pulled trigger on class d audio

[harley .guy07]

Well after hearing a lot of press about them I finally decided to pull the trigger on a class D audio amp and it is ordered and on its way. i decided to give the 440c amp a try since it have more than enough power for almost any speaker I will likely be getting in the future and should be a good match with my Dynaudios. I will be retiring my Adcom to use it for a rear channel amp since it is getting older and needs a more relaxed job and the rear channels in my system should be a good place for that. Will let you guys know what I think after it comes in and I have a chance to listen to it.

[Hyfi]

Congrats, keep us updated. I'm really interested in how they drive the Danes.

[Feanor]

Well after hearing a lot of press about them I finally decided to pull the trigger on a class D audio amp and it is ordered and on its way. i decided to give the 440c amp ...

Hope you enjoy it, Harley. We await your impressions.

I've generally enjoyed my 258, the most transparent amp I've owned and the best for accurate instrument timbres. IMO, the CDA amps are by no means "tube-like" as their descriptions say (or used to). They are the antithesis of "veiled" or grainy but don't deliver "harmonic richness" or long "decays" that aren't actually in the recording. They are ultra-neutral but some will fine them bright.

[Hyfi]

Hope you enjoy it, Harley. We await your impressions.

I've generally enjoyed my 258, the most transparent amp I've owned and the best for accurate instrument timbres. IMO, the CDA amps are by no means "tube-like" as their descriptions say (or used to). They are the antithesis of "veiled" or grainy but don't deliver "harmonic richness" or long "decays" that aren't actually in the recording. They are ultra-neutral but some will fine them bright.

That almost sounds like a good description of my Counterpoint amp.

[E-Stat]

but don't deliver "harmonic richness" or long "decays" that aren't actually in the recording.

Built in reverb feature? Which products should we avoid in that regard?

[Feanor]

Built in reverb feature {"decays")? Which products should we avoid in that regard?

Dunno, ask RGA, he's the guy who talks about decays and how they're missing from solid state amps and generally most things except SETs.

[E-Stat]

Dunno, ask RGA, he's the guy who talks about decays and how they're missing from solid state amps and generally most things except SETs.

I see. You've never heard this phenomena yourself. Perhaps you are misstating something he's said. Can you point to anything in particular?

[Feanor]

I see. You've never heard this phenomena yourself. Perhaps you are misstating something he's said. Can you point to anything in particular?

No, I'm not misstating him; perhaps I'll look for quotes at some point.

Decay? Yes, the trailing edge of notes, e.g. of piano, revealing instrument timbre as sound dies away. Yes, I've heard that. It is RGA's contention the tube amps, especially SET, have more natural sound of decays -- i.e. one he likes better.

[Ajani]

Well after hearing a lot of press about them I finally decided to pull the trigger on a class D audio amp and it is ordered and on its way. i decided to give the 440c amp a try since it have more than enough power for almost any speaker I will likely be getting in the future and should be a good match with my Dynaudios. I will be retiring my Adcom to use it for a rear channel amp since it is getting older and needs a more relaxed job and the rear channels in my system should be a good place for that. Will let you guys know what I think after it comes in and I have a chance to listen to it.

Congrats! The 440C looks like a great deal. I can't wait to hear your impressions.

[LeRoy]

Congrat's Harley. I wonder of digital amps need time to break in like tubes or ss...you will be finding out soon.

[blackraven]

Congrats!. I think that you will really like the smooth sound of these amps. They produce a very nice tight and deep bass and have no grain. I do however find the sound to lean a little bit on the sunny side. Placing some 0.5ohm resistors in my MMG's fixed the problem

[frenchmon]

Congrats Harley! I cant wait to read your thoughts..I wonder how well it will do with your NU-FORCE preamp. Are you going to try that configuration?

[frenchmon]

I cant seem to find that amp at CLass D Audio....do you have a link?

[Ajani]

Here's the link:

Class D Audio SDS-440C Class D Audio Amplifier

[frenchmon]

Thank you sir!

[harley .guy07]

yes sir I am going to try the Nuforce preamp with the class d audio to see how it works together. I should think it should work fine and I ordered balanced cables since both units use balanced cables and I will let you know when it gets here and I get a chance to hear it for myself and see if it lives up to what people are talking about.

[TheHills44060]

Interested to see your thoughts after you try it out harley.

[harley .guy07]

Well I got it in and have had the first chance to listen to it after hooking it up last night and so far I am very pleased with its performance. The first things I noticed when compared to the Adcom I have been running for years is that the bass is much more detailed and seems tighter and seems to have much more slam to it but that might be that fact that is have so much more power but I have heard others comment on the bass performance of these amps. Another couple of things is that the soundstage is much wider and the instruments seem to have better locational abilities within it so everything is much more where it should be in the performance. Also the imaging was good before but this amp seems to take it to the next level. And the last thing I will mention until I have time to spend a lot more time listening is that the detail and musical depth of this amp is something to love, It seems to pull everything out of the music that is there and puts it out for you to hear better than I have heard my speakers before and that is without sounding harsh or too bright. It does seem to have a smoothness that is very nice and it is one of the most quite amps I have heard in any system so far as far as noise goes it does not have any. Like I said I will keep listening and keep you guys posted as I hear more things.

[Ajani]

Well I got it in and have had the first chance to listen to it after hooking it up last night and so far I am very pleased with its performance. The first things I noticed when compared to the Adcom I have been running for years is that the bass is much more detailed and seems tighter and seems to have much more slam to it but that might be that fact that is have so much more power but I have heard others comment on the bass performance of these amps. Another couple of things is that the soundstage is much wider and the instruments seem to have better locational abilities within it so everything is much more where it should be in the performance. Also the imaging was good before but this amp seems to take it to the next level. And the last thing I will mention until I have time to spend a lot more time listening is that the detail and musical depth of this amp is something to love, It seems to pull everything out of the music that is there and puts it out for you to hear better than I have heard my speakers before and that is without sounding harsh or too bright. It does seem to have a smoothness that is very nice and it is one of the most quite amps I have heard in any system so far as far as noise goes it does not have any. Like I said I will keep listening and keep you guys posted as I hear more things.

No idea how I missed this post, but congrats on the new amp!!!!

Please keep us updated, especially with pics...