Anybody using D class amplifier for Magico speaker?

[analogonly]

Why is that ? In what way is it hard to drive? What special or unusual requirements does it have?

High phase angle with low impedance.

 

[Reddoc]

Hi, All, new to the forums. I heard all the positive reviews and opinions on newly Class D amplifier such as Purifi 9040. Just wonder anybody use it for expensive speakers such as Magico, Wilson Audio.

FWIW, a pair of Nilai monoblocks make the Magico A5s sound fantastic, to my ears. Can't expect any different from the fabulous 9040s.

 

[Bjorn]

There's still of course a difference in build quality, cooling (effects life span), and service. And there can also be a difference in features and the quality of these, i.e. the accuracy of a gain control.

Most low cost class D amps are not really built to last.

 

[AcousticTheory]

Someone with Magico speakers is going to have to try this and report back to us. I am curious.

 

[AcousticTheory]

There's still of course a difference in build quality, cooling (effects life span), and service. And there can also be a difference in features and the quality of these, i.e. the accuracy of a gain control.

Most low cost class D amps are not really built to last.

I have had numerous 'low cost' Class D amps that have lasted nearly a decade now, some longer, including an Icepower board that runs the speakers on my PC and has been powered on almost continuously since 2012 with zero hiccups. I suspect this common trope of "not built to last because cheap" is going to fall by the wayside soon.

 

[Hear Here]

There's still of course a difference in build quality, cooling (effects life span), and service. And there can also be a difference in features and the quality of these, i.e. the accuracy of a gain control.

Most low cost class D amps are not really built to last.

It could be argued that no low cost amp is designed to last - nothing to do with its !Class".

Certainly over the last 30 years or so Class D (alone amongst audio technologies) has improved unrecognisably and therefore old Class D amps fall by the wayside as newer and better technologies have emerged.

Now that the best Class D can match or better any other amp technology, it must be taken as seriously as digital cameras have been taken seriously after a poor start in the 1980s. Who buys film cameras now?

 

[Kal Rubinson]

Most low cost class D amps are not really built to last.

Depending on how you define "low cost," most things defined as such are not really built to last.

 

[PierreV]

High phase angle with low impedance.

The focal scala utopias I am driving with the hypex aren't that easy either for the same reason. I do, in fact, have a couple of older amplifiers where I noticed and measured a difference. But I haven't had any complaints with the hypex and purifi is supposed to be somewhat improved.

As far as reliability is concerned, I fell confident I could fix most possible reliability issues myself, except maybe a warped board, in which case I guess I would buy a new amp module or maybe "upgrade" to a purifi based product.

In fact, I am a bit annoyed with hypex's reliability because a failure would give me a reason to "upgrade" and get a dopamine hit

 

[Reddoc]

Someone with Magico speakers is going to have to try this and report back to us. I am curious.

See my reply above.

 

[Ropeburn]

Well... if it had a high-ish output impedance, it would feel the loudspeaker's wacky, if not downright perverse, impedance and phase curves.

I would say especially low output impedance amps feel the speakers more, they're just so strong, they simply overpower their imperfections with brute force.

How different amps handle weird loads:

 

[Bjorn]

It could be argued that no low cost amp is designed to last - nothing to do with its !Class".

Certainly over the last 30 years or so Class D (alone amongst audio technologies) has improved unrecognisably and therefore old Class D amps fall by the wayside as newer and better technologies have emerged.

Now that the best Class D can match or better any other amp technology, it must be taken as seriously as digital cameras have been taken seriously after a poor start in the 1980s. Who buys film cameras now?

Absolutely. It has nothing to do with class D but the built quality as mentioned. Same can be with other classes, and which we see with some of the lower cost from China.

However, what we're seeing with the newer class D modules is often an overlook of the need for cooling. Modules are typically mounted in a bottom of a chassis instead of mounted directly on to heat sinks or the use of a fan. The result of this, and as restorer John has shared on this forum, is early death of components due to overheat. Obviously it depends on the environment they are in and how long they are turned on, but these are not build to last under various conditions.

A few companies make class D with proper cooling though and they should last a long time.

 

[Hayabusa]

amplifier designers responded with monster "arc-welder" devices

Even there the 9040 does well with its 40amp max output I would say.
It should have no issues driving a 2 ohm speaker.

 

[Tell]

Absolutely. It has nothing to do with class D but the built quality as mentioned. Same can be with other classes, and which we see with some of the lower cost from China.

However, what we're seeing with the newer class D modules is often an overlook of the need for cooling. Modules are typically mounted in a bottom of a chassis instead of mounted directly on to heat sinks or the use of a fan. The result of this, and as restorer John has shared on this forum, is early death of components due to overheat. Obviously it depends on the environment they are in and how long they are turned on, but these are not build to last under various conditions.

A few companies make class D with proper cooling though and they should last a long time.

Class D is objectively way more effective though, and even if they are "only" mounted onto the bottom of the chassi many of them stay cool no matter how hard you push them within their power range.
And what Restorer John might say about Class D on his forum doesn't have much bearing at all, all I see from him here on ASR on that topic is nonsensical whine.

 

[Jokke]

In the Marantz Model 30, the hypex nc500 modules come with a heatsink to stay cool.

 

[boxerfan88]

Two pages and it looks like no one has done class-D & Magico. Mostly opinions. Hmm…

 

[Palmspar]

Magico use good drivers like Scan Speak or so, but they are not hard to drive for a normal amp.

 

[Jokke]

Apperantly, it's not easy to find someone that powers Magico with Class D.

My preferred dealer in Belgium sells both Magico and Marantz (Marantz top range amps are all Class D).
So they would be glad to setup a system to audition. https://alphahighend.be/

I'm sure there are dealers like that in your country too.

By the way, I'm using B&W 800 series speakers with Class D. Is that high end enough for you?

 

[Hear Here]

Two pages and it looks like no one has done class-D & Magico. Mostly opinions. Hmm…

Could it be that Magico owners are too snobby to even consider Class D?

If you have spent bonkers money on a pair of speakers, why not spend a bonkers sum on an amplifier. Since Class D is relatively inexpensive, these amps are not likely to be on their radar!

 

[Jokke]

Could it be that Magico owners are too snobby to even consider Class D?

If you have spent bonkers money on a pair of speakers, why not spend a bonkers sum on an amplifier. Since Class D is relatively inexpensive, these amps are not likely to be on their radar!

That's why I suggested the Marantz Model 10, based on Purifi.
14500 Euro, is that expensive enough?

 

[Hear Here]

By the way, I'm using B&W 800 series speakers with Class D. Is that high end enough for you?

Likewaise I'm using Class D to power my Avantgarde DUO XD speakers - and jolly good it is too!

It even has a heat sink and a toroidal transformer, rectifier, and electrolytic capacitors for its power supply.