300+ wpc, brand new: $420

[poppachubby]

Looks fantastic. But where do the tubes go?

[Feanor]

Looks fantastic. But where do the tubes go?

Toobs, eh, Pops? Well there are none in sight nor any prospect of them with this amp.

I feel it's still early to give a definitive review -- for one thing, I'd like at least one swap back and forrth with my Monarchys. However I offer a few tentative remarks.

• Class D Audio says ... "Our Super D Series amps provide more life-like imaging and sound stage, along with the beautiful smooth tube-like sound we're known for. These amps are powerful, clean, quiet , and transparent." Mostly true.
• "Tube-like"? Well, there's a big variety of tube sound but I'd say not so much, especially if you mean "warm". There is some warmth in the 50-100 Hz bass region but the overall balance isn't especially warm. Vs. the Monarchys, there is some prominence at the top of the midrange, but then again the Monarchys are a little reticent in that area.
• "Smooth"? Yes! The device, at least to my old and feeble ears, is basically free of solid state "nasties": no grain, no etching, no glare, and more generally, no harshness. This I say with the reservation that the CDA won't likey gloss over the shortcomings of up or downstream equipment.
• "Powerful, clear, quiet"? Definitely.
• "Transparent"? Yes, big time! Excellent resolution and "air" far exceeding anything I've heard in the price range; (kicks the heck out of Adcoms and NADs I've heard). Furthermore, the equal of the Monarchys and perhaps even my earlier Bel Canto eVo2i.

In my system a noticeable quality is excellent brass and percussion sound from things like bells and cymbals, including cymbals struck with steel brush -- I believe the best I've heard in this particular regard (-- does that make it "tube-like"?). Bass generally seems a bit more powerful and punchy than the Monarchys (which aren't bad either). Is this the slight additional bass warmth? And/or is it the extra power??