D-Sonic M3-5400-7 Amplifier Review

D-Sonic M3-5400-7 Amplifier

D-Sonic M3-5400-7

5/5

With immense power output and fast transient response, the D-Sonic M3-5400-7 delivers exceptional dynamics and clarity to boost movie and music playback. The no-frills design keeps costs down but heat and noise are drawbacks. Overall it’s a top-tier amp at a fair price.

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Today the D-Sonic M3-5400-7 joins out home theater systems or a review. The longstanding debate of integrated AV receiver (AVR) versus a separate pre-amp/processor (Pre-Pro) and amplifier will probably survive as long as home theaters and living rooms exist. For your average consumer, separates either don’t exist or are a myth, the sort of thing that only the wealthy or truly obsessed would invest in. For the home theater enthusiast, investing in a separate amplifier for your home theater system is one of the wisest, and most important things you can do to improve your system’s performance and decouple amplification from HDMI switching and audio processing. 

While the pace of HDMI standard advancements has somewhat slowed, the industry shows no sign of standing still. HDMI 2.1a now supports 8K60 video and HDR10+. When these situations arise, those who have a high-end receiver are forced to invest a great deal of money to stay current, while those with a separate amp can enjoy improved sonics and a slightly lower bill to enjoy the latest technology. Since amplifiers don’t become outdated nearly as quickly as AV processors and receivers, you can easily keep them for 10+ years. Most of today’s popular amplifiers aren’t fundamentally more advanced than the amps of ten (or twenty) years ago – they’re just slightly different aesthetically and internally, though the sound remains extremely similar.

Sure, you’ll spend quite a bit more (at least initially) to own separates, however for that price you are getting improved audio quality that pays for itself over time. Comparing a top-of-the-line Anthem or Marantz receiver to an affordable 7 channel amp from Monoprice or Emotiva you’re spending about $2000 to acquire the amplifier, but that nets you double the power output you’d be getting from the receiver. As you continue to upgrade down the line, your cost to upgrade stays low, and by the 2nd or 3rd time you upgrade a processor instead of a receiver, you’re actually saving money.

To quote my previous D-Sonic review, there is a final point worth noting:
[Most] receivers being sold today almost universally fail to maintain their power output ratings when being forced to drive all channels, which can result in distortion and potentially damage your speakers at higher listening levels. Here are some measurements from our friends at S&V:

  • Marantz SR7010 ($2200) – 83WPC at 0.1%THD with all channels driven
  • Yamaha RX-A2050 ($1600) – 55WPC at 0.1%THD with all channels driven
  • Pioneer Elite SC-89 ($3000) – 115WPC at 0.1%THD with all channels driven
  • Denon AVR-X5200W ($2000) – 79WPC at 0.1%THD with all channels driven

Compare the above measurements to some popular 7 channel amplifiers:

  • D-Sonic M3-2800-7 ($3075) – 400WPC at <0.1%THD with all channels driven
  • Emotiva XPA Gen3 ($1900) – 200WPC at <0.1%THD with all channels driven
  • Outlaw Audio Model 7700 ($2150) –  200WPC at <0.1%THD with all channels driven

Many first time amp buyers will be well served by buying used gear or going to one of a few internet direct companies that sell amps at a much lower margin than the big brands. The most popular players in the internet direct amplifier market are Emotiva Audio, Wyred4Sound, Outlaw Audio and D-Sonic Custom Audio. Most of you have probably heard of the first three, I’m guessing only a small percentage have run across D-Sonic, and ironically that is by design.

D-Sonic Custom Audio is a small but passionate company headquartered very close to me in Sugar Land, Texas that builds statement level class D amplifiers and sells them without the massive markup so common in the audio industry. D-Sonic’s closest competitor is Wyred4Sound, a company that also builds reasonably priced class D amplifiers, though it has a dealer network and operates much more like a typical bigger name brand.

 

The Story

D-Sonic was founded by Dennis Deacon (his name is part of the inspiration behind the “D” in D-Sonic), a fantastic guy who in the brief time I have known him has proven that he is one of the most passionate and honest people in the industry. Dennis spent most of his career as a mechanical engineer, designing metalwork and chassis for high end amplifiers and audio products in California. Never planning on becoming an amp designer, it wasn’t until Dennis fell in love with a new technology that he began to consider his options.

D-Sonic M3-5400-7 Amplifiers Ready to Ship

The roots of the D-Sonic M3-5400-7 and the story of D-Sonic’s origin begins in January of 2006, when Dennis was introduced to class D amplification by the acclaimed audio engineer Bascom King. Bascom brought over two B&O ICEpower 200ASC modules which were the smallest modules available at the time, capable of 120W into an 8ohm load and weighing just under 5lbs. At the time Dennis had a pair of 80lb/each mono block amps in his system that he replaced with the ICEpower modules to see how they sounded.

Some smaller 2 and 3 channel D-Sonic Amplifiers

Dennis was immediately impressed with the detail, bass control and soundstage, and kept them in his system for a month. Once Dennis removed them and swapped his big mono block amps back in, he realized that the ICEpower modules were really good. So good to his ears, that he placed an order for the larger ASP modules from B&O and began to design a new line of metal work. D-Sonic Custom Audio was formally launched in April of 2006, and internet direct worldwide sales began eight weeks later.

 

Evolution

As an engineer Dennis was always seeking ways to improve his amplifiers, and ultimately ended up evaluating seven separate class D implementations before finding the one he considered to be the most mature. Dennis custom designed his own input and protection circuitry and began to build his 2nd generation (M2) products using these new modules. His 3rd generation M3a series uses a newer revision of the same modules with an improved input buffer.  One thing you will immediately notice upon visiting Dennis’ website, is that his amps have tons of power. Not just lots, not just plenty – but the kind of output capability that you normally only see in professional sound reinforcement applications. The M3a-5600-11 is a 5600W total amplifier that has 800W for the front left, front right and center channels, and 400W for the surrounds and Atmos channels. See here for details.

Why so much power? It’s pretty simple really. Dennis is an enthusiast himself, and was always looking for an amp with the juice to properly drive difficult speakers like his Revel Ultima2’s to their full potential. Many higher end or slightly inefficient speakers require insane amounts of headroom to truly show what they are made off when used full-range. Dennis designed for this, giving the front 3 channels the bulk of the output capability, and giving the surrounds a more “moderate” 400W. It also bears mentioning that while the M3a-5600-11 is a higher end model at D-Sonic, they can also produce stereo, mono and custom multi-channel units that can have customized power per channel from 400 – 1500 Watts.

 

Build Quality

As a chassis designer first, Dennis took no shortcuts with his amplifiers. All D-Sonic Custom Audio products are built of aluminum and powder-coated steel to eliminate corrosion anywhere inside or outside the amp’s chassis. All fastening hardware is stainless steel and the Torx screws that hold the chassis together are all countersunk for a flat and easily cleaned surface.

The RCA connectors on all D-Sonic amps are gold plated, and all XLR connections are Neutrik. Speaker terminals are all gold plated and feature a plastic shroud to prevent shock (a requirement in the European market). Internal wiring is 100% silver/Teflon to ensure maximum performance and insulation.  All D-Sonic amps come with a top of the line Interpower hospital grade power cord, feature medical grade EMI/RFI filters on the mains and input/output signals, and utilize mil-spec components for the electronics.

As you can tell from the description above, there are no compromises in these designs and the result is an incredibly high quality and well assembled amplifier.

 

Performance

My reference system consists of Legacy Audio Focus SE mains and a Marquis HD center channel, with Legacy Phantom and Silhouette surrounds. For the review, I swapped my daily driver (a slight older D-Sonic M3a-5400-7) and carried on like usual after level matching.

 

Music

2-Channel Listening

With the new D-Sonic M3-5400-7 amplifier in place, I listened to several of my most cherished two channel albums on the Focus SE speakers, and to my delight, none of them disappointed in the slightest. I was particularly impressed by listening to some of Billie Eilish’s latest work in Spatial Audio via Apple Music on my AppleTV 4K. Another pleasant surprise was the track Escape (feat. Hayla) by Kx5, Deadmau5 & Kaskade.

Throughout the review process, I ventured into tracks from diverse genres, ranging from classical to electronic and even delving into metal. Regardless of the content, I couldn’t escape the undeniable impression that the music played through the Focus SE speakers, powered by the D-Sonic M3-5400-7, was more captivating and intriguing than ever before. Across all genres, the Focus SE’s truly took ownership of the music in a way that only the finest speakers can. When adequately amplified, such as with the D-Sonic M3-5400-7, the SE’s effortlessly delivered performance from the lowest octaves to the highest frequencies.

D-Sonic M3-5400-7 Front View

 

Movies & Home Theater

The D-Sonic M3-5400-7 excels in 2 channel mode, but let’s be real, you don’t buy an 11-channel behemoth of an amplifier for stereo, you buy it for home theater use. You may or may not be familiar with the sound of a speaker lacking sufficient power, but chances are you’ve encountered it at some point. It could be when you crank up the volume too high, causing the sound to become harsh and strained, or it might be the way higher frequency effects fatigue your ears due to increased distortion. Regardless of your approach to this hobby, you’ll eventually discover that in a home theater setup, there’s almost no such thing as too much power. With the right amplification, the improvements multiply, enhancing the realism and immersion of any well-mixed film.

By combining copious amounts of clean power like the D-Sonic M3-5400-7 provides with a transducer capable of moving significant air (like my Focus SE speakers), the home theater experience reaches an entirely new level. Explosions and gunshots become sharper, more visceral, and far more realistic. Shattering glass, subtle background noises, and atmospheric effects become clearer and more distinct. Most importantly, you can confidently turn up the volume without risking damage to your speakers (though I can’t guarantee the same for your ears).

 

Conclusion

In terms of performance, I can’t really think of a single fault with the D-Sonic M3-5400-7 besides the cost of acquisition. Let’s face it: The D-Sonic M3-5400-7 is a very expensive piece of gear to your average enthusiast at just shy of $4000. That said, the performance of this amplifier is truly good enough to justify its price. In terms of price per Watt, you’re actually paying much less than with other brands at about $0.74/watt. Compare that to Emotiva’s 7 channel XPA-5 Gen3 ($1.35/watt) or Outlaw Audio’s 7075 ($0.86/watt) and you begin to understand just how good the value is.

When you consider the usable lifespan of an amplifier is easily over 10 years, it doesn’t take long to rationalize the upgrade. Some of you may not want to spend quite that much on an amplifier, and I completely understand that as well. If you happen to be in the market for an end-game home theater or two channel amp now or one day, I strongly suggest you give Dennis of D-Sonic Custom Audio a call or visit their website. You won’t be disappointed. The D-Sonic M3-5400-7 is a fantastic performer that can power an end-game Atmos system in a single chassis. It is built to last, offers more than enough power for even the most demanding system and above all sounds fantastic. My current D-Sonic amplifier has been bullet proof in terms of reliability, and a sonic joy for over 5 years. I plan to upgrade from two separate amps to one of these newer models in the near future. Highly Recommended.

Home Theater Forum Editor's Choice Award

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