New to Class D / Purifi - thoughts before I purchase, details below

I’m a big fan of class D amps, having had great sonic success with amps using ICEPower or NCore modules (I have 3 such amps at this time). However, I have no personal experience with Purifi modules, so can't comment on that.

It’s nice that you have options to choose the opamps for the input buffer. I’ve had great success with Sparkos SS3602s in other applications; and people rave about the larger, more expensive SS2590s. I recommend that A. you get this amp with the imput buffer using opamps; and B. that you select either Sparkos option.

And if it were me, I’d choose pure copper for the internal wiring. It’s just a personal preference: both silver wire (or combo silver on copper) and many class D amps tend toward the neutral, flat, unengaging sound profile. Copper helps push the sound into foundational warmth and better tone/timbre, in my experience.

I am an individual who left behind the SS circuit for Power Amp's and Pre-Amps more than nearly 40 years ago.

In recent years I have been introduced to a modern design for a SS Power Amp and I was highly impressed, where recently I have had a loan of a design for the SS Power Amp that impressed, which with certain Speakers has been very impressive.

Most recent, I was able to be receive a revisit demo, in a system I know well of a SS design for a Power Amp' that is sharing a very similar circuit design to the one on loan to me, I was able to make a bid on this amp. All that was required was to secure a price attractive to completing a purchase.

As part of this visit to my friend's home, I was also requested as part of the invite, to be a set of ears to assess a new design for a Class D Power Amp design which was just produced beyond the trial prototypes. This use of the Power Amp was the amps debut to both designer/builder as well as myself.

Within a few tracks I did something very very unusual for myself, where I committed to having one built for me, even when informed I could have the other SS Power Amp used for a cheaper price than the new build. The other Amp was not a poor performer, no far from it. It was a representative of SS amplifacation at a very high performance level.

The new design Class D Power Amp was able to generate the impression I was in the company of a well-thought-out Valve Power Amp, where the sonic is seemingly Transparent, everything that I could want in an amp's presentation was in that listening space and recognised immediately.

Such a presentation from a SS Power Amp became compelling, and the dotted line was signed onto with an immediacy. I am now a week in and the idea of acting in haste, which could result in repenting at leisure, is not a concern. The cool-off period has become an eager wait to learn of a forecast build time. 

Additionally, I am not just getting a New Amp; I am also getting a custom-built chassis produced for myself by another friend who has begun a business producing the most interesting designs for a chassis. When I saw these chassis designs for the first time, I was wishing they were available when I purchased the chassis for the custom design monoblock pre-amps being built for me.

Hey Ho, onwards and upwards.    

@desktopguy 

I’m a big fan of class D amps, having had great sonic success with amps using ICEPower or NCore modules (I have 3 such amps at this time).

Same here. At the end of the day, I think money is better spent on an NC502MP or ICE, a real external preamp and an EQ for rich color, bass and detail. Even then, the class D modules seem to negate any sonic signature of a preamp. If we can come down to reality, all these modules do not use exotic Jupiter, Clarity or Mundorf capacitors for color and soundstage, so don't expect to get it. They all should sound flat like any big box amplifier.

@bartsw -- good point about preamp. Same applies to DAC and/or streamer. Those can and should be "voiced" in whatever way the user most appreciates, and that sound will carry through, to at least some extent, through the amp(s) to the speakers.

Another point about amps in general: historically in big, powerful SS amps, the same sonic divide existed in the range of amp sound users like. Some seek out amp designs that are "neutral," "flat," "accurate," "high resolution," etc. Others like me seek out amps that sound closer to how music IRL sounds, in terms of tone, timbre and presence of some foundation warmth. This divide exists in class D amps just as it does in class A and A/B amps. I need a class D amp due to space limitations on my desktop, also because any amp that throws a lot of heat in this home office just jacks up the temps and makes me pay for more AC to nullify it. Even so, a class D amp that sounds bright and edgy (something class D amps in general are sometimes accused of) would do me no real good.

I managed to find 3 class D amps that, at least to my ears, sound quite good. They have their own "sound," and it pleases me no matter what gear is upstream. But there’s also no doubt these class D amps can create synergy with my NOS DAC, also chosen for its musical sound. And depending on which preamp I use (multiple options), both the class D amp and NOS DAC may lock in with the preamp.

It’s all about "color, bass and detail" (well said).

@mendef 

I owned a B&K Ex 442 decades ago. Currently own among other amps, a mono pair of Merrill Audio Veritas. 

Been too long to compare but if you're ok with greater transparency and meaningful bass response, Class D is a nice option