Everything I thought about Class D Amps proven wrong!
Sept 8, 2017 21:14:10 GMT -5
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thorcorps, knucklehead, and 2 more like this
Post by lehighvalleyjeff on Sept 8, 2017 21:14:10 GMT -5
I will be the first to admit that for the past several years I've had my own prejudices against Class D ICE amplifiers. They aren't big and heavy like my XPR-1's and they aren't inefficient heat generators like my tube amps. Heck, I figured at best they might try to sound nearly as good as a class A/B design. They are cheaper so they must cut corners on sound quality. I believed this whole-heartedly until this evening when I installed my new Class D ICE amp into my system.
My expectations were low and I sort of planned to just send it back after trying it out because it's only 20 pounds. How can this thing sound good?
I unplugged my XPR-1's and popped the Legacy Audio Powerbloc2 in my system. The first 3 seconds of Steely Dan proved all my arrogant prejudices wrong. The sound of this thing is in a different league sonically than any other amp I've had in my system. Best part is I was listening to Spotify 320kb compression and was blown straight out of my seat. Further the sonic cues and details of where in the soundstage each instruments are more realistic.
First and foremost the sound was full and natural like the instruments were being played in front of me. Not the highs, mids or lows stood out. Everything blended with a sense of live realism. The bass extension was never light on the XPR's but there is a sense of realism to bass guitar and cello sounds that gives the Legacy a clean edge. Voices, both male and female have an incredible sense of realism even beyond the tube amps I've used. Not artificially smooth but again, more real and lifelike. I'm hearing the artist's breath between words.
My ears are very sensitive to bright and foreward treble. For lack of a better word I will say many solid state amps I've had problems with metallic tin sounding treble. The highs literally shimmer and naturally decay in the room as if the instruments are being played right in front of me.
Finally the timbre's of instruments sounds so real I can almost see them playing in front of me.
In conclusion I take back all of my skepticism and negativity about Class D. I unfairly came to a conclusion without trying it out. When well implemented any amplifier design can sound exceptional! The topology is only relevant in how well it's implemented which directly affects the sound quality of such an amp.
My expectations were low and I sort of planned to just send it back after trying it out because it's only 20 pounds. How can this thing sound good?
I unplugged my XPR-1's and popped the Legacy Audio Powerbloc2 in my system. The first 3 seconds of Steely Dan proved all my arrogant prejudices wrong. The sound of this thing is in a different league sonically than any other amp I've had in my system. Best part is I was listening to Spotify 320kb compression and was blown straight out of my seat. Further the sonic cues and details of where in the soundstage each instruments are more realistic.
First and foremost the sound was full and natural like the instruments were being played in front of me. Not the highs, mids or lows stood out. Everything blended with a sense of live realism. The bass extension was never light on the XPR's but there is a sense of realism to bass guitar and cello sounds that gives the Legacy a clean edge. Voices, both male and female have an incredible sense of realism even beyond the tube amps I've used. Not artificially smooth but again, more real and lifelike. I'm hearing the artist's breath between words.
My ears are very sensitive to bright and foreward treble. For lack of a better word I will say many solid state amps I've had problems with metallic tin sounding treble. The highs literally shimmer and naturally decay in the room as if the instruments are being played right in front of me.
Finally the timbre's of instruments sounds so real I can almost see them playing in front of me.
In conclusion I take back all of my skepticism and negativity about Class D. I unfairly came to a conclusion without trying it out. When well implemented any amplifier design can sound exceptional! The topology is only relevant in how well it's implemented which directly affects the sound quality of such an amp.
