What’s the big deal with class ‘D’ anyhow ?

mep said:
I'm sure lots of people would like to know the answer for how much it will cost to equal the sound quality of expensive Class A amps with Class D such that no one can tell them apart.
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Why would cost matter to a real subjectivist? Cost is unequivocally an objective metric. There is nothing subjective about a number at all.
Cost as a number/metric would be critical for a purely objective individual. For a subjectivist, the only thing that matters is how it sounds, maybe looks.
Who is this amp for, a so called objectivist or subjectivist?
Of course, what sound generating speaker/load would certainly matter when recommending anything.
 
Anybody heard the Cherry Amps ? They are also Class D and some over at AC thinks they are the best Class D amps available in the market today.
 
AJ Soundfield said:
Why would cost matter to a real subjectivist? Cost is unequivocally an objective metric. There is nothing subjective about a number at all.
Cost as a number/metric would be critical for a purely objective individual. For a subjectivist, the only thing that matters is how it sounds, maybe looks.
Who is this amp for, a so called objectivist or subjectivist?
Of course, what sound generating speaker/load would certainly matter when recommending anything.
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Cost always matters to people. If you get up on a soapbox and proclaim that a $5k or $10K pair of Class D amps are indistinguishable from Class A amps that cost $20K and up to no limit, you might interest people in your personal feelings. The truth is that all amps sound different. Do the Class D amps that you are high on all have linear power supplies?
 
I have heard the Cherry amps in a friends system. Very clean, clear and fast but seemed to lack "soul"(IMO).
The owner did change them out to a Valvet E-2 class A amp and found it to be much more involving.
 
mep said:
Cost always matters to people.
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Of course, including pseudo-subjectivists where it matters greatest. They are unable to judge with their ears and must rely on objective metrics like cost, power supplies, parts, etc. I agree.
A perfect example of why cost matters most to some is here

mep said:
If you get up on a soapbox and proclaim that a $5k or $10K pair of Class D amps are indistinguishable from Class A amps that cost $20K and up to no limit, you might interest people in your personal feelings.
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The results of my blind tests aren't personal feeling. The impact price tags have on certain individuals is personal feelings.

mep said:
The truth is that all amps sound different.
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A zero evidence "truth". Quite vogue these days. :) (not to mention the obvious fallacy of having heard all amplifiers.)

mep said:
Do the Class D amps that you are high on all have linear power supplies?
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Audiophiles get high on amps. I see them as commodity parts. A, AB, D, etc. As long as they are good, don't care about class.
I leave illicit relationships with inanimate audio equipment to audiophiles.:P
The D amps I refer to use both linear and smps...again, commodity parts to me. I care only about sound.
 
AJ Soundfield said:
This is exactly the type of person that I tested, who raved about the "live music" sound of the Class A amp they were looking at....when in fact their ears were hearing Class D.
I must be missing something, but I don't see a name on that review. I would love to put his face on Youtube, where he easily identifies the Class D vs Class A sound that exists in his mind, when he doesn't know which he's listening to. Would be fun. :)
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Expose the scoundrel ..... :)
 
AJ Soundfield said:
When they are equally capable of driving the load without exhibiting audible non-linearities, of which there are a great many metrics. Frequency, distortion spectra, compression, noise, etc, they become increasingly difficult...or impossible, to distinguish via ears.
The "class" matters scant then. Easier said than done, but also easily demonstrable.
Hence my Youtube suggestion. Have the claimant pick whichever non-pathelogical class A (so no SET etc) they believe best highlight the attributes that will allow differentiation vs Class D, I'll supply the Class D and the camera. The whole world gets to see the results of the claimant.
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Class-D claimant if proven wrong gets a public flogging for the world to see just how dangerous class-D ownership can be ...

:roflmao:
 
a.wayne said:
Expose the scoundrel ..... :)
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Sure, acceptable view. But from my perspective, it's the ultimate sound test of the amplification for my speakers, a "trust your ears only" version. It would do me no good to put amplification in my speakers if they truly sounded like what the detractors claim. I can't think of a better way to test that...and there were many a class D detractor swooning over the "class A" sound.:)
I have zero control over audiophiles belief in poor class d sound, silver, vampires and whatnot, so I focus on what I do have control over...the sound.

Btw, regarding cost, there is overwhelming scientific evidence that higher prices make some folks happier
http://time.com/4902359/wine-tastes-better-when-it-costs-more/
“Our findings also show that high price tags (within a range of acceptable qualities) makes you happier,” he says, “so you get what you pay for.”
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So indeed, if paying $100k for an amp makes you happier and the music more enjoyable, buy it.
Just please skip the absurd objective reasons, when it's a purely subjective matter.

cheers,

AJ
 
AJ Soundfield said:
This is exactly the type of person that I tested, who raved about the "live music" sound of the Class A amp they were looking at....when in fact their ears were hearing Class D.
I must be missing something, but I don't see a name on that review. I would love to put his face on Youtube, where he easily identifies the Class D vs Class A sound that exists in his mind, when he doesn't know which he's listening to. Would be fun. :)
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Isn't the goal to really not know " What" class of amp your listening to? Only to hear the music in all it's glory, power , subtleties without the coloration of said amp.

Sent from my SM-T113 using Tapatalk
 
deangale123 said:
Isn't the goal to really not know " What" class of amp your listening to? Only to hear the music in all it's glory, power , subtleties without the coloration of said amp.
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Yes, for a true subjectivist, only the sound matters. They trust their ears. Not the price, class, power supply, distortion profile, silver wiring, weight and 1000+ purely objective parameters.
For others, all those objective facts are what matters most.
 
AJ Soundfield said:
Yes, for a true subjectivist, only the sound matters. They trust their ears. Not the price, class, power supply, distortion profile, silver wiring, weight and 1000+ purely objective parameters.
For others, all those objective facts are what matters most.
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You should go into business with Ethan Winer. You two would make a great pair.
 
deangale123 said:
Isn't the goal to really not know " What" class of amp your listening to? Only to hear the music in all it's glory, power , subtleties without the coloration of said amp.

Sent from my SM-T113 using Tapatalk
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Which amp is this , you know the one without coloration ..? Class-D ..!



:)
 
By all accounts Class D is becoming more popular. I am very happy with my new Class D mono amps. They sound amazing! They have also received several great reviews.
 
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