Class D "digital" amps. Opinions on performance

[bryanspkr]

How do people feel about The new ultralite amps? Lets sort it out. I find different degrees of cone control. The ability to handle Back EMF seems to be compromised. Damping factor may be an issue. Of course, I've tried only a few.

 

[bongomania]

Can of worms, friend. Please read some of the DOZENS of threads we've had on this exact topic.

 

[jewbageled]

Don't ever bother asking ANYTHING on talkbass. It's already been answered man. All of it.

 

[Maiden Bass]

I have tried just about all of them, and IMO there is only one that does not sound DIGITAL (to my ears) and that's the Genz Benz amps with the 3DPM.

Any other class D amps I have tried just do not sound right to me.

Hope that helps.

 

[bongomania]

Don't ever bother asking ANYTHING on talkbass. It's already been answered man. All of it.

Childish. This thread topic brings out the worst and most ignorant in people, which is why I advised he do some reading first.

 

[Doug Parent]

How do people feel about The new ultralite amps? Lets sort it out. I find different degrees of cone control. The ability to handle Back EMF seems to be compromised. Damping factor may be an issue. Of course, I've tried only a few.

My favorite Class D is the Markbass F1/F500.

 

[wcriley]

I've been using class D power in my PA rack for quite a while. I noticed no difference in "sound" after replacing QSC PLX (class H, I believe?) with class D.

Maybe I need to add some Golden Ears to my setup?

 

[Dave W]

This thread topic brings out the worst and most ignorant in people, which is why I advised he do some reading first.

+1. The last thread on this was an interesting read to say the least.

I'll add that I regularly gig a lightweight head and love every second of it. I get all the tone I want without the weight and size to lug around.

 

[bryanspkr]

Childish. This thread topic brings out the worst and most ignorant in people, which is why I advised he do some reading first.

Methinks Thou Protesteth too much.

Lets weed out the ignorance. And if there are non-childish posts on other threads, thanks for the tip.

 

[Britsie]

My back loves my class D amp (Hevos 400T) and my ears are happy too.

 

[bryanspkr]

Has anyone done a side by side comparison with an amp with a heavy conventional power section? Especially with multiple drivers and or low resonance drivers or rough impedances?

 

[bryanspkr]

Its hard to weed out what the preamp is doing as opposed to power amp I guess.

 

[Coreythebassman]

For the record (and yes this has been cleared up plenty of times) There are plenty of amps that are ultralite that aren't class d such as the little mark heads which use an A/B power amp... light doesnt always equal class d

 

[wcriley]

Has anyone done a side by side comparison with an amp with a heavy conventional power section?

I have. (See my post above.)
Same signal chain (except the power amp, obviously), same room, same speakers and placement, etc.
No discernable difference.

 

[BluesBassFreak]

Not exactly sure about the Orange Tiny Terror Bass if it is or is not class D, but I sure love it. I'm a die-hard tube amp type and it is very close to a 300 watt tube head IMO.
I've also owned an early Walter Woods head, and not sure if it was class D, but I really enjoyed it also, but different than the Orange.

 

[fenderphil]

I've been gigging my fender duoten with class d power section for well over a year.

Sounds great and is reliable.

 

[bryanspkr]

I was thinking about an MB200. Havent tried it yet. I'm attracted to it because the E.Q. frequencies are the same as the old GK amps I used to own years back. Its a shame that the contour isn't variable. Kind of like on the early MB combo.

 

[BurningSkies]

Class D amps aren't digital.

 

[bryanspkr]

Thats why Digital is in parenthesis. A common misnomer.

 

[BurningSkies]

Let's break everyone of that habit.