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Good Class D amps ??


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10 minutes ago, GeneZ said:

There goes another idea ...

The mind is like a muscle - keep using it or you lose it!  If the pioneers of audio had dismissed their ideas as too wild to succeed, we'd still be listening to wax cylinders and wire recorders (which, when you think about it, were a bit off the wall too).

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1 hour ago, bluesman said:

The mind is like a muscle - keep using it or you lose it!  If the pioneers of audio had dismissed their ideas as too wild to succeed, we'd still be listening to wax cylinders and wire recorders (which, when you think about it, were a bit off the wall too).

  Exercising only certain muscles too much makes one have asymmetrical muscle balance...

 

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RgOzIfeyXyY/hqdefault.jpghttps://i.ytimg.com/vi/RgOzIfeyXyY/hqdefault.jpg

It all depends upon in what dimension of life one finds themselves living in.  For, one man's music is another man's noise. 

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6 hours ago, GeneZ said:

  What kind of tubes would be needed in a class D amp?    Are these for output?  KT88's?  What are we talking about?  🧐

All depends upon the designer. 

 

David Berning has made amps for years that have switching supplies and a carrier frequency based OTL use on the output section.  Here is one using 211's providing 60 watts of power. 

http://davidberning.com/products/zh_211_845

 

A more powerful version. 

http://www.hifiplus.com/articles/the-david-berning-quadrature-z-mono-power-amplifiers/

 

Another good review.

https://www.soundstageultra.com/index.php/equipment-menu/442-david-berning-company-zh-230-stereo-amplifier

 

They are reputed to be very easy on the tubes with long life as well.

 

You could read his patent of how he does this.

http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=5,612,646.PN.&OS=PN/5,612,646&RS=PN/5,612,646

 

Or read about Berning's products.

http://davidberning.com/

 

 

And always keep in mind: Cognitive biases, like seeing optical illusions are a sign of a normally functioning brain. We all have them, it’s nothing to be ashamed about, but it is something that affects our objective evaluation of reality. 

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2 hours ago, GeneZ said:

I do not think even with supplementing with my monthly SS check could I cover that....

 

I guess I need to just depend on having a good dream about having one.

 

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649246104-berning-28-wpc-triode-zotl-quadrature-z-mono-amplifiers/

I'm not sure of the actual relationship.  But this company has rights to produce Berning designs at much lower cost. 

 

https://www.lineartubeaudio.com/power-amps/

 

They appear to generally be lower powered,though one is 40 watts, and a little lower spec'd performance, but still the basic Berning kind of amplifier circuit. 

And always keep in mind: Cognitive biases, like seeing optical illusions are a sign of a normally functioning brain. We all have them, it’s nothing to be ashamed about, but it is something that affects our objective evaluation of reality. 

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On 2/6/2019 at 11:04 PM, GeneZ said:

 Ahh!  Another good company to be aware of. Thank you.

 

Well, they are good. A bit pricey 😉

 

On 2/6/2019 at 11:04 PM, GeneZ said:

 

A quite common ALPS. The FM acoustics site boasts about custom made components and had selected ones. Who knows how they select the components...

 

On 2/6/2019 at 11:04 PM, GeneZ said:

I gain the second harmonics with my NuPrime ST-10.  Very tube like in a very satisfying way, especially when its obviously sweet and detailed.

 

Interesting that you  get your second harmonics from your class D amplifier. However, I heard very good things about the NuPrime ST-10. My Apollon amps are quite neutral, but the input buffer does indeed give a "class A" flavour.

 

 

On 2/6/2019 at 11:04 PM, GeneZ said:

I also have a good tube preamp that sounds surprisingly almost identical with my passive.  Both use the same potentiometer. Very neutral tube preamp at that.

 

Which tube preamp?

 

On 2/6/2019 at 11:04 PM, GeneZ said:

My passive preamp (when used in balanced mode) is the audiophile secret of the century.   I use only top notch balanced cables and sit back and laugh!  One balanced cable alone costs more than this unit!    Nob sound passive preamp

 

The NobSound will make your high-end system sound as good as the components you choose to implement. maybe I got an unusual piece?  Its so simple in its implementation.  Hefty metal casing.

 

Those things are very good if you have good impedance matching between components. In my case I could connect directly my Soekris 1541 DAC to the monoblocks, but for some reason there is a it of noise. If I put either a similar potentiometer, or this which is even more neutral, then I get no noise. However now I have there an Ebtech Hum Eliminator (the version Wirth XLR) which is simply based on isolation transformers, and thus I have a minimum of components on the signal. The DAC provides attenuation in the digital domain and I put two IMP in line filters before the mono blocks just to have the volume managed at an optimal point.

 

On 2/6/2019 at 11:04 PM, GeneZ said:

I am now learning how power cords can greatly effect what is heard.

 

True, one needs a quite revealing system though to notice it.

 

On 2/6/2019 at 11:04 PM, GeneZ said:

  :idea:

I may even place my tube preamp for sale in the near future and concentrate on finding the right power cords.  But, first.  I am going to test to see how different power cords will effect this nice triode preamp.

 

Do not spend too much on power chords. Try assembling some with Supra lorad, or Eupen LPNM industrial cable.

 

 Roberto

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1 hour ago, mocenigo said:

 

Interesting that you  get your second harmonics from your class D amplifier. However, I heard very good things about the NuPrime ST-10. My Apollon amps are quite neutral, but the input buffer does indeed give a "class A" flavour.

 

 

 

Which tube preamp?

 

 

 

The NuPrime designer/engineer has always been geared towards class A input....  Always has.  I suppose the ST-10 is designed to resemble more like a class A tube amp with the added harmonics..  All I know is that it does something that feels very right. With the TDDS factory approved mod its really a sweet amplifier. The stock alone was quite impressive as well.  I used to own Mac tube equipment. Its a has that certain flavor, but the bottom end is much tighter than the Mac. The bottom sounds more real actually, not simply tighter.

 

The tube preamp is the Pro-Ject RS Box balanced preamplifier. 

https://www.project-audio.com/en/product/pre-box-rs/

 

The preamp's signal to noise ratio is even better when using the linear PSU vs the switching PSU that comes stock.

https://www.project-audio.com/en/product/power-box-rs-uni-1-way/

It all depends upon in what dimension of life one finds themselves living in.  For, one man's music is another man's noise. 

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2 hours ago, mocenigo said:

 

Do not spend too much on power chords. Try assembling some with Supra lorad, or Eupen LPNM industrial cable.

 

 Roberto

  

I have had some experience with power cords.  Never the exotic very expensive stuff.  But, one was quite expensive, and it was returned. Yes, it did improve what I heard to some extent, but did not warrant all that expense.  I felt guilty to own it... and needed to take care of a family member who just ran up expenses for surgery.   So it went back.

 

On the other hand. Audience has a well know reputation for excellent sounding (but, too expensive) power cords.  Recently Audience introduced an entry level cord.  I purchased an early run B stock, cheap. After some burn in?  It is sounding eye opening impressive in my system. 

 

Its the Audience Forte F3. 

 

I found a review *after* living with the Forte for a while.  So, the review did not influence my decision.  It did confirm what I have been hearing.  I do not know what Audience has insight into,  but they have now won my respect in first, speakers.  And,  now their power cords.

http://audience-av.com/wp-content/uploads/pdf/powerChord_review_fortef3_red_leaf_040618.pdf

 

It all depends upon in what dimension of life one finds themselves living in.  For, one man's music is another man's noise. 

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NC1200 and NC2k are now on Hypex website.

 

NC2k is just stupid high powered:

2000W at 2 ohms
2500W at 4 ohms
1600W at 8 ohms

 

NC1200 is the same as NC500 at 8 ohms (400W) and at 4 ohms (700W) but higher current at 2 ohms (1200W instead of 550W).

1. WiiM Pro - Mola Mola Makua - Apollon NCx500+SS2590 - March Audio Sointuva AWG

2. LG 77C1 - Marantz SR7005 - Apollon NC502MP+NC252MP - Monitor Audio PL100+PLC150+C265 - SVS SB-3000

3. PC - RME ADI-2 DAC FS - Neumann KH 80 DSP

4. Phone - Tanchjim Space - Truthear Zero Red

5. PC - Keysion ES2981 - Truthear Zero Red

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2 hours ago, Ralf11 said:

AC power cords ---> Bottlehead DIY or assembled, IIRC

 

AC-DC power chords ---> skip those and go directly to Led Zepp

  No wonder you're dazed and confused when it comes to power cords.  ;)

It all depends upon in what dimension of life one finds themselves living in.  For, one man's music is another man's noise. 

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1 hour ago, Ralf11 said:

clever followon, but look above your 1st post to see who mistyped chords for cords...🤣

 

 

So,  what the heck is "followon?"   👀    a typo?  

 

Did you mean follow on?

It all depends upon in what dimension of life one finds themselves living in.  For, one man's music is another man's noise. 

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1 hour ago, hopkins said:

I use a Nuprime St-10 (previously had Hypex Nc400). I use it with the Horne "Truth" preamp and that works well. The two offer a good level of transparency. I am cobsidering the TDDS mods at some point. 

  I once tried a Tortuga LDR,  but found it was not a match for my system.  

 

I just found this _  https://stereocoffee.wixsite.com/ldrpreamp      _ and may give it a shot.

It all depends upon in what dimension of life one finds themselves living in.  For, one man's music is another man's noise. 

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31 minutes ago, hopkins said:

The Truth does not have matching issues like passive preamps do. 

   OK....  I will file that one away.  The info online is sparse. 

 

From what I could find, it is not offered (nor requires) balanced mode. 

 

interesting. 

 

It all depends upon in what dimension of life one finds themselves living in.  For, one man's music is another man's noise. 

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May I know does the Benchmark AHB2 sounds any smoother than Nuprime ST-10?

 

Benchmark AHB2 claims that it sounds like class-A, and I did own a Accuphase class-a once and the only upside Accuphase has was it sounds very smooth. (I had them compared side by side) 

 

Would like to know would AHB2 has the same sound. 

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You are just going to have to listen to whatever amp it is yourself.    These remarks about smooth can be misleading.  I have had smooth, and also they were dull. I find my TDDS modded ST 10 sounds pretty much like what I feed it with... including power cords. But, then again?  My system is not your system.  I am sure both amps sound good. Just get a goof amp.  Because no one component is any better than the weakest link in a system.  I used to have Mac Tube equipment that sounded like crap with certain speakers, but sounded fantastic when using a different brand of speaker. Its not the amp.  Just get a good amp and stay put.  Then find what is needed to get good sound from there.

It all depends upon in what dimension of life one finds themselves living in.  For, one man's music is another man's noise. 

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5 hours ago, kaka89 said:

May I know does the Benchmark AHB2 sounds any smoother than Nuprime ST-10?

 

Benchmark AHB2 claims that it sounds like class-A, and I did own a Accuphase class-a once and the only upside Accuphase has was it sounds very smooth. (I had them compared side by side) 

 

Would like to know would AHB2 has the same sound. 

 

Right after my last post I received an email with this article.   Interesting to see why some manufacturers design in a smoother than life sound into some equipment.   Here: https://www.psaudio.com/pauls-posts/soft-europeans/

It all depends upon in what dimension of life one finds themselves living in.  For, one man's music is another man's noise. 

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  • 1 month later...

Bruno has left Hypex a while ago and is now one of the owners of Purify Audio. He is finishing a next generation of class D amplifiers which are superior to nCore: the Eigentakt. More info here:

https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/purifi/

1. WiiM Pro - Mola Mola Makua - Apollon NCx500+SS2590 - March Audio Sointuva AWG

2. LG 77C1 - Marantz SR7005 - Apollon NC502MP+NC252MP - Monitor Audio PL100+PLC150+C265 - SVS SB-3000

3. PC - RME ADI-2 DAC FS - Neumann KH 80 DSP

4. Phone - Tanchjim Space - Truthear Zero Red

5. PC - Keysion ES2981 - Truthear Zero Red

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