CLass AB amps v/s Class D

[GeorgeO]

Having built and owning Hypex Class D gear, as well as Class A and Class AB, I agree with Kanwar.

 

[sidvee]

I owned a Belcanto s300 amp. back in 2007. Used it for 3-4 years with various speakers including my current Harbeth Shl5 - mainly in my second system. For me, subjectively, I never liked this amplifier. Now I have a Belles Soloist 5 amp - which is a class A/B design. IMO this sounds significantly better. I felt the belcanto sound to be clinical and overtly analytical whereas the soloist sounds more musical and warmish - notwithstanding the s300's power almost 3 times that of the soloist into 4 ohms. Not heard any of the newer belcanto's or any other designs, perhaps they have improved. I really like the convenience of Class D, small, cool running etc, and am really looking forward to a design I can be happy with sonically.
Cheers,
Sid

 

[marX]

I owned a Belcanto s300 amp. back in 2007. Used it for 3-4 years with various speakers including my current Harbeth Shl5 - mainly in my second system. For me, subjectively, I never liked this amplifier. Now I have a Belles Soloist 5 amp - which is a class A/B design. IMO this sounds significantly better. I felt the belcanto sound to be clinical and overtly analytical whereas the soloist sounds more musical and warmish - notwithstanding the s300's power almost 3 times that of the soloist into 4 ohms. Not heard any of the newer belcanto's or any other designs, perhaps they have improved. I really like the convenience of Class D, small, cool running etc, and am really looking forward to a design I can be happy with sonically.
Cheers,
Sid

I like an amp which is clinical and very "attacking"..so I should get a class D amp ?

 

[sidvee]

I like an amp which is clinical and very "attacking"..so I should get a class D amp ?

IMO you should listen to any shortlisted amp. before making a decision. My experience was limited to Balcanto's implementation of "Class D", not sure how others will sound.
Cheers,
Sid

 

[kanwar]

Bel Canto uses ICE power modules, which are technically worst ever class-D made.

Hypex UCD and Ncore are much much better in implementation.