I am getting the amp fixed, but I bought a Class D RCVTech set of monoblocks.
So, having said all this, WOW. Very happy.
My wife and I sat down last night, and played a variety of music, from the Baetis server. No new music, no streaming, existing tunes we have listened to for years. Nothing but an amp swap.
The RCVTech MPA-1200 monoblocks
1) definitely better stereo separation,
2) definitely way better bass, these monoblocks double down to 700 wpc at 4 ohms, something the ML532H did not do. A world of difference on bass
3) overall better sound, even at low volume. Not bright or fatiguing at any time.
4) more detail, listening to existing tracks we have owned for years, more small background detail,
I wasn't fully sure of what I was buying, but, now, I realize that while I will repair the ML532H, its future use is in question. I am keeping these Monoblock RCVTech MPA-1200 amps in place.
The buying process was easy, the right questions were asked, delivery was fast, for a customized build.
I have the Class A input with 380 wpc at 8 ohms, 700 wpc at 4 ohms, 700 wpc at 2 ohms, THD + N = 0.0009%.
Since this is Class D, not sure how much more money I would have to spend to better this with a conventional build Class A amp? I was considering Pass Labs, who were suggesting XA100.8 or larger. Some day I may actually get to hear these Pass Lab amps, but, there is no urgency, now.
- ...
- 36 posts total
@curiousjim Thanks... we are enjoying the tunes. Today was super busy, got in an hour or so of listening and reading. My wife is doing an art show on next Saturday, and today she was interviewed for another show. Oh boy, what started out as a 1 night event 10 years ago has resulted in over 2600 paintings, and around 5-6 events she is involved in at the moment... |
"I suspect that speakers that provide a difficult load will not shine with Class D amplifiers just like Maggie's don't shine without high current amps. Class D likely sounds best with simple loads centered around the designed output filter's selected optimum speaker impedance." I found just the opposite. My Class D amps seem to sound better when driving 4ohm speakers, as opposed to 8ohm speakers. Just another data point, not saying one is right and the other is wrong. |
My current Class D Audio amp claims stable to 2 ohms. I don’t have that but it doesn’t break a sweat driving my Ohms or KEFs so I tend to believe it. I’ve had various Class D amps, some beefier than others. Key is choose the right amp for the job regardless of “Class”. Specs and measurements matter. |
@doni Wife and I are both in agreement. My speakers have never sounded this good. I really cranked up Jethro Tull, Locomotive Breath... Starts with piano solo, and then wham, hits with the whole band, guitar, has a flute solo. Just wow. |
- 36 posts total