Def look for a pair of PS Audio M1200s. FYI Michael Fremer bought the review pair
2026 best deal in audiophile class D stereo amp?
My new super incredible speakers (canton reference 2.2 dc)require power! Looking for something that will give them 300-500 watts into 8ohms of quality sound. I’m a tube guy (SET amps) and hoping for something that’s worth it in the $1k to $2k range. Lot of deals in the used heavy duty class a or or a/b but, I’m getting old and it’s just as good and only weight 20lbs.... why not try it??
this...?
https://classdaudio.com/product/prototype-matched-pair-gan-fet-balanced-mono-block-audio-amplifiers/
or this....?
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I’m hoping to get a pair of the Hypex Nilai monos at some point in my journey. With a really nice tube pre of course. These are at about 260w @8ohms, but the 4ohm rating is well over 500w. And stable / unshakable with super low noise way down past that. They’re reviewed not just for their power capability, but for sounding very natural. Comparable to class A in some respects.Alpha Audio has spent a lot of time with the Hypex Nilai offerings in some comparo vids with listening examples: https://deercreekaudio.com/products/hypex-direct-nilai-500-mono-block-amplifier-kit Apollon Audio has their designs around the Nilai as well: https://apollonaudio.com/product/hypex-nilai-500-m-monoblock-amplifier/ But if you were ok with foregoing that power requirement, those new Crecsendos by Laiv seem really promising, and the GaNfet sound seems to be primo. Hoping those new Class D Audio amps are a complete redesign. Nice to know folks here like them and I’ll have to check those out. Their first amps on the market were presumed no bueno, but I have no direct experience with them. |
you know I've been reading so many stereo reviews in the last few months (first on speakers and now on amps) and 99% of what you read is so positive they are almost all useless. I'd really love to see a Class D shootout of all these sub $2k range amps. Or better yet, one comparison of what can be found in the true entry level under $1000 stereo amps and then what can be found in monoblocks at maybe under $3000 a pair. There are so many offerings in class d now, I really wonder how much difference there is between the final sound of all these similar amps. |
hello @argonsteele an acquaintance of mine just very recently asked my opinion a about the newly reviewed Laiv amps. i don't own them but the reviews look promising so, i said my piece and disclosed that i don't own them, but he decided to get the new chorus amps and just arrived last week. he said for the past 48 hours, he jaws drop because of the sound that it can drive his ATC scm speakers. he just can't believe it. he got the mono block version. he claims that 120W per channel can drive it at really loud levels. he said that his previous parasound amps cannot even come close. good luck. |
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