Columns Retired Columns & Blogs |
Class D is like "New Coke" Flavor of the day! It sucks, and always will!
Making such good sound possible was the brand new prototype Genesis SMc-1 preamplifier ($15,000), which Gary designed with assistance from Steve McCormack. The unit includes Gary's designed-from-scratch internal phono stage, which addresses tracking errors between channels of the volume control. Also responsible were the Genesis G4 loudspeakers ($45,000/pair), which are the first Genesis loudspeakers designed by Gary Koh from the ground up, without using of any of former Genesis designer Arnie Nudell's technology. The G4s include the Genesis ring-ribbon tweeter, a planar-magnetic midrange, twin titanium mid-bass couplers, and two side-firing, servo-controlled 10" woofers. Source was a Roksan Xerxes turntable with modified Magic Diamond cartridge. Not auditioned was the Genesis Muse (approx. $15,000), a due-soon music source that includes server, DAC, and internet radio, and will stream to an iPad or Android device.
Class D is like "New Coke" Flavor of the day! It sucks, and always will!
You haven't been listening. If asked to choose between the Class D sound in the rooms sponsored by Genesis and a few other companies and the overly warm, euphonic, and rose-tinted sound I heard from far too many tube electronics and some non-Class D solid-state equipment, I'd turn to the new generation of Class D any day. Class D has come a long way from its early days, when I found the sound of a Class D amp I was committed to reviewing so dry, flat, and gray that I couldn't bear to keep it in my system for more than 10 minutes at a time.
If you had listened to these amps you would not make such negitive comments. They are very good. Easliy comparible to amps in the same price range (and above). Just give them a listen and see for yourself.