Good Class D amps ??

[GeneZ]

2 hours ago, bluesman said:

 

And the transformers in the HK CItation 2 were more than just special - the audio bandwidth of the output Xformers was 270+kHz. They've been pretty reliable in remaining C2s - most still work, with a little loving care.  There are some reports of open windings in power transformers, and there is at least one "fix" if you have the guts to open it and the luck to find the break at or near the surface. But there haven't been any new, NOS, or aftermarket units (power or output) for decades, as far as I know.

 

GeneZ, the output tubes were KT88s and the 12BY7s could drive them to full output.  Transformers would probably be the main constraint, unless there are current production units with which I'm unfamiliar.  Creating new ones would probably result in cost well beyond reason for most of us.

 

There may well be switching amplifiers in military, research, or commercial use today that could be adapted for audio - but I have no experience in that area and simply don't know.

   Someone can do away with the transformers by reviving the Futterman design. 

 

It would probably would be most appreciated by audiophiles living in one of the colder hemispheres.

[GeneZ]

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.jpg

[GeneZ]

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/

[GeneZ]

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/

[GeneZ]

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

 

[GeneZ]

2 hours ago, Ralf11 said:

IIRC, the PS Audio hybrid amp also uses class A input stages.

   And,  sounds very good! 

[GeneZ]

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. 

[GeneZ]

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?

[GeneZ]

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.

[GeneZ]

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. 

 

[GeneZ]

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.

[GeneZ]

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/