17 replies to this topic

[ntl]

Hi guys. Was curious on the advantages/disadvantages of using a Class D amp on sub. Curious on what tonal differences there are if any. Was thinking about a new amp for sub and was always leaning towards a/b but am now considering class D because of the efficiency and price. Replys on peoples opinion on going class D for sq and what everyone thinks about tonal differences would be appreciated.
Cheers..

[heimerich]

as i know class AB amplifier give you a wider frequency range than class D... the best way to find out is to audition both of them...

[ntl]

Yeah but was keen on what others thought about differences between them. My understanding was that the Class D amps are tighter but a little colder sounding?? i thought they were mainly used for spl but they seem to be popping up a bit in sq, hence my question. So who here is using them for sq, why and what they think of them? Cheers..

[Fury♫]

Class D amps were frequency limited up until only recently.
Full range class D amps are now quite capable amps indeed.
They are far more efficient the class A/B amps, but they lack the dampening factor that A/B can offer.

There are many other factors which will effect the sound produced by the amp (such as internal parts used... caps and what not), so i'd suggest auditioning those amps you're interested in.

Eclipses new full range class D amps are supposed to sound great, and Xtant also have a range of them as well. On the cheaper side, Jaycar/Response is also bringing one in shortly.

Good luck with it.

[Captn_Awesome]

I have used an Alpine MRD-M500 and an MRD-M1000 for SQ Personally I dont think that you will pick the difference changing from AB to class D and vice versa unless you are doing a Blind back to back ABX test on them. you will tell they are different amps sure but you wont tell which is which - like all amps they have different characteristics

[supa-roo]

I have listened to an old Class-D home amp, and it did have a sound of its own, although most amps do, it sounded quite nice, and the lack of huge heatsinks was nice. As far as SQ goes, alot of people bag them, because of the way the chop the signal up for amplifycation. but in a digital age, where the source is digital, i see no problem with them, and the one i have demoed sounded great.

[Fury♫]

supa-roo, on Jan 9 2006, 11:43 AM, said:

but in a digital age, where the source is digital, i see no problem with them, and the one i have demoed sounded great.

RCA cables send an analogue signal. It is not digital. I do not know of any car audio amplifiers that have a digital input (yes processors do but no amps).

[PartyJase]

brand new pioneer odr amps have digital inputs - but afaik they are only in europe and/or japan. just outta most ppl's price range i'd say

[Fury♫]

Oooh it's about time!
Now I gotta find more info on ODR

[@nThOnY]

http://www.pioneer.co.jp/carrozzeria_x/lineup/

Check out the amp, 520000 yen or approximately AUD 6k.

The RSD7XII and the RS-P70XII will be next on my upgrade list.

[Pulse-R]

Fury, on Jan 9 2006, 04:46 PM, said:

RCA cables send an analogue signal. It is not digital. I do not know of any car audio amplifiers that have a digital input (yes processors do but no amps).

Geez, you guys....
ODR has been around since the mid 90's
yes, the Pioneer ODR amps have digital input.

the new alpine multi-media amp has digital input also, and the dolby digital/pro-logic whatever is built into the amp.

new TREO full-range class T(D) amps are out soon

will let you know how class D sub goes later this year ( I have one ready to go into the car - after everything else is done)

[supa-roo]

umm, but a CD is digital, so the source is digital, unless you have magic music creating rca cables.
and class D amps work basically by chopping the signal up, amplifying it, then putting it back together

[s_tim_ulate]

supa-roo, on Jan 11 2006, 11:40 AM, said:

umm, but a CD is digital, so the source is digital, unless you have magic music creating rca cables.
and class D amps work basically by chopping the signal up, amplifying it, then putting it back together

But most headunits use a DAC. (Converts the digital CD source to analogue to be transmitted through RCAs
So:
Digital CD -> DAC -> RCA's -> Analogue amp -> Analogue out

vs

Digital CD -> DAC -> RCA's -> ADC -> Digital amp -> Analogue out

The digital amp requires more conversions which leaves usmore open to colouration.

By using an amp with digital in (fibre optic cables)

Digital CD -> fibre optic -> Digital amp -> Analogue out

Much simpler but we need to factor in cost of equipment.

Lets just skip the middle man and create a driver that accepts digital in 01111010 01101001 01100110 01100110 ... lol

[BlackIce]

*sigh* Class D isnt digital.

[mosoto]

BlackIce, on Jan 11 2006, 04:44 PM, said:

*sigh* Class D isnt digital.

aaaaw, I thought that was what the "D" was for ***smack***