Switched to Class D or get left behind?

a.wayne said:
Have you tried the Purifi ?
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If you are asking me, the answer is Yes.

I have a Purifi Eigentakt-based NAD M33. Excellent amp (all-in-one in fact) that impressed the guys at Stereophile enough to award it Best Amplifier of the Year, Best Component of the Year and Editors' Choice. It's a pretty impressive box of tricks with a Version 2 in the wings that will feature a second-gemeration Purifi module amp, an even better ESS Sabre ES 9039PRO DAC, and lots of Dirac nonsense if that's your thing.

Have you tried one?
 
No waiting for the green light for the gallery to avoid another disappointment ..!

:)

Interested in hearing this one !

Buckeye Purifi Eigentakt 1ET9040BA monoblock power amplifier New Measurements | Stereophile.com

Follow-Up: New Measurements, from June 2025 When Kalman Rubinson reviewed this affordably priced amplifier in the January 2025 issue, he was impressed by what he heard. "Sonically, the Buckeye 1ET9040BA monoblocks are superb," he concluded, adding that "to their credit, they are transparent...
www.stereophile.com www.stereophile.com
 
I have the Class D Audio GanFET mono blocks. I really like them.
Would love to have a respectable amp brought in to make a comparison.
 
I had 2 Class D amps recently. Both Marantz Integrated amps. The PM-KI Ruby which I loved and the PM-10 which costs double of what the Ruby does. The PM-10 did not move the needle for me. The Ruby had great tone, bass and a glorious midrange but it was lacking the detail that I was used to, so I sold it and bought the PM-10 which sounded very good at times and just meh other times. The center image was also very diffuse. I returned it and bought a Mark Levinson 5805 Integrated which is an AB amp. It is just fabulous and sounds better in most respects compared to my BAT-Pass combo. The DAC in the ML is spectacular. The Phono preamp is supposed to be awesome but I have not tried it as I am using a Gold Note PH-10 phono preamp.
 
Mechnutt said:
I had 2 Class D amps recently. Both Marantz Integrated amps. The PM-KI Ruby which I loved and the PM-10 which costs double of what the Ruby does. The PM-10 did not move the needle for me. The Ruby had great tone, bass and a glorious midrange but it was lacking the detail that I was used to, so I sold it and bought the PM-10 which sounded very good at times and just meh other times. The center image was also very diffuse. I returned it and bought a Mark Levinson 5805 Integrated which is an AB amp. It is just fabulous and sounds better in most respects compared to my BAT-Pass combo. The DAC in the ML is spectacular. The Phono preamp is supposed to be awesome but I have not tried it as I am using a Gold Note PH-10 phono preamp.
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Interesting. I needed a new ss amp when I decided to move away from SETs a few years ago. I bought or borrowed a dozen amps including the ML 5805 (although I'd have bought the 5802 if I'd taken the ML route). plus a number of A, AB and D contenders. Some were surprisingly and disappointingly bad, but the ML was not in that group. In the end I went for a Class D - the Purifi Eigentakt-based NAD M33 (M23 is the power amp only version). If offered all the quality of the other amps but with far more features. The best AB in my system was the GamuT D200 (now discontinued) but the ML was close on its heels!
 
The more technical minded of the forum isn't it true the varying loads (speaker) seen by a class D amp can make a difference in how they sound? From what I read they are more susceptible to load variances than other type amps? I have definitely experienced this with not just class D but other circuit types. In the big scheme of this hobby is the synergy of the complete equipment chain and what is reproduced gives you good vibrations.
 
Very happy owner of AGD Duets powering DeVore Super Nines! I looked at other options but what swayed me was the small size (don't have enough room for most mono blocks) and that they are upgradeable by the owner. GaN FET is relatively new, so the technology will evolve. I have owned them for over a year now and they are great sounding, plus more efficient than other classes of amps. Dare I say.. my "final amps"?
 
RPM-123 said:
Very happy owner of AGD Duets powering DeVore Super Nines! I looked at other options but what swayed me was the small size (don't have enough room for most mono blocks) and that they are upgradeable by the owner. GaN FET is relatively new, so the technology will evolve. I have owned them for over a year now and they are great sounding, plus more efficient than other classes of amps. Dare I say.. my "final amps"?
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On Tuesday (6JAN26) I take delivery of AGD Audion mono blocks. It is actually with a bit of trepidation. It will be interesting to hear if they blow the custom shop Class D Audio GanFET mono blocks out of the water. For the Class D’s are no slouches.
 
BakerV2 said:
On Tuesday (6JAN26) I take delivery of AGD Audion mono blocks. It is actually with a bit of trepidation. It will be interesting to hear if they blow the custom shop Class D Audio GanFET mono blocks out of the water. For the Class D’s are no slouches.
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Hope they work out for you. Please keep up updated on your thoughts.
 
I just put a different set of tubes in the preamp. NOS 6922 JAN Phillips.
The AGD Audion will have a steep hill to climb.
I’m really naive about tubes the change for the better in terms of system resolution has left me with my mouth agape.
Time will tell.
 
BakerV2 said:
I just put a different set of tubes in the preamp. NOS 6922 JAN Phillips.
The AGD Audion will have a steep hill to climb.
I’m really naive about tubes the change for the better in terms of system resolution has left me with my mouth agape.
Time will tell.
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6922's have good news and bad news.

Good news: there are a wide variety of vintage tubes to try.
Bad news - it's a very popular tube so prices for them have climbed dramatically lately for decent pairs.

My suggestion is if you find a pair you like - make sure you:

1) confirm they are manufactured by the company on the label. Many tubes are not made by the brand name on the box or tube label as brands often made tubes for each other and would simply put anothers label on it;

2) Confirm the YEAR of mfg as the same tube, same company, but different years can sound VERY different from each other.

So for instance it's not enough to simply say "I like the sound of the RCA 6922". It may not actually be an RCA and depending on when it was made will make a huge difference. I personally feel usually the older the tube the better.

The JAN Phillips is probably a legit Phillips and is a first step between current production and real vintage tubes.

My suggestion: vintage tubes require SERIOUS dedication. If you are happy with the JAN Phillips, sometimes ignorance is bliss and think twice before going down the rat hole any further. :)
 
I have 6922s in my pre-amp, and my tubed phono amp (infrequent usage currently) I ended up getting several matched pair, in different varieties. There are some very expensive 6922 (and similar) NOS tubes, particularly if strong, well matched, and minimal microphonics.
 
Michaels HiFi said:
6922's have good news and bad news.

Good news: there are a wide variety of vintage tubes to try.
Bad news - it's a very popular tube so prices for them have climbed dramatically lately for decent pairs.

My suggestion is if you find a pair you like - make sure you:

1) confirm they are manufactured by the company on the label. Many tubes are not made by the brand name on the box or tube label as brands often made tubes for each other and would simply put anothers label on it;

2) Confirm the YEAR of mfg as the same tube, same company, but different years can sound VERY different from each other.

So for instance it's not enough to simply say "I like the sound of the RCA 6922". It may not actually be an RCA and depending on when it was made will make a huge difference. I personally feel usually the older the tube the better.

The JAN Phillips is probably a legit Phillips and is a first step between current production and real vintage tubes.

My suggestion: vintage tubes require SERIOUS dedication. If you are happy with the JAN Phillips, sometimes ignorance is bliss and think twice before going down the rat hole any further. :)
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In my case ignorance is bliss. Plus I’m a cheap bastard and simply will not fork over some of the $$$ being demanded by the various tube purveyors. Thus the JAN Phillips. I do have some Japanese Matsushita tubes coming from the fellow you recommended to also try.
 
BakerV2 said:
In my case ignorance is bliss. Plus I’m a cheap bastard and simply will not fork over some of the $$$ being demanded by the various tube purveyors. Thus the JAN Phillips. I do have some Japanese Matsushita tubes coming from the fellow you recommended to also try.
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The Japanese are usually very high quality tubes and get you a much more expensive sound at a cheaper price. I think you'll like them. Just remember new tubes need about 25 hours of initial use to sound their best.
 
BakerV2 said:
In my case ignorance is bliss. Plus I’m a cheap bastard and simply will not fork over some of the $$$ being demanded by the various tube purveyors. Thus the JAN Phillips. I do have some Japanese Matsushita tubes coming from the fellow you recommended to also try.
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Ah - a fellow cheapskate! At least I look for best value for money.

The title of this thread tells it all. Consider doing what I did a few years ago after using SETs for the previous 17 years. Borrow or buy (ideally used) a dozen solid state amps with the hope and expectation that you'll find equally entertaining sound without the hassle of valve amps. I did just that and settled for an exceptional Class D one, although I kept a very good AB (GamuT) and a very good Class A (Accuphase) for a year or so to confim that my Class D amp was the winner. All good and the GumuT and Accuphase now have new owners.

PS - I see from your Profile that you use an Audion Class D amps, so my suggestion to try many ss amps is addressed to others here that turn up their noses at the mention of Class D!
 
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Class D is an option and never going to leave anyone behind. I think they know that and that's the reason most of them are inexpensive. We still have tube amps and they appeal to new generations. No one topology is ever going to take over. Different strokes for different folks has never seemed so profound.

I recently read about the Peachtree Stereo X rated at 300x2 into 8 ohms with a cost of $1300.00. This will get the attention of the audio enthusiast on a budget. It's even bridgeable. The Buckeye and others, very reasonably priced. Even the Parasound A23+ is $2500.00 now, Class A/B and rated at a conservative 120 wpc into 8 ohms. So a 300 watt amp at half the price will certainly get a nod.

In real life there's no way that Peachtree amp will sound like an actual 300 watts. Not enough power supply or output devices. It's probably going to sound powerful enough for those who don't know the difference.

I get so irritated with reviewers that seem to push Class D so hard yet when you see their reference system, where's the Class D. Future Audiophile is really guilty of this.
 
Mr Peabody said:
I get so irritated with reviewers that seem to push Class D so hard yet when you see their reference system, where's the Class D. Future Audiophile is really guilty of this.
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This is a great point.

I stopped taking Future Audiophile seriously when last year they had dedicated a large post about how it was our obligation to only buy Class D to save the earth from their faux global warming (last I checked it's been warning since the ice age).

Then to your point their systems have gear other than Class D.

Class D is the right choice for many and does right for many. It has some real benefits for sure. However as soon as someone starts engaging in the fake climate game as the main reason, you know they are not to be taken seriously and they have nothing of substance to talk about re: Class D benefits. That climate BS angle minimizes what Class D does right.
 
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