BWB (Rick Braun - Kirk Whalum - Norman Brown) / Human Nature (2013) - The Way You Make Me Feel

Superlative sound.
A tribute album of Michael Jackson songs with a Smooth Jazz twist.
Love him or Hate him...Michael made some Great music.

Incendio/Misterioso (2000) - Jaco y Paco

Ain't life Grand. Last night I was jammin' to Incendio and I heard a pop in my left T Ref. Turns out the left channel D Sonic M3a-600M Mono decided the party was over. Texted Dennis at D Sonic and he wants me to send it in, as it's under warranty. So, waiting for a shipping label to send off next week.

Ain't life Grand. Sure glad I have other amplifiers sitting around ready to party. Today I'll be using the Emotiva xpa-1(Gen 1) mono's. Should be a Great weekend.

anthem,

My condolences. I HATE IT when that happens! Another Class D bites the dust. I'm glad you have a backup you can use. My Bel Canto (which both are always running) was great, then next day was zero. No pop on that one. But they were good and fixed it quickly.

But this Class D architecture is leaving me cold. Whatever happened to electronics you could use for decades (I'm not talking toobs)?



Charlie

Charlie:
When you say, "Both are always running"...explain that. Did both amps go out, or just one? What did they find out to be the problem? How old are your Bel Canto's?

I knew that sentence would cause trouble!

The Bel Cantos (REF 600M) are monoblocks, and both are always running (along with everything else). Only one failed. They were about a year old when the one failed, so still under warranty.

I sent two emails asking what had failed in the amp, and I received no reply. The return invoice stated they replaced the Hypex amp board.

I had another Class D stereo amp where one channel failed. That failure was due to a "power module", which I took to be the Class D output device.

My understanding is that most manufacturers buy these Class D output devices from third party vendors. This save us a lot of money, but I think the reliability is questionable. Also, they are pushing these things to higher power levels, which means heat. Hopefully reliability will improve in the future, but I am now pretty cautious.

I see that PS Audio has just released a new hybrid monoblock with 1200 Wpc. Hmmm, tube front end, Class D output. Hmmmm.

Charlie

I guess reliability issues seem to come long with complex electronics, whether they be HT systems or networks and associated equipment, from desktops to laptops to "smart" appliances.

Fun when it works, a pain when it doesn't! I haven't had more issues with class D amps (Tritons, AT 525 NC amp, Parasound v.275 stereo amp. NAD stereo amp before that), than with other types of gear, but who knows. I've had more issues with receivers losing wifi connectivity, "forgetting" channels to use with different settings, receiver or player firmware updates corrupting component connectivity, routers going rouge, etc. etc.

Every now and then after fixing another issue I think maybe I should have just gone with a simple soundbar and far less connected gear. Then I listen to the GEt HT system playing music or showing a movie, and I fall in love again with the gorgeous sound.

And then I remind myself why it' all worth it. The GORGEOUS SOUND!!!!