Are Class D amps really 5 times less powerful than A/B?

[prowla]

They all use transistors as output devices. A transistor is not a digital device.

A logic gate is made of transistors.

 

[red_rhino]

(sung to the tune of "Mr. Ed", for those of you old enough to remember)

A watt is a watt
Unless it's not
And everyone knows a watt's a lot
But all the noobs believe in tubes
And so we have this thread.

 

[SteveCS]

A logic gate is made of transistors.

All Apple is Fruit. Not all Fruit is Apple.

 

[Matt Dean]

As usual with such threads, I just scrolled until I found @agedhorse's reply.

Me too… Andy is THE OG of amplifier design. Everyone else is to some degree on the left side of second standard deviation from the mean; some people are all the way to the right.

 

[socialleper]

Try with an Ampeg SS amp, not another brand.
Last year I was interested in going all tube with an SVT 2. I made a several shootout against my SVT 7. Could see any reason to go full tube. Way heavier, less power, harder to maintain.... And they sounded the same for the tone I like.
I only play clean.

Don't get me wrong, I have absolutely zero interest in all tube amps. My hybrid Aguilar DB751 is heavy enough, thank you very much.
I just know that when you go to SS amps you have to aim up a little. I don't think it is a mistake that Darkglass starts their amps at 500w, and Mesa's Subway series are 800w.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

A logic gate is made of transistors.

Logic gates existed long before digital audio signals. A transistor does not change something to a digital signal.

 

[SteveCS]

Commando. HTH.

If restrained, massaged, squeezed and contoured is the nature of big iron tubes and fridges, maybe 'commando' is analogous with the unrestrained and unadulterated purity of Class D? We've already established it is not for everyone...

I'll leave my membership card at the door...

 

[Passinwind]

If restrained, massaged, squeezed and contoured is the nature of big iron tubes and fridges, maybe 'commando' is analogous with the unrestrained and unadulterated purity of Class D? We've already established it is not for everyone...

I'll leave my membership card at the door...

Hey, a tube sock worked for Flea, try to keep an open mind!

 

[Texican]

Don't get me wrong, I have absolutely zero interest in all tube amps. My hybrid Aguilar DB751 is heavy enough, thank you very much.
I just know that when you go to SS amps you have to aim up a little. I don't think it is a mistake that Darkglass starts their amps at 500w, and Mesa's Subway series are 800w.

Then again Genzler has a 350 watt amp, and they are just as "high end" as Mesa. I'm currently debating whether or not I need the 350 or the 800, as I don't need any of the extra features that come on the 800 and it's twice the price. A couple of people that have owned both, and also Jeff Genzler himself, have assured me that the 350 is more than adequate in terms of power.

 

[kesslari]

(sung to the tune of "Mr. Ed", for those of you old enough to remember)

A watt is a watt
Unless it's not
And everyone knows a watt's a lot
But all the noobs believe in tubes
And so we have this thread.

You, sir, own this thread.

 

[SteveCS]

Hey, a tube sock worked for Flea, try to keep an open mind!

Oh don't get me wrong, I love my Class D Shuttle...

 

[5StringBlues]

Judy, Judy, Judy!

 

[Paul New]

Me too… Andy is THE OG of amplifier design. Everyone else is to some degree on the left side of second standard deviation from the mean; some people are all the way to the right.

I'm looking for it now. You don't know the post number do you?

 

[CryingBass]

Reaching for some mushrooms now to help me handle this thread better...

 

[mbell75]

Morons who believe that Class A/B is better (louder) are great.

Just drives down the prices of quality secondhand class D amps.

Most every high end bass amp uses an A/B (or B I think) power section rather than Class D. Why is that? Just a coincidence?

 

[sindicado]

Last week I was testing my old Fender BXR dual 400 against a couple of class D ( Genz benz shuttle 6 and Behringer 2000) amps and maybe is a subjective thing but I felt the Fender sound stronger. I was using the same cabinets: first a couple of aguilar GS112 and also a couple of Schroeders: 10.6 and 12.10 (Love Schroeder cabinets). Ok, the Fender is about 40lbs and the class Ds are 5 lbs so, from a practical point of view, I take the Genz Benz to gigs. They sound good, but not as strong as the Fender. Also, I found out that you have to twigle the buttons diferently for each head.

 

[mbell75]

2) A Watt IS a Watt. The perception of more power from Class A/B likely has to do with a) higher distortion levels, and b) the fact that Class D are overwhelmingly mated to Digital Switching Power supplies.

I still dont get this. A 100 watt, all tube Ampeg V-4B will absolutely blow the doors off a Class D 100 watt Fender Rumble, which is barely more than a practice amp. So how is a watt a watt? Seems to me its much more about the power section and how that watt is utilized.

 

[Jim C]

I was sure this would be closed by now.
I'm taking my zeros and ones and going home!

 

[SteveCS]

...
In fact, most every high end bass amp uses an A/B power section rather than Class D.
...

As a factual claim that is very bold. And the inference that the Class D offerings from the likes of Aguilar, Bergantino, Genzler and Mesa are somehow not top-end or first class is laughable.

 

[Michael Favata]

Most every high end bass amp uses an A/B (or B I think) power section rather than Class D. Why is that? Just a coincidence?

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here's one that ain't…
It's class D
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