Class D amp

[TONYTHOMAS1956]

Hopefully Ill get a quick answer.
Why would I like or dislike a class D power amp? Looking for "Tone" answers

[GregDunn]

I can't think why a Class D amp would necessarily have its own type of tone. In power amps, tone equates to non-flat frequency response and/or large amounts of distortion. Most Class D amps have very flat, distortion-free transfer characteristics, and rely upon their preamp to give the coloration or tone desired by the user.

Now, as you drive the amp very hard... they do not "soft clip" like a tube amp, so overdriving the output stage would probably not yield a sound we normally think of as warm or overdriven, but rather a more harsh coloration.

[jnewmark]

Are you really asking about a class D power amp, or a class D bass amp ?

[tony_clifton]

Dislike - it hasn't got a tranny you can use to practice powerlifting. Some say that's bad.
Like - it is capable of amplifying a signal with very little distortion. Whatever you put in it will come out a lot louder. A good preamp in a class D power amp can make a killer combination. It's very efficient - lots of watts in a small/lightweight package - if you think tone needs lots of decibels...

[TONYTHOMAS1956]

Originally Posted by jnewmark

Are you really asking about a class D power amp, or a class D bass amp ?

Looking at Crown XLS power amps. Using either a Sansamp BDDI (first gen) or PV Probass 1000 hoping to get a RBI soon.

[seamonkey]

If your bass has good "Tone" get an amp that just amplifies it.
Any pro power amp regardless of the class will amplify without any coloration that a human being could hear. Class-d just happens to be the most efficient. Many newer class-d also have switching power supplies SMPS - which makes them lighter and the power supply more efficient. For a given 15A circuit - class-d watts are louder.
Some SMPS are regulated and the amp works fine at wide variations wall line voltage. They are making incredibly small reliable amps using class-d.
Good tone in = good tone out but louder.

[jnewmark]

Originally Posted by TONYTHOMAS1956

Looking at Crown XLS power amps. Using either a Sansamp BDDI (first gen) or PV Probass 1000 hoping to get a RBI soon.

Make sure you check the input sensitivity of the XLS, and make sure the BDDI has enough output to drive it.

[rhopper]

Originally Posted by tony_clifton

A good preamp in a class D power amp can make a killer combination. It's very efficient - lots of watts in a small/lightweight package - if you think tone needs lots of decibels...

+1

[randaddy]

Actually, there is an important factor that sets some amps apart from others, especially in the low frequencies, that may (or may not) relate to the D-class amps. But I'm basing what I'm about to say on info I've read over the last few months, and I'm no expert. Plus, I can't recall the details of this info, so basically I'm just spouting off at the mouth... so here it goes...

There is something called damping factor, and it can play a significant role in the sound, especially in the low frequences. I believe it accounts for the "tightness" of the sound.

The damping factor differs from amp to amp, so one amp may have wonderful, big, phat, deep, low frequency reproduction, while another amp with similiar specs on paper (except for the damping factor) may be sorely lacking in bass.

I'm guessing that the D-class amps trade something for something else. Maybe low frequency "tightness"? Maybe accuracy? I don't know, but there may be a difference that a bass player could hear. I hope I'm wrong because I'd love to have a light, powerful, great sounding bass amp.

I hope someone that knows more can give us more info on this.

[TONYTHOMAS1956]

Thanks for all the answers so far. Any other input would be helpfull.

[PhiDeck]

Damping Factor is not a property of an amplifier. It is the ratio of the resistance of the speaker load to the output resistance of its amplifier.

When an amplifier manufacturer, nevertheless, publishes a Damping Factor spec. they are usually erroneously assuming that:
- a speaker's resistance is equal to its nominal impedance
- the speaker cable has zero resistance
Since neither is true, the actual damping factor is lower (i.e. worse) than specified.

Since speaker impedance (resistance + frequency dependent reactance) is typically measured/specified at some frequency (eg. 1 kHz), the nominal impedance of a speaker does not equal its resistance (nor is it a constant).

[billfitzmaurice]

Originally Posted by PhiDeck

Damping Factor is not a property of an amplifier. It is the ratio of the resistance of the speaker load to the output resistance of the amplifier.

Since the output resistance of the amp is a property of the amp damping factor is also a property of the amp. Not that it matters, as damping factor is for the most part moot.
As to Class D, in and of itself it means almost nothing other than being highly efficient. The sum total result of the amp design and construction is what matters. You might as well be asking which will go faster, a car with a 4 cylinder or 6 cylinder engine.

[JimmyM]

i've heard class d amps i like and class d amps i don't like. one of my favorite new amps, the ampeg micro av, is class d. all the shuttles are class d and i like what i've heard from them as well. markbass makes a great class ab amp but i'm not nearly as into their class d amps.

as with everything in MI, it's a case by case basis.

[TONYTHOMAS1956]

Thanks guys for all the answers.

[brocco]

My 2 cents.I have a M6 Carbine, WT 800,V4b, SVP pro blackface ,Sansamp RBI.But I mostly use my Carvin BX500 on gigs.Good features ,dial in sound Quickly,good punchy mids or scooped, compressor,a little tube distortion if you crank the drive up.Class D, 5lbs. 400$.I have owned mine over a year now ,no problems at all. I can carry the amp , 1x12 and bass in 1 trip into a gig and be ready to go in 10 minutes.Sweet!

[Barcza]

Class D circuits know for their best power-weight-heat ratio, and Class A know for best sound.

[seamonkey]

Amps with the lowest THD in the industry are class-d amps.