Audiophiles love DSD, but hate Class D

[mjb]

"... the prevailing opinion seems to be that DSD is audiophile-grade technology, while Class D is not". http://audiophilereview.com/cd-dac-d...marketing.html

What do you think?

[Kal Rubinson]

"... the prevailing opinion seems to be that DSD is audiophile-grade technology, while Class D is not". http://audiophilereview.com/cd-dac-d...marketing.html

What do you think?

I think that I wasted 10 minutes trying to describe why the posting is pointless. No data. Careless terminology.

[mjb]

lol, I think you're right! Sorry about that.

[Chris D]

Link dead now

[Hdale85]

Idk why all the hate for Class D.

[Face]

Idk why all the hate for Class D.

I agree!

[Ovation]

Probably bad first impressions coupled with an echo chamber reinforcement. IIRC, reviews of the earliest models were less than stellar and not entirely without reason. However, even though the amplifiers improved, first impressions are very hard to overcome. Today's reviewers seem much more split on the issue with many more being favorable to class D amplification. But in today's audio media world, and that includes online commentary from readers, the echo chamber effect is not to be overlooked. One should not overgeneralize, as that is always dangerous and misleading, but it is clear that in any situation where opinion is called for, the proliferation of outlets for those opinions has created the echo chamber effect. This applies not only to audio but to just about any form of opinion; politics, audio and visual gear, sports, history, music, popular culture, and on and on.

[Hdale85]

Earlier Class D wasn't that great for sure, current stuff can be rather spectacular though with the right setup.

I just upgraded my receiver to a Pioneer model that has Class D modules and it's one of the only receiver lines on the market that can actually do their rated power all channels driven, on top of that it sounds fantastic for a receiver.

[Ovation]

Solid state amps faced the same acceptance hurdles early on from the tube only crowd. Things got better (tube amps are certainly still a valid choice and I plan to put a tube based setup together when funds and space allow but solid state is undeniably capable of excellence).

In the end, if the amp allows us to enjoy the music, does the type of amp matter quite so much?

[Hdale85]

In my opinion it does not, as long as it's uncolored, low noise floor, and so on I couldn't care less about what type of amp it is.

[Johnloudb]

I know some very high end class D amps have received glowing reviews.Other than a my small Dayton T amp, I haven't had much experience listening to switching amps. The little Dayton could sound really musical though with a sensitive load.

Class D is very load dependent though, because of it's output filter that filters out the high frequency switching noise. With a high load resistance makes the filter is less effective and you potentially get more noise. But, with high enough switching speeds may not be an issue.

[JonMarsh]

Well, considering the premise of this post (silly or not, depending on who you talk to), then I am not an audiophile, but perhaps a turnip? Though I've had some pretty expensive DSD gear in the past, I'm more enamored of high resolution PCM these days- based on what I hear, and what can be measured. Always potentially subject to change.

Right now, I'd have to say the best amp I own is Class D, the cute little NAD M22. Oodles of resolution all across the frequency range, without any edginess or grunge in my system. (NAD M50 music server, DCD-8 re-clocker with external rubidium reference clock TotalDAC-D1 Dual, Cambridge Audio 851e preamp, and my Ardents. Now I'm rather curious to hear these with the Isiris, but they're down for some tweaks and updates.

And I've still got an nCore 400 pair of mono blocks to finish building... my interest in finding time to get that done has been moderate, but now it's cranked up a notch or two after spending time listening with the M22.