simple Class-D stereo amp, must I make my own?

[jg167]

There are the $5K realm products from Spectron and Yamaha (maybe later in the year getting down to $2,500). The D2Audio modules have been used in a few multi-room and receiver products. But all I want is 2 channels with s/pdiff in and speakers out. If control sw is offered for Macs, PCs, etc it doesn't even have to have any controls, just a usb port. That shouldn't be more than $500 and still sound very good (my PS-IV and Paracass/Haffler have finally died you see and I need to replace them but am broke, I've gone entirely digital anway so why not ditch the external DAC and just run s/pdiff from my Mac to a class-D amp.. or so I thought).

I don't need multiple inputs as the only source is the Mac I have dedicated to my stereo (into which I've ripped my CDs (losesless compression) and which gets internet radio etc). I don't need multiple outputs as its just for one room and one set of speakers. I don't have home theater, I don't even run my TV into my stereo (yes yes I'm in the stone age...).

All I need is a box, with a good power supply,, a D2Audio XS125-2 with s/pdiff option, and a usb-> serial port converter plus some sw (i'd like the mac version mysefl), D2Audio's developer GUI would be fine (its likely PC only but...). do I have to beg D2Audio to sell me an eval kit to make my own? Why have no such products appeared? Am I the only one who wants such a (seemingly simple) thing? Here I had hoped class-D by this time would offer high quality AND simplicity for a reasonable price, but I see no such thing on the market.

 

[malvado78]

You might want to look at this thread it is for a USB in optical out adapter. THis way you don't need to limit your self to a receiver that has this capability. I would not go class-D I don't think the technology is there yet. Go to ubid and look at some of the receivers there. Onkyo 502 $139 Onkyo. 602 $239. Some stereo reveivers are even cheaper. These are not class-D though the are AB amps. I would get the following adapter which includes software and a cheap amp seems like that is what you are looking for.

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13626

 

[jg167]

If the recievers you mention don't have an s/pdiff input then you will be using the DAC in the USB device suggested, and it likely is not of great quality. In any case I already have essentially the same thing, but using my 802.11 network instead of USB, i.e. an Apple AirportExpress which (like the USB device) offers both stereo output (via an ok but not great DAC) and s/pdiff optical output.

Sure picking up a used integrated amp or receiver for a couple 100 nad using the DAC output from the AirportExpress would work. But the rub is that such products contain a lot of things I don't need and less quality than I'd like. A simple 2 channel class-D amp (if such existed at a reasonable price) would allow me to put all of the money toward only what I need with no waste on input/output switching, and front panel displays, and integreatd pre-amps, and DACs and ....

 

[eschultz]

Amps

Just my 2 cents but you might look around at http://www.ampslab.com/

 

[jg167]

Interesting (and inexpensive!), thanks.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Just my 2 cents but you might look around at http://www.ampslab.com/

Well, it is interesting but I am a bit surprised by their proclamation about amp B.

I seriously doubt that it is audibly different from A based on the numbers they posted. Actuall, I will guarantee that it is not audibly different, unless they are hiding some important info about Frequency response, THD+ noise, the basics.

No mention of a bias controlled comparison to arrive at amp B. So, it is unreliable with not much meaning.

 

[JeffB]

The JVC-D201S can be had for under $200. It is digital amp with a USB interface. Although, it has a 7 channel amp. I believe that it converts digital to analog and then to PWM.

 

[jg167]

Good find. I got the black one (the D202B) for 180 at J&R/amazon. That's cheap enough to not worry it and just get something to restore tunes for the next 6-9 months.. If it turns out to be better than a stop gap measure, even better. We'll see how well the USB interface works....