Disbeliever
pfm Member
I did not buy the unlistenable amplifier. . Bel Canto S500 was returned to supplier who sent it on approval. I am told that the REF 500S is a big improvement. .
Class D Amps - will they be the future.
- Thread starter Cereal Killer
- Start date
I did not buy the unlistenable amplifier. . Bel Canto S500 was returned to supplier who sent it on approval. I am told that the REF 500S is a big improvement. .
Space is the Place
pfm Member
Phew! The REF 500 are supposedly better than the REF1000s too. I had some Class D amps and have now moved onto Class G monoblocks ha!
TheDecameron
Unicorns fart glitter.
Right then... What the hell is class G?!
Disbeliever
pfm Member
I now see from the net that two owners of the Bel Canto REF500S put them up for sale not long after purchase. List $2500 , one for sale half price $1250 says it all. I would not touch any Class D amplifier with a barge pole. From two reviews one says not as good as his tube amp, the other his hot running amps sound better.
I am about to audition a couple of class A monoblocks but the dealer has also just received a couple of Taiwanese class D amps to play with, so maybe I should borrow those as well for comparison.
They look good and are very well made, on the outside anyway. Apparently they put out about 700W in bridged mode, but are each less than 1/2 the size of my 250.
Steve
They look good and are very well made, on the outside anyway. Apparently they put out about 700W in bridged mode, but are each less than 1/2 the size of my 250.
Steve
Yeah, we heard you 6 months ago
Still, as with all amplifiers, not all are created equally. And everyone has different needs.
AndrewR
pfm Member
and somewhat synthetic- that was the case of a Tripath. I have heard a modified Temple Audio Bantam amplifier that was actually really good, uses a different form of implementation to a Tripath chip.
Andrew
Disbeliever
pfm Member
Yeah, we heard you 6 months ago
Still, as with all amplifiers, not all are created equally. And everyone has different needs.
There is really only one need from an amplifier for an audiophile that is it should reproduce the closest approach to the Live sound, This has been achieved for many many years now by a good Class AB amplifier at a realistic price.
I believe your speaking for a certain group though. If that was the case, the amplifier market would be far smaller due to lack of demand in other variants?
What do people expect the this technology was designed for very low power consumption and for use in items like laptop PC's etc. However if the EU has its way, everything in the future will use this technology and class A and class AB solid state and valve/tube amps will be a thing of the past...
Jonboi
Because Music Matters
This has likely been posted before, but for those who haven't seen it, this is a very good and illuminating read for the amateur audiophile convinced about the sound differences of various amplifier topologies.
http://audioamateur.com/amps/honeycutt-amp-sound-axnov12/
JB
http://audioamateur.com/amps/honeycutt-amp-sound-axnov12/
JB
G
Guest432
Guest
http://www.hifivision.com/amplifiers/174-types-amplifiers-class-class-b-class-ab-class-d.html
There is a fifth (and, nominally, a sixth) class of amplifier, but they are rarely seen in practice in the consumer market. One is the Class G and the other Class H. These are similar in design to Class AB topologies, but both feature two power supplies that switch on or off, depending on the musical signal imputed. Using two power supplies improves efficiency enough to allow significantly more power for a given size and weight. Class G is becoming common for pro audio designs. Class H amps are designed to use the same topology as Class G, but it provides just enough voltage for optimum operation of the output devices. Again, its an attempt to increase efficiency, but at the expense of fidelity ultimately.
In summary:
Class G and H amplifiers add complexity to the signal and degrade it because of the need for switching depending on the input signal
Class D amplifiers are models of efficiency, but with a loss of detail and fidelity
Class B amplifiers generally introduce some crossover distortion, but move away from Class D, G, and H's extreme non-linearity.
Class AB amplifiers may introduce some crossover distortion, but they get closer to the ideal of Class A for most of its operating regime.
They are indeed the best compromise of performance versus cost.
Class A amplifiers introduce no crossover distortion and are the most desirable amps to own, but they are expensive, run hot, and have to be very well-built.
Mikas
pfm Member
Disbeliever
pfm Member
The sooner we get out of the corrupt EU the better. The rich want to stay in because they are getting set aside money on their land etc, Its the same old story the rich get richer and the poor poorer (unless on benefits) with our foul Governments Coalition or Labour
Barrymagrec
pfm Member
Back to class A valve amps - all our ills will disappear.
chevvies
pfm Member
I replaced my extensive Cyrus amplification with a Bel Canto S300iU which was better in every respect.
This led me to import a W4S STP1000 which was essentially two of the BC Ref1000 ICEPower ASP1000 modules in one case, half the price even with import duties.
Being that ICEPower modules are honest and neutral may explain why some folk on this thread can't abide the Bel Canto sound.
Disbeliever
pfm Member
I agree with the summation by thebiglebowski. If Class D sound was honest & neutral I would not object to it. low consumption and small size ,very good but the sound ugh.
Not that I am aware of Marcus. I spoke with the UKTI last week and its not just our industry that is struggling with these constant EU directives...
Some say (and don't quote me on this) that these directives are being enforced so it will favour German industry and the German economy...
For example: during the show we had an EU advisor come into our room asking if all the equipment had the latest "auto turn off' directive fitted. Can you imagine what this sort of thing costs to small companies who previously just fitted an on/off switch? Now they have to design some sort of monitoring device to see when the last time any control was used, then time from this to auto switch off the equipment in so many minutes/hours etc. In some cases this would mean the auto switch off device would be more complicated than the actual electronics itself... It's total madness!