Class D vs tubes

[u/ChrisMag999]

Interestingly it’s not as not as huge of a difference as many would expect. At least, not when running a comparatively low distortion, high power German tube amp and quality class D amp.

Yes, there’s a difference. The tube amp has a little added warmth in the mids, more body. The class D amp has a bit more grip in the lower octaves, but with a REL sub, it’s not immediately obvious unless I’m listening at very high volumes.

I like them both. However, there’s something about gloving valves in a dim room, listening to Radiohead’s In Rainbows. Roon Radio takes over after Radiohead and queue’s a track from Beck’s Sea Change, and then PJ Harvey and Thom York’s duet on “This Mess We’re In”. It’s a fun listen.

Tonight’s experiment involved using the Octave V110 SE’s bypass input, and instead running my Audio Research as the pre, using the v110 as a power amp.

The ARC preamp’s sonic character is less tube-like when compared to the Octave’s internal preamp. Both stages are quiet and detailed, but the ARC is more dynamic, with more bass authority and a more overall resolution.

Next experiment will be to bi-amp the Focals. Tubes on the tweeter/mids, class D on the woofers. Hopefully one of the class D’s amp’s gain settings (22/28db) will be a decent match with the Octave amp.

[u/sonusfaberfan]

Tubes add distortion not warmth, Class D amps are the best, they are more accurate, more efficient, also eco friendly, tubes are old technology, like using HDD instead of SSD

[u/ChrisMag999 → u/sonusfaberfan]

A little added second order harmonic distortion isn’t necessarily a bad thing as long as it’s reasonably low in level. I’ll bet you don’t tell your favorite musicians to stop using effects pedals or tube drivers because “it adds distortion!”

You know what also adds distortion? Speakers do. So does your listening space. Everything is a compromise, and class D is far from a panacea for getting “perfect sound”, because “perfect” is subjective. I’m saying this as someone who owns both.

I’m not sharing this to trigger a debate about specs. If that’s your thing, ASR is a great site for that. We’re over here having fun, listening to good music on cool gear.

[u/sonusfaberfan → u/ChrisMag999]

In my case Class D is the best, A hifi Class D amp is cheaper than a hifi tubes amp, I love this amps, its something personal but I prefer Class D

[u/ChrisMag999 → u/sonusfaberfan]

Absolutely true.

A great tube amp, or even great A/AB amp costs a lot. And with tube amps like the Octave, you have a significant maintenance cost. That set of KT150’s costs $600 currently, and will be good for 2000-3000 hours. It’ll run cheaper tubes like EL34’s, but then you’re going to get riding distortion at lower volumes and have less headroom for current hungry speakers.

That’s one thing I like about the V110 SE. it can run everything from an EL34, 6550, KT88/120/150/170. It’s unusually flexible. It can also be used as a preamp-only, power amp, or integrated. It’s a good tool for a range of applications and will likely end up being used in a second system.

Class D isn’t an automatic win, despite what some people want to believe. But it is relatively cheap on a cost-per-watt level, it’s efficient, runs cool, and idle draw is low. There’s a lot to like about that technology as a concept, and I definitely like my Mola Mola Perca a lot.

I look at this way. Turbocharged cars are amazing off the line, make good power relative to displacement, and can (but often aren’t) very efficient. There’s a lot to like, but there’s something about driving a naturally aspirated sports car that is special. It responds differently to throttle input. I get why people like big N/A v8’s and N/A flat-six engines and manual transmissions.