The missing power I have been searching for in a class D amp. LSA Warp 1 power amplifier review 

To purchase this amp, you need to email underwoodwally@aol.com ...AOL ! Man that is so 80s. Nope, I don't get anything if you buy from them.

walter is one of the nicest and most knowledgeable people in the audio world. i've been doing business with him for 15 years.

Interesting review. Would like to hear a Pairing with the LRS.

playing in a band i have switched to all class d amps, my bass rig has no problem producing lows also all floor monitors and pa have been switched to class d it is the cleanest system i have ever owned

You’ve become a class d expert and the forefront of class d info for the community Thomas. Thank you. I still don’t want one lol, but owning a jeff Rowland is one of my long term goals.

The class D I used 2 years ago was an EVS 1200, based on dual IceEdge AS1200 modules + lots of tweaks, and I raved about it for a year. Finally, I replaced it with the LSA Voyager 350, which is roughly half the wattage of the EVS, and yet the Voyager was twice as room filling. Highly recommended

I don't care about the gear, i just enjoy hearing you speak. Don't know why.

Thomas, when I was a kid and needed a summer job, I had my mums take me to the Rowland factory to see if I could get a job soldering boards for Mr. Rowland. I used to read all the audio magazines back then and was amazed by the reviews of Rowland and the power ratings. I thought to myself that one day I would own one, but no way at that time could do that. I toured the factory and remember seeing the amps with these huge capacitors and heat sinks. I didn't end up getting a job there, but the tour of the plant was inspiring to me. Compared to my department store receiver back then, this was like a Formula 1 car next to a Toyota Camry. Anyway, years later, I never really followed Rowland and had almost forgotten about them until you mentioned them. Modern Class D is like traveling to an off world planet, meeting up with some technological advanced peeps that give you this little light weight box that outperforms all your 50kg A/B amps. On certain speakers, A/B may be preferable, but I continue to find new class D is ultra clean, dynamic and powerful. I used a Nova 300 to wake up a pair of Polk Lsim 707. This brought out details and agility that I was not getting from A/B, like it upscaled to sound like something much more expensive. Glad to see other manufacturers getting serious about Class D. Class D uses far less material than A/B and more efficient. This might matter to some people concerned about the planet.

Thomas ... This has become one of the best reference review channels worth watching ... Congrats Brother

Thomas, you are one of the best audio reviewers out there., I enjoy your reviews even though I can’t afford any of it. My stuff has to be cheap, maybe a few thousand dollars. Thank you and keep them coming.

Yes, I like to see a more detailed test with the LRS.

That's a retailer's website not the manufacturer. I love Underwood HiFi! I buy my gear from them often. I recommend them highly. Often times the key to making class D amps sound good are vintage speakers.

Thomas, you are easily one of the most (if not the best) engaging reviewers on RU-vid. It's also great that you take the review products to 3 of your audiophile friends. I'll mention it again - try to review the Octave V70 Class A with Super Black Box...!

Cool amp, I like the case design and the mid-range forward attestation. I'd like to hear how it works with the LRS. I find the 1.7i maggies are not more difficult to drive than the LRS, surprisingly.

Giant leaps in Class D amps? I have an 'old' Wyred4Sound STI 500. This is a Class D based on the B&O ICE modules and it is amazing! Kent Johnson once tested it and said: "The STI-500 is very green, extremely good sounding, built to last, and very convenient. I have failed to acknowledge how much I like the preamplifier section for its flexibility and convenience since it just does its job without drawing attention to itself. In truth this amplifier doesn't draw any attention to itself with anything other than its exceptional sound. If Class D amps like the STI-500 are the future, then the future is going to be wonderful."

Nice review. Your efforts are appreciated. I too would like to see you do a test with the LRS.

Comparison to PS S300 and Ayima A07 would be great. Because I can not pick Ayima from Para A23+ in blind test with LRS. Neither my wife. And we tried really hard.

One of your best reviews and I’ve been watching for almost 3 yrs . Review was clean-organized-to the point-fair & balanced . As for the product . . . I’m intrigued enough to explore this amp. Good job !

the board in this amp made by a guy name xrk in audio community group. powered by tpa3255 chip. you can also buy his ready to run module board.

Amazing the difference between the two samples. I liked the Dynaudio clip. I have only heard class D at a community diy meeting. One of our members built an early system.. His pcb was the size of a credit card and it was driving some giant JBL enclosures with authority. He later refined the power supply and the linestage and it was surprisingly good. But the speakers were not resolving enough to know how it really stacked up other than being amazed that something so tiny could pack so much punch down low. The JBL's had 4x 15" low end and this thing seemed to drive more punch than a lot of the other amps but lacked the refinement of the Pass Labs stuff.

Hi Thomas My friend uses a pair of class D amps and yes it’s really good and delivers 400 watts per channel into 4 ohms so yes Class D is getting better and better Take Care

Very engaging videos Thomas, I appreciate your thoroughness and the involvement and feedback from your listening buddies . Had a look at LSA for their preamp offerings and the Discovery DPH-1 looks interesting though when I searched for reviews on RU-vid all I got was Land Rover reviews!

I’m def biased toward a or a/b topology but glad to see this review!

Picked one up, very nice amp, so close to my reference set up, will have to a bit more A/B ing. If your speakers have strong upper mids…very hard to beat…clean insides. The designer did a fantastic job. Right mix of parts to get the sound. No complaints at this price

If you want a really great class D amp, try a pair of Mola-Mola Kaluga mono amps. Not inexpensive, but you get the best class D implementation.

Wow ! This amp sounds special. Thank you.

I've been playing around with several TPA3255 boards in my DIY projects. They are definitely bring a slightly warmer smoother tone vs other Class D amps which I like but plus they still offer lots of mid range detail and very low noise floor. Overall very well behaved boards and need little tweaking to sound good.

My fist class D Amp was the Bell Canto Evo from about 15 years ago. I now have the Nad M33. The top end and bottom end are smooth and extended. I would say the midrange still has a bit of class D "presentation." (As opposed to fault) They are best matched with a speaker with warm mid-range. M33 was a bad match with KEF LS50’S (mids too thin and cold) but a GREAT match for Rosso Fiorentino floorstanders. The Rosso’s have that classic Italian, warm and lush midrange presentation.

Thank you Mr. Thomas, excellent and engaging as usual! 😊

I use the Peachtree amp500 and LOVE it! 500 wpc into 8 ohms!

Holy crap, this might be the sound I've been looking for... I'm going research some more.

Hi Thomas! Hoping to see you in Montreal Audiofest (and hoping you'll participate in their contest of making a perfect hi-fi system room)

❤️❤️😎 THANKS THOMAS FOR ENTERTAINING STORIES EDUCATING 🧐US AND ENTERTAINING SOUND DEMOS 😍😍😍

Maybe a front tube stage would help using lets say 2 12ax7s or 4 12au7s.,Vincent uses this approach successfully.with power amps.BTW using matched top drawer tubes up front makes a HUGE difference. eg Gold Lion top grade from Upscale.

Had a flash image form in my head at one point, with no face to reference, Mr Vintage was dressed totally in bright gleaming white, wide lappeled jacket & wide flared bright white trousers & big collars on his white shirt, like John Travolta in "Saturday Night Fever" ... one arm stretched out straight & high with index finger pointing to the ceiling, the other arm doing the same in the downwards direction, his body in the middle of a twist with white open jacket flaying outwards in a mid-disco gyrational twirl ...21 Sansui's, wow!

Purifi based Class D amps is the ones I so far enjoy the most with my setup. Both diy and premade ( like vtx ). When looking at pure measurement, the purifi units seems to "win" hands down as well. Measurement isent everything ofc, but in this case it blends well with my own listening experience :) I never tested a Texas Instruments based amp. So this peak my interest. Great review :D

The new Billie amp from Heaven 11 has about the same power, roughly same price and does have the tube pre already...I hope someone compares the sound quality. Thanks for the look.

Thomas, nice review and yes as an owner of the LRS' I look forward to your reviewing them with the LSA Warp 1. Thank you!

Hi Thomas. Good review as usual. Class D looks like the future alright. They look to be getting better and better. Great to see you have the Arendal speakers in house. But kinda surprised you wanted to review the tiny ones. I've just got the Tower S floor standers since last November. They have a 60 day sale or return policy which is great. I'm thinking now of Class D Amplification now. I running the Arendals with the Willsenton R8. I'll be waiting to see what you think of them, plus the Sibelius speakers you have. Keep up the good work.

Great chat Thomas. Thanks for your thoughts and experience - always very informative and entertaining. Greetings to you and yours. Would be interested to hear your impression of these compared directly with the GAN version that you also enjoyed.

Nice looking class d amp has that sleek look , I need to try a modern day Class D amp this one high on my list for coming New year thanks Thomas

Great video Thomas. Might have to try this one. I just tried the Purifi Eigentakt from VTV, but it's not for me. Too transparent, and doesn't like my old rock music. This sounds like more my style though. Once you said Led Zeppelin you got me. And, "similar to vintage Sansui", also. That's basically what I'm looking for, but in a new product, not something old and possibly unreliable. Not to mention all the other benefits one gets from modern technology. ✌️

Hey Thomas! Thanks for the video. I was looking at this one a while ago but for whatever reason it fell of my radar. After re-discovering this video, it is definitely back in the mix! I happen to like the design and the smaller footprint of this unit, as it will integrate with the modest desktop system I am running. I think Wally is one of the coolest guys in the business to work with, so I may just give him a call in the near future and see about bringing this amp into the fold. Thanks again for your great work, keep 'em coming!

Thomas: Please keep doing what you are doing. (But some how find a way to financially benefit from your position at Thomas & Stereo.). Your Frends have had the advantage of evaluating equipment that cross your desk. This, in itself is a Very Big Pluss! The Result Is A Thomas & Stereo Review that is Canadian, Yet still Relevant to thousands of Audiophiles.....World Wide.

Yes, please more testing with Maggie’s

I am turned on to LSA also. Looking forward to the speakers too ..=)

I have the LSA Signature 20s. They are a theater tower with British Harbeth like tone. They need a lot of power.

I'm actually more interested in the GAN version of this amp since the switching speed of GAN is higher than class D which might sound more class A like. Good to know that Classic class D is getting better every year. No links on where to buy ?

I know you have reviewed the Gan Orchard monoblocks but you need to review the Ultra Stereo. I think you said that your friend likes it.

I would like to see you review the Technics SU G 700M2 integrated amp. It’s class D.

Thanks for the video review. For the past 2 years I have been using a Buckeye Amp designed around the Hypex NC502MP with a Topping Pre90 driving a pair of BMR Monitors. With their RAAL tweeters, the BMR Monitors are extremely revealing. I have been wanting to get some warmth into the system and I am thinking of replacing the Hypex-based amp with the LSA Warp 1 or possibly replace everything with the Heaven 11 Billie Mkii.

Would really enjoy if reviewed with LRS or other Magnepan speakers

Lookin good Thomas. New Year, new hair cut! Happy Year of the Tiger!

Great review but I have $50 TPA3116 class D amplifier. The sound good enough for me and no need more expensive amplifier.

I would recommend that you test the XTZ Edge A2-400 using two of those Amps in passive vertical Bi-Amping mode.

Sounds like an amp I would love. First, I'd like to get those Arendal 1723 speakers you used in your demo.

You should try their speakers. I have there LSA Signature and it’s pretty darn fine.

After messing around in audio for 15 years or so, I cant understand why we dont all use high efficiency (95db+) speakers nowadayas, no downsides I can see .. and you can use a handful of class a watts to power them!

Everybody is waiting for that manufacturer that makes a class D that checks all the boxes, and sells at reasonable price. They will make less per unit but their bottom line will be massive as sales will be in multiples.Think class D Dynaco Stereo 70 or NAD 3020.

I'm curious how the Rogue Audio Dragon would compare.

I wonder how much difference there is between this and the Ayima A07 (TPA3255) and a good PSU......

I've noticed a lot of audio manufacturers have terrible, outdated looking websites. lol

Great review!

This amplifier is just amazing

Hello Thomas! Thanx for the review. However, I am inpatient to hear about the French Aperture Bookshelf speaker !! By the way, do you also think Ron has long COVID and that Ritchie is missing shipping material !! Keep up the good work !! Bill from France !!

Yes, drive to Mr. Kanta's place. I'll give you a pack of instant noodles for it! :-D

Oh man this is tempting. Going to have a hard time deciding between this and the Willsenton r8 for my fortes.

One of these days, I have to go and listen to a really good class D amp. I haven't heard a good one yet and I attribute that to only being around Class A/B amps.

Class D has been consistently improving for a long time. Class D used to be garbage, but now some are legitimate options.

Nice review my friend! As always!

Yeah I bought my Marantz SA10 from Walt too!

Thomas. Have you ever tried to get the XTZ Edge A2-400 in for review? I was just looking at that one, because some people commented on it here. And I'm very interested in that one too. It seems to be similar to this in presentation. But has a lot of great features too. Like a 12v turn on trigger Can be bridged Adjustable gain A loop out set of RCA's Nice quality connections (Neutrik XLR inputs!) Both RCA, and XLR inputs Clipping indicator light 220/110 voltage operation Rack mounts if needed And more power then this amp too. For whatever that's worth. 😁✌️

I use class D integrated amp and never looked back

Hi Mr Thomas can you compare this unit to the PS audio s300?

Please test the LRS!

Thank you Thomas, excellent as usual. I have heard that McIntosh is working on a class D amp. Have you heard anything?

Great review as always.

Hey Thomas, have you ever tested, or listened to the Audio Research DS450M mono amps, which are Class D amps? I’d love to get your full review on these amps, which are now about 10 years old. Keep up the good work!

Thanks for another great review, do you pair it with a tube preamp?

Would love yo get uour impression of the magnspans. I'm using crown class d to drive mine and I'm hsppy, but the glassiness on the top end does bother me with some music. This seems like a possible fit, and I would like to hear more.

I think the real question is if Class D can offer a better quality at a lower price. If this amp is $1,499 regular retail, it is better than say the Audiolab 6000A or Cambridge CXA81 which might be cheaper or offer more options?

I think you should review Primare's class D amps with UFDP technology,so entertaning

The VTV is a hybrid, so is the DestinY DC-222T Hybrid MKII Amp. I don‘t know if it‘s any of noteworthy, just another Preamp section with tubes and conventional power amp.

been curious about the speakers and gear fm LSA...hope u can review their speakers next

thanks for doing this!

I went through my Class D paradigm shift through my listening sessions with the AGD Audion GaN monoblocks. Class D done right is right up there with the greats of tube and SS amplification.

hmmm, seems to be nice machine. I also can listen led zeppelin and enjoy it much more on naim amplifier than on somthing like elctrocompaniet eci 80d, ant thats precisely because the sound has more body etc. Thats a tough thing to choose an amp :D......I am with the topic a bit too long already :)

Class D is the future and can sound absolutely dreamlike, as good or better than anything out there. Thank you Thomas for giving them a fair shake and not being an old curmudgeon about it like.. everyone else.

Hi Thomas! Love ❤️ when you cover gear that adds a little “MSG”! (Or even some Cayenne pepper! 🌶) what are those black bookshelf speakers in the background? They kinda look like Amphion Argon 1’s, but I can see the front logo/badge is different! Thank you! Great review bro!

Need some amp gut shots, very curious

Great 👍

Take the drive again Thomas,yes sir 😊

Thomas, in my experience spending more on an amp buys you more "palpability" thanks to better blackgrounds, separation and detail retrieval. After watching your video I got the impression your McIntosh is mostly "different" but not necessarily a lot better in these areas despite costing a lot more. Or am I mistaken?

Why didn't Walter send the Gan Fet model?

You don’t often mention the damping factor of the amps which I believe is an important factor in controlling the low frequencies if the speakers.

Why not a class D AVR!!?? I know it’s not your thing, but it would be nice 😊

This sounds like it could be a good pairing for my Polk LSiM 703s (feel these bookshelves can do more with a better partner than my Marantz SR6014).

Shouldn't you just get a set of LRS' so (a) you don't HAVE to drive to Mr. Kanta's house and (b) everyone is going to ask anyway so you might as well have them just to nip that in the bud.

Great review Thomas as always! I really enjoy your channel. I have never heard you say what your source is . . . CD, Streaming, HD files? What do you feed the DAC's, Integrated amps and so forth? What songs do you use to evaluate gear? Do you use the same songs on each review?

They also make a pre for this amp. Any thoughts on that? They match well.