Class D speed with linear-power weight and control.
A Class D power amplifier built as a complete analog component: fast switching output stage, full-size linear supply, large reservoir capacitance, output filtering, and system matching for effortless loudspeaker drive. Available as a stereo amplifier or as a mono amplifier pair.
This amplifier is built for listeners who want the DAC, level control, and speakers to feel directly connected. The goal is not just rated watts; it is clean grip, stable tone, and a sense that the speaker is being driven without strain.
In this amplifier, the analog signal arriving from the DAC or preamp is used to control the duty cycle of a high-frequency PWM power stage. The output devices work as fast switches, moving between the supply rails instead of sitting half-on like a conventional linear output transistor. That is why a Class D stage can deliver strong speaker current with far less heat. The audio-band result is recovered at the output filter, where the high-frequency switching waveform is shaped into a loudspeaker-ready signal while reducing switching energy before the speaker terminals.
Speaker control depends on how quickly energy can move from the power supply to the loudspeaker, and how cleanly the amplifier recovers after a demanding bass note or drum hit. This is why the amplifier uses a full-size linear supply.
Speakers ask for current in short, demanding bursts. The pictured build uses two Cornell Dubilier 4,200 uF reservoir capacitors, giving the amplifier 8,400 uF of local supply storage near the power stage. That reserve is there to support the main power rail during changing speaker demand; in listening, the result we are aiming for is bass weight, transient ease, and a presentation that does not harden as level rises.
Amplifiers do not live on a test bench. They live with real DACs, real speakers, real rooms, and real volume habits. We offer the amplifier as a stereo build or as mono builds for systems that benefit from a dedicated amplifier per channel. Supply behavior, output filtering, enclosure, connector layout, and thermal approach are set around the system the amplifier is going into.
Drives speakers with grip, quiet backgrounds, and a sense of ease when the music asks for current.
Keeps the post-DAC chain analog while using high-speed switching for efficient loudspeaker drive.
Choose stereo for a compact two-channel amplifier, or mono builds when the system should dedicate one amplifier to each speaker.
The amplifier is integrated with the DAC, preamp, or attenuator so normal listening happens in a usable control range.
The filter is part of the amplifier voice, not a leftover engineering detail.
Current reserve, low ripple, and fast recovery give the amplifier stronger control during dynamic passages.
Adds local supply reserve so the amplifier can respond to speaker current demand without sounding strained.
Enclosure, grounding, cooling, connector layout, and power are chosen as a finished audio product.
Class D efficiency helps the amplifier stay composed without the thermal behavior of a traditional hot-running power amp.
This amplifier is built around a linear supply with local reservoir storage close to the amplifier stage. In the pictured build, two Cornell Dubilier 4,200 uF / 100 VDC capacitors provide 8,400 uF of supply storage on the main rail. The engineering purpose is straightforward: keep useful energy close to the stage that drives the speaker. The listening goal is bass weight, transient control, and less strain at higher levels.
The LC output filter, grounding, wiring, and speaker-terminal layout are treated as the final audio stage of the amplifier. The handoff from the switching stage is tuned for clean treble and controlled bass.
This amplifier is not a source selector or volume-control device. It is intended to sit after the DAC, preamp, or attenuator and focus on the final loudspeaker drive. That keeps the product role clear: accept a line-level analog signal, drive the speaker cleanly, and let upstream components handle source selection and level control.
The amplifier ships with 32 dB fixed gain. Source level, preamp output, or analog attenuation should be matched before the amplifier so the system has useful volume range and clean peak headroom. As a practical reference, a 20 Vrms speaker-output swing needs about 0.50 Vrms at the amplifier input.
| Spec | Value | System relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Amplifier architecture | Analog-input Class D power stage | The amplifier uses high-speed switching for efficient speaker drive while keeping the post-DAC signal path analog. |
| Amplifier formats | Stereo build or mono build | The amplifier can be configured as a two-channel stereo amplifier or as mono amplifiers for systems that dedicate one chassis per speaker. |
| Output mode | Stereo speaker outputs or mono speaker output | The output mode is selected around the loudspeaker, room, and system architecture. |
| Platform class | Up to 200 W stereo into 4 ohm / 425 W mono into 2 ohm platform class | Sharada builds are offered as stereo amplifiers or as mono amplifiers for systems that benefit from one dedicated amplifier per speaker. Final system output depends on speaker load, supply configuration, enclosure, and stereo or mono build. |
| Amplifier role | Line-level source to loudspeaker drive | The design keeps the analog path short and gives the speakers a controlled power stage. |
| Topology | PWM Class D with feedback-controlled output behavior | The topology is used for efficient power with stable speaker control and low heat. |
| Operating character | Efficient speaker drive with a full-size power supply | The amplifier keeps Class D efficiency while using the supply reserve needed for composed speaker control. |
| Output configuration | Stereo or mono, configured per speaker and room | The output stage, supply behavior, and connector layout are selected around the system rather than a generic module setting. |
| Spec | Value | System relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Power supply approach | Full-size linear supply integration | The amplifier is designed around supply reserve and recovery, not only output-stage efficiency. |
| Recommended speaker range | Designed for common 3-8 ohm loudspeaker systems | We match the final stereo or mono build to the actual speaker, because real loudspeakers vary with frequency and can dip below their nominal rating. |
| Load matching | Configured around the intended loudspeaker | Speaker impedance curve, sensitivity, room size, listening level, and stereo-versus-mono architecture all shape the final build. |
| Stereo output, 1% THD+N | Up to 170 W into 4 ohm | A cleaner high-power reference for stereo systems that want headroom without chasing only the largest wattage number. |
| Stereo output, 10% THD+N | Up to 200 W into 4 ohm | A peak platform rating that shows available headroom when the amplifier is pushed near its upper limit. |
| Mono output, 1% THD+N | Up to 325 W into 2 ohm | Mono builds are available when a system benefits from one dedicated amplifier per speaker. |
| Mono output, 10% THD+N | Up to 425 W into 2 ohm | A peak mono platform rating for systems that need extra current reserve and one amplifier channel dedicated to each loudspeaker. |
| Efficiency | >90% Class D operation at 4 ohm | High efficiency lets the amplifier deliver useful power without becoming a hot-running component. |
| Spec | Value | System relevance |
|---|---|---|
| THD+N at 1 W | <0.02% into 4 ohm | The first watt matters because normal listening spends more time here than near the headline power limit. |
| Signal-to-noise ratio | >110 dB A-weighted | A low noise floor helps preserve quiet passages, room ambience, and image stability. |
| Output noise | <100 uV A-weighted | Noise performance matters in quiet rooms and with revealing loudspeakers. |
| Low-level goal | Quiet first-watt behavior | Most listening happens around the first few watts, where tone, texture, and noise floor matter most. |
| Dynamic goal | Unstrained recovery after musical peaks | The amplifier is designed so bass hits and large orchestral swings do not make the next moment sound smaller. |
| Noise behavior | Low-noise layout and supply discipline | Grounding, wiring, and supply design are treated as audible parts of the finished component. |
| Power-supply rejection | 60 dB in BTL, no input signal | The amplifier architecture rejects supply movement, while the Sharada build still treats the supply as part of the sound. |
| Damping factor | Final measured value pending | Damping factor is measured on the completed amplifier because the supply, output filter, wiring, and speaker terminals all affect the final result. |
| Output impedance | Final measured value pending | We measure output impedance at the finished amplifier terminals because the LC output filter, wiring, connectors, and stereo/mono configuration all affect the final speaker-control behavior. |
| Spec | Value | System relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Input | Analog line-level input from DAC, preamp, or attenuator | Pairs with high-quality analog output stages without adding extra source handling. |
| Input format | Single-ended or differential implementation options | Allows the enclosure and connectors to match the rest of the system. |
| Level matching | Matched with DAC output, preamp or attenuator, and speaker sensitivity | The amplifier platform does not include volume control, so source level and analog level control are treated as part of the system match. |
| Shipping gain | 32 dB fixed gain | The amplifier ships with the gain set; level matching is handled before the amplifier by the DAC, preamp, or attenuator. |
| Practical input sensitivity | About 0.50 Vrms for a 20 Vrms speaker-output swing | A modest line-level input can already produce high speaker output, so source level and analog attenuation matter. |
| Speaker load | Configured around the intended loudspeaker | The amp is built around the speaker it has to drive. |
| Chain fit | DAC/preamp/attenuator-fed power amplifier role | The source-to-speaker path stays direct, with level control handled before the power amplifier. |
| Spec | Value | System relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Output filtering | Class D LC output-filter implementation | The filter is treated as part of speaker control and tonal balance. |
| Switching behavior | High-frequency PWM switching stage | Useful context for output-filter design, RF behavior, wiring, and enclosure layout. |
| Power supply | Linear supply integration selected per build | Current reserve and clean recovery are part of why the amp sounds composed. |
| Thermal behavior | Low-heat Class D operation | Low heat lets the enclosure and layout focus on reliability, damping, and noise control. |
| Build status | Custom configuration | Enclosure, supply, output mode, connector layout, and speaker matching are chosen for the final system. |
| Role | Speaker-drive stage for a DAC-first system. |
|---|---|
| Configuration | Stereo build or mono build, based on an analog-input Class D platform rated up to 200 W stereo into 4 ohm or 425 W mono into 2 ohm. |
| System match | DAC plus attenuator systems, preamps, and speakers that like clean efficient drive. |
| What to listen for | Bass grip, quiet backgrounds, clean transient control, and a sense that the speakers are driven easily rather than pushed hard. |
| Gain | 32 dB fixed shipping configuration. |
| Input sensitivity | Approximately 0.50 Vrms for a 20 Vrms speaker-output swing. |
| Configuration note | The finished amplifier is built around the supply, enclosure, cooling, speaker load, and intended use. |
| Chain fit | Power-amplifier role for line-level DAC, preamp, and attenuator systems. |
Speakers ask for current in short, demanding bursts. This build uses two Cornell Dubilier 4,200 uF / 100 VDC reservoir capacitors for 8,400 uF of local storage on the main power rail. The engineering purpose is to keep useful reserve close to the amplifier stage; the listening goal is firm bass, easier transient behavior, and a more composed sound as listening levels rise.
The amplifier supply is chosen for current delivery, reservoir capacity, low ripple, and stable recovery under changing load. The pictured build uses two Cornell Dubilier 4,200 uF capacitors in the amplifier supply, giving the power stage a visible local reserve behind the easy speaker-drive character we are listening for.
