Do Class D amps have more headrom?

JonnyAngle · #1 11-23-2010, 02:36 PM

I own 2 amps, a GK MB115 and a GK BL 210 w 2 eminence s2010's. I played a 2 hour rehearsal w /my Backline and at the end of practice it went into protect mode.

My MB115 has been pushed harder and longer and has never gone into protect mode. Is this because the MB is a Class D amp and therefore does not get hot?

Also, it seems much more difficult to clip the MB115 than the Backline with my Musicman. Does class D = more headroom?

steveksux · #2 11-23-2010, 02:46 PM

Going into protect mode is often due to heat buildup, or low ohms operation (which aggravates the heat produced).

Class D produces less heat, but because of that, they use less/smaller heat sinking, so I assume that pretty much cancels out much of the "low heat output" of the Class D amps.

Big cars have big radiators compared to small cars, which is more likely to overheat? Depends on how big the car, and how big the radiator. Small cars don't overheat less because they produce less engine heat.

As for low ohm operation, that's a circuit design issue, not really dependent on the circuit topology.

And as far as an amp thermalling, that's also more a heat management design issue, not really dependent on circuit topology. The company either has a lot of fudge factor in their heat management measures, or it does not, regardless of whether the amp is class D or Class AB.

Randy

JonnyAngle · #3 11-23-2010, 03:06 PM

^^^OK beacause the backline has 2x10's running at 4 Ohm, where the MB115 is stock. So that may explain why it went into protect mode faster.

rpsands · #4 11-23-2010, 03:20 PM

It's a virtual certainty that the MB115's woofer is 4 ohms.

Bob Lee (QSC) · #5 11-23-2010, 03:58 PM

More power = more headroom, regardless of the class of amplification.

genstormbringer · #6 11-23-2010, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonnyAngle

I own 2 amps, a GK MB115 and a GK BL 210 w 2 eminence s2010's. I played a 2 hour rehearsal w /my Backline and at the end of practice it went into protect mode.

My MB115 has been pushed harder and longer and has never gone into protect mode. Is this because the MB is a Class D amp and therefore does not get hot?

Also, it seems much more difficult to clip the MB115 than the Backline with my Musicman. Does class D = more headroom?

No class D amps are far more efficient at distributing power or what ever you wanna call it which makes them run better. Someone w tech knowledge of amps can expound on this I am sure.

greenboy · #7 11-23-2010, 04:09 PM

Designs get rushed out the door sometimes, and a lot of bass-oriented companies are still in the phase of discovering and understanding how to do Class D well. That's as far as I'd draw any inferences.