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Interconnects, speaker wire, power cords. Ask the Cable Guys.

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Impact of Cables on My Class D Amps

Posted by Luminator on January 7, 2017 at 00:10:13:
In order to evaluate this properly, certain prerequisites have to be met.

The sources must be capable of delivering the goods.
The preamp must be sonically invisible.
All cables must be properly treated on a burn-in device.
The speakers must have the honesty, to tell you what is going on upstream.

I was able to meet the above requirements, when reviewing the following Class D amps:

Jeff Rowland Continuum 250 integrated
Jeff Rowland 501 monoblocks
Jeff Rowland 312 stereo
NuForce 9SE monoblocks
Rotel RB-1092 stereo

We did not feel that the above amps (and I cannot vouch for other Class D models) were any more or less "sensitive" or "reactive" to the myriad cable looms we employed.

Just like with any other amp, you have to pay attention to the quality of AC. That means investigating wall outlets, powerline conditioners, and powercords.

Just like with any other amp, do not do all the hard work upstream, only to throw it all away via a colored, uneven, dishonest speaker cable.

Just like with any other amp, speaker choice matters.

Just like with any other amp, the more revealing, accurate, and honest associated gear told us exactly what and where the Class D amps' deviations (and strengths) lay.

Because the Jeff Rowland 312 was far less inaccurate and distorted than the other four Class D amps, you could argue that the 312 was the most "sensitive and reactive" to cable choices.

If you go to my homepage, you'll have to go back at least 6 years, to find these amps. But you will also see a sampling of the hundreds of audio products (scanning a wide price range) we used with these (and all other) amps.

Yes, cables effected changes, but each listener would have his or her own judgment, as to whether those changes were small or large; plus, minus, or quid pro quo; inconsequential or significant.

-Lummy The Loch Monster