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September 6, 2007 - 10:47pm
#1
New Hi-Tech amp doesn't sound so good.
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Correct me if I'm wrong but I take it that this was one of those do-it-yourself kits where all the parts are supplied.
I built those Dyna-kit and Heathkit amps back in the 60s. While being fun and a good learning experience they left a lot to be desired...mostly due to parts quality.
I've seen some of the more recent "kits" and am still not impressed. Again, it's the parts quality - resistor & capacitor tolerancs to great, amplification semis not properly matches, etc., etc. To me these kits are the equivalent of going to a car parts store, buying all the parts needed to build a car and expecting to end up with a vehicle as good as one from the factory.
As for "class", I've yet to hear a C,D,E,F,G.....that sounds as good as class A or A/B. But then again, I haven't listened to any of those $10k amps.
I think your Watts deserves better.
You are not the first person I have heard that was not impressed by the SQ of class D amps, though they are in the minority. The fact that your conclusion is based on a rather high quality system (Puppies) makes me even less interested in the new technology. But I have yet to hear a class D myself.
I think as much as anything, their small size and weight may be their biggest reason for popularity.
Sorry that your hard work and investment did not deliver the improvement you were expecting.
I've heard a few class D amps in good sounding systems, so I think it can be done.
The ones I've liked...
Channel Islands Audio D-200's driving a lovely sounding pair of Von Schweikert speakers. I was really bowled over by the quality of the sound.
Red Dragon Audio Leviathan amps driving Acoustic Zen speakers - lovely.
The Ridley Powered Loudspeakers at last year's T.H.E. Show did about everything you'd want to hear - and in a show hotel room, and they use class D amps built in. Really superb sound.
I've heard the Audio Research class D amp, but, be it the rest of the system or the amp, it didn't move me.
That was off the top of my head, if I can think of some other examples, I'll add 'em.
Based upon the opinions of some I should have bought a Krell Kav-400xi at more than double the power, less money, and class A all the way up to the output stage, instead of the class D, PS Audio GCC-100, but my ears just wouldn
I cannot imagine a class D amplifier sounding remotely like a NAD of any stripe. So, for one thing, you are going to have a huge adjustment period. Secondly, class D doesn't like low or high impedance loads. You don't state which series Watts you use but they have never been a simple load. I think you may have chosen the wrong amplifier for your speakers. Current is not the strong suit for class D amplifiers. That said, this may just take an adjustment period to get used to the idea you no longer have the softness (and current delivery) of the NAD to reign in the Watts.
If the problem is mostly related to the bass regions, you might try swapping out the input caps for larger, better pieces. That should give a bit tighter bass response. If the amp uses a Zobel network on the outputs, you can try removing it. Though doing so might risk the amplifier if the speakers are a truly unkind load.
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Thanks for all of the constructive responses.
This wasn't purchased as a kit, but by definition it is a kit.
I used Hypex amps and power supply. The chassis, connectors, transformer and soft start circuit is mine.
The Hypex UcD400 amplifier module is what CIA uses in their D-200 Amp.
Normally Jans comment about class D interaction with its load is very true and a major problem.
Bruno Putzeys Hypex amps are different in this respect and why I selected them. Read Bruno's AES white paper from the Barcelona Spain 2005 convention. Pretty cool as far as technical stuff goes. But then we listen to music not specs, right?
As for a clinical sounding class D amp paired with the reveal everything Puppies how could this possibly be a bad combination? Harsh, fatiguing? How could I have missed that?
ROFL
sorry.