Re: how good are class D amplifiers?

Serge Auckland wrote:
"Trevor Wilson" <trevor@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:46500908$0$16334$88260bb3@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Keith G" <keith_g@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:ELednSMgg6kYoNHbnZ2dnUVZ8tbinZ2d@xxxxxxxxxxxx
"Trevor Wilson" <trevor@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:4648a79c$0$30102$88260bb3@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Keith G" <keith_g@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:ht-dnT9fXrgjEdrbRVnyjAA@xxxxxxxxxxxx
"Trevor Wilson" <trevor@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote


I own a Marantz Model 18 Receiver, dating from 1968. It originally cost US$1,200.00 and was the most power receiver on the planet, back then. For it's time, it was quite a sophisticated product, employing full complementary silicon outputs, relay protection system and other nifty stuff. It was critically appraised by reviewers at the time and when I purchased mine (ca: 1977) I was stunned at how much better it sounded than many contemporary amplifiers of similar (60 Watts) or even more power. Just for yuks, I recently compared it to a more modern Marantz amplifier (cost around AUS$1,000.00). No comparison. The modern amp was somewhat better sounding. And, allowing for inflation, the modern amp was MUCH less expensive. Don't even get me started on loudspeakers. The technology for designing speakers has improved in leaps and bounds over the last 40 years.


S'funny, we keep getting told how 'good amps' don't have a sound....???
**Because that is a fact. The ideal amplifier has no 'sound' of it's own. No amplifier is ideal.

Therefore no amplifier has no 'sound' of its own then?
**Nope. That's not what I said.


--
Trevor Wilson
www.rageaudio.com.au

The *ideal* amplifier has no sound of its own, and no amplifier is ideal. However, for many years now, amplifiers come awfully close to the ideal, and consequently, except for the nittiest of nit-pickers, I subscribe to the view that no (half-decent) amplifier has a sound of its own, and consequently all sound the same.

Certain conditions apply, like operation below clipping into loads for which the amplifier was designed, using music signals.

S.



I simply don't get this. I've been using 5 SS amps of late (Quad 405, Rose power amp, Cambridge AV, Behringer A500, and that within a Pure mini system), as well as others on and off over the years, and I feel each has 'a sound of its own'.

But this has been done-to-death in this NG. One thing I was never clear on is the definition of 'half-decent'. One definition (Stewart Pinkerton IIRC) was double power into half impedance, down to 2 Ohms (50/8; 100/4, 200/2 or something, plus some other stuff), but I've never seen a sensible money amp that could come close.

Could you name the cheapest available new amplifier that sounds the same as (say) your own at medium-high volume?

Just curious!

Rob
.

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