Are they going to destroy audio?

In the USA, so far they are looking at electrical usage by mandating high efficiency heat pumps and hyper sealed living structures. Which as expected is resulting in a lot of illness and disease from a lack of clean air. They seem to be in the process of using remote monitored electrical meters as a measure of how much power you are using at any moment in time. That information is then used to experiment with some willing customers to shut down your heating and cooling in peak demand periods. That of course is the ultimate end goal. Monitor and measure out how many watts they will allow you. That as well as control over your high use devices such as heating/cooling/car charging.

I don't think they will look at your stereo in our life. I am seeing them looking at the overall electrical usage and shutting off the tap if your outside what they legislate you can have. If you want more, your going to need the money to purchase solar and or wind and a storage device. Currently you have the opportunity to pay over usage taxes in graduated pricing programs. I do believe the desire to absolutely control everything in your life will lead them to your stereo. They already got to your TV. No more Plasma. But the stereo marked is small and under the radar for now.

I hope that all is not too political. I think its the true direction governments are going when it comes to allocating power.
 
Shadowfax said:
I am in the camp of every amp sounds different.

My whole point was in response to your statement - "Its the market that is slowly choking out class A amps, not anything else. "

My poll at AG showed that the market for Class A still seems as strong as it ever was and it's now 5 pages long with only a small handful talking about Class D.
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Yes. You may have noticed that I was one of those whose choice of amplifier use was not based on its class of operation (so I added my response accordingly). Its based on sound quality. I've been making class A amps for nearly 50 years and the class D amp I'm running at home sounds better. I don't miss the class A amps at all.

At any rate I'm not wrong about class D edging out class A. As more and more manufacturers figure out how to get class D amps to sound right, there simply will be less and less reason to own a class A amplifier. One of the reasons people like to say how class A is better has to do with something called 'crossover distortion'. FWIW, if a class D amp uses output filter chokes (and all of them meant for home audio do) then they are incapable of this type of distortion.
 
My post might seem political, but its hard to talk about a utility that is generally a monopoly in a region, and that monopoly is directed on how it operates by government bodies. Its very political in how governing bodies control what you can connect to your utility power. I know from my work as an electrician, government bodies and their regulating agencies work with manufacturers to obsolete technology and bring in new. At times these bodies step outside the generally accepted policy and make radical decision such as the following.

This is the title on a newspaper cover.
The Washington State Building Code Council, an unelected board that governs construction standards, on Nov. 4 decided to effectively ban natural gas heating in new construction homes and office buildings.

They have the power to come after anything they want. If they want to come after your class A amplifier, they can. It is only my opinion that they have bigger issues to deal with such as heating/cooling/lighting/ranges/dryers/electric cars. Those are the major energy loads in a home. They already in most of the US mandated no incandescent lights. This is the top headline in google search.

This week, the Department of Energy announced new rules to phase incandescent light bulbs out of production and sale in the United States before a ban takes effect in 2023.

In 2023 they will also outlaw fluorescent lights in WA state. You can only get LED lights. This is already in place in other states.

So yes, it is a very political topic to muse over "when" they will pay attention to audio equipment. But it is a real event. We are lucky to have people such as Ralph pushing ahead of the curve and developing alternatives sooner than later. It is very possible a company such as Denon could be in talks with someone in the Calif building code who is designing new legislation to say, all home theatre and associated audio amplifier equipment must conform to state code blablabla. And when you go to that code, it says all amplification modules must be ICE technology. My friend from Schneider Electric does just this. He gets specifications set on large works that favor the technology they make to cut other competitors out of the market. It is all too real how quick it can all come down. It could become a very real concern very quickly.

Just think what would happen if some journalist from the NYT wrote a piece about power tubes manufactured in Russia shipping to China, then to the US. That those tubes were supporting the oppressions of Ukraine. Very quickly VAC and other tube amp companies could be out of business.

Again, I think these are just observations of how and why the audio industry might be forced into a change in the future. It is coming. Just when and how and who will survive is the 1000 watt question.
 
This past month I've been comparing class AB vs Class D with two closely matched amps re price/performance/reputation. I own both the MX-Rs and Kalugas. I've been using a very narrow lens, so to speak, in my evaluations (Quad 57s). My speakers don’t do low bass nor do they reach the highest highs but what’s in the middle will leave no doubt about what the partnering amp can and can’t do. These two amps couldn’t be more different from a topology standpoint yet are much closer sonically than you'd think. I'm going to schlepp them to another 'philes place that is using Kef Blades. He's as curious as I am to hear these two amps in his rig.

kaliga1 (2).jpg
mxr1 (2).jpg
 
With regards to Class D amps, there is a different market-dependent scenario at play that has nothing to do with environmental matters.

More and more speaker manufacturers are embracing active speakers. Similarly, music streaming continues to grow. From what I have read, future high-end systems will likely be based on active speakers that have internet connectivity, a built-in DAC, DSP capabilities, and a Class D amp!

So, actually, rather than destroy audio, Class D amps have the potential to make the high-end audio better sounding and more affordable.
 
I ordered a pair of the Atma-Sphere Class D amps. Meeting my criteria of light weight amps (~15 pounds each) Voiced by the OTL tube amp maven himself. Balanced, also a criteria for me. - coming in January I hope.

Interesting, the Boulder gear I am looking at, the 812, has an SMPS in it. As does the Boulder 508 Phono Amp I already own.

So, the Class D amps will have linear power supplies, but the DAC/Pre + Phono will have SMPS - go figure.

At least I will be able to lift/carry all of it without hurting my back...
 
Congrats. I'll be interested in hearing how you like them.

Bones13 said:
I ordered a pair of the Atma-Sphere Class D amps. Meeting my criteria of light weight amps (~15 pounds each) Voiced by the OTL tube amp maven himself. Balanced, also a criteria for me. - coming in January I hope.

Interesting, the Boulder gear I am looking at, the 812, has an SMPS in it. As does the Boulder 508 Phono Amp I already own.

So, the Class D amps will have linear power supplies, but the DAC/Pre + Phono will have SMPS - go figure.

At least I will be able to lift/carry all of it without hurting my back...
Click to expand...
 
puroagave said:
Alpha Audio's shoot-out posted today with Pass Labs vs DIY Class-D. IMO, the subjective tests were even-handed with little bias or ego getting in the way.

Click to expand...


Alpha-Audio is a great site. That's why I posted the video of my interview with them - I think they do great work.
 
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