Once relegated to subwoofer amplifiers and cheap home-theater-in-a box units, Class D power amplifiers are starting to be taken seriously by high-end audio designers. The introduction of Class D amplifiers from some of the high-end’s preeminent marques, such as Audio Research and Jeff Rowland Design, lends credibility to the technology—Class D is no longer just the province of inexpensive products.
But is Class D technology really up to the standards of high-end audio? Can these diminutive little powerhouses deliver the musical performance of conventional linear amplifiers? Are we trading away sound quality for the lure of efficiency, low heat dissipation, and a small form-factor?
To examine this potentially revolutionary technology in depth, we’ve prepared this special report. Our coverage begins with a Class D Primer, followed by a Class D Designers Roundtable discussion between some of today’s most respected amplifier designers—who come down on both sides of the issue. We continue with Class D Reviews of eight Class D amplifiers, an Class D Editors Roundtable discussion among The Absolute Sound’s senior editors, and, finally, a Sampling of High-End Class D Amplifiers table showing which Class D amplifiers are currently on the market.
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