Not the power amplifier part.
It's class-d - it's not digital
The pre-amp part is all digital, except the very first stage right before the AD
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Class D popping up everywhere. Innovation?
- Thread starter Volume4
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Not the power amplifier part.
It's class-d - it's not digital
The pre-amp part is all digital, except the very first stage right before the AD
If you guys actually knew how your bass or guitar signals have been made over the years you'd be disgusted... The only PURE analog amp that doesn't clip in one form or another is a Class A amp. And only the mad scientist audio esoteric guys are making those, also a lot of preamps are running class A.
A Push-Pull amp, like most of our big tube amps are all various clases from B to AB... Splits the upper half of the signal from the lower half and sends them to two different amps... But in both cases two signal halves are placed back together. The quality of this realignment has everything to do with how pure the amp sounds....
BUt we haven't complained much...
Class D breaks apart the signal into smaller chunks than even a push pull amp and places them back together to form the output signal... The newer clases of pure digital use D/A convertors and A/D convertors to convert between. All make music.
BOB
A Push-Pull amp, like most of our big tube amps are all various clases from B to AB... Splits the upper half of the signal from the lower half and sends them to two different amps... But in both cases two signal halves are placed back together. The quality of this realignment has everything to do with how pure the amp sounds....
BUt we haven't complained much...
Class D breaks apart the signal into smaller chunks than even a push pull amp and places them back together to form the output signal... The newer clases of pure digital use D/A convertors and A/D convertors to convert between. All make music.
BOB
ya, exactly. it all makes music. if it sounds good, i don't care what it is. and i've heard quite a few class d amps that sound really good.
Not only can class D be analog, but in the sense you're speaking of it has to be. There's no implicit A/D, D/A conversion in a class D design by necessity.
- Feb 12, 2006
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- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
Note that push-pull amps can be class A, AB or B.
Class D can look analog compared with a true digital signal and digital compared with an purely analog signal.
The PWM conversion looks a lot like an A/D converter and the reconstruction filter looks a lot like a D/A converter.
It's probably best described as an analog amplifier that uses both digital and analog techniques to achieve amplification. Or is it a digital amplifier that uses analog and digital techniques?
This it the wonderful part about newer technology. It's not all that easy to pigeon-hole.
Class D can look analog compared with a true digital signal and digital compared with an purely analog signal.
The PWM conversion looks a lot like an A/D converter and the reconstruction filter looks a lot like a D/A converter.
It's probably best described as an analog amplifier that uses both digital and analog techniques to achieve amplification. Or is it a digital amplifier that uses analog and digital techniques?
This it the wonderful part about newer technology. It's not all that easy to pigeon-hole.
Thank you all. This is very interesting.
I hope nobody thinks I'm knocking anything or trying to start a debate.
I'm just trying to understand better.
I think Agedhorse explained it best.
I'm still a little confused though. I was wondering because I'm interested in the Orange Bass Terror or moreso the Ampeg Micro SVT
I'm a little old school I guess, I still buy new stuff on vinyl. I'm mostly into whats labeled "Stoner Rock" these days and rock from the 60's/70's. Sabbath, Purple, Cream, Floyd, Beatles, etc...
I sould probably save my money, buy a Portaflex and forget about amps for good
I hope nobody thinks I'm knocking anything or trying to start a debate.
I'm just trying to understand better.
I think Agedhorse explained it best.
I'm still a little confused though. I was wondering because I'm interested in the Orange Bass Terror or moreso the Ampeg Micro SVT
I'm a little old school I guess, I still buy new stuff on vinyl. I'm mostly into whats labeled "Stoner Rock" these days and rock from the 60's/70's. Sabbath, Purple, Cream, Floyd, Beatles, etc...
I sould probably save my money, buy a Portaflex and forget about amps for good
Once you plug into a Markbass LMII/III (or Genz Benz), your mind will be put at ease!I'm still a little confused though. I was wondering because I'm interested in the Orange Bass Terror or moreso the Ampeg Micro SVT
I'm a little old school I guess, I still buy new stuff on vinyl. I'm mostly into whats labeled "Stoner Rock" these days and rock from the 60's/70's. Sabbath, Purple, Cream, Floyd, Beatles, etc...
I should probably save my money, buy a Portaflex and forget about amps for good
Is the Ampeg Micro VR a Class D or A/AB amp? I think the amp is a MOSFET. I also don't think that amp puts out enough wattage for loud gigs.
Is it really that difficult to pigeonhole, though? I'm not an expert on how the amps work, so I don't know just how closely class D amps resemble A/D or D/A converters... But it should be this simple...
Does it turn the signal into 0's and 1's?
If yes, it's digital. If no, it's analog. It doesn't really matter how new or different or A/D-D/A-like it is, if the amplifier is not turning the signal into a code that computers can read, it's not digital.
Right...?
Does it turn the signal into 0's and 1's?
If yes, it's digital. If no, it's analog. It doesn't really matter how new or different or A/D-D/A-like it is, if the amplifier is not turning the signal into a code that computers can read, it's not digital.
Right...?
I'll probably never do a loud gig again in my lifetime 
I don't know, I would like something that I can bypass the preamp and plug in my VT pedal to use as the preamp......I guess I'm more concerned about plugging Analog pedals into a Class D power section.
I think the last tube Portaflex's had a loop or a power amp in.....I have to check that....I bet a VT or BDDI through a tube power section as a standalone preamp would be sweet.
I don't know, I would like something that I can bypass the preamp and plug in my VT pedal to use as the preamp......I guess I'm more concerned about plugging Analog pedals into a Class D power section.
I think the last tube Portaflex's had a loop or a power amp in.....I have to check that....I bet a VT or BDDI through a tube power section as a standalone preamp would be sweet.
There are some amps that have digital preamp sections (Yamaha, Ashdown, TC Electronics) but the output is always analog. You will have no issues plugging pedals into Class D or A/AB amps. This is done on the regular. It's just an amp! Only difference is the power section.
Class D amps use analog AND digital principals to operate. They are both and yet they are neither...
Seriously, I think I would classify them as being discrete systems rather than analog or digital.
Newer class D amp designs use PDM instead of PWM.
None of that really matters. If it sounds good, use it.
Seriously, I think I would classify them as being discrete systems rather than analog or digital.
Newer class D amp designs use PDM instead of PWM.
None of that really matters. If it sounds good, use it.
This is from the Ampeg Micro VR owners manual PDF
I suspect this might mean a combo of Mosfet and Class D power.....but I'm not sure.
Congratulations! You are now the proud owner of an Ampeg Micro-VR bass guitar amplifier.
This no-compromise amplifier packs 200 watts of solid-state MOS-FET fury, a switching power
supply and the classical good looks and features of our renowned SVT Series amplifier head.
The Micro-VR amplifier is designed as an ideal companion to the SVT 210AV cabinet, available
separately.
The switching power supply keeps the weight low, without sacrificing power output or our
legendary sound quality.
I suspect this might mean a combo of Mosfet and Class D power.....but I'm not sure.
Congratulations! You are now the proud owner of an Ampeg Micro-VR bass guitar amplifier.
This no-compromise amplifier packs 200 watts of solid-state MOS-FET fury, a switching power
supply and the classical good looks and features of our renowned SVT Series amplifier head.
The Micro-VR amplifier is designed as an ideal companion to the SVT 210AV cabinet, available
separately.
The switching power supply keeps the weight low, without sacrificing power output or our
legendary sound quality.
Great - you are now comparing apples, oranges, and horseshoes. The power supply (generally linear or switched mode), has little to do with the amplifier class (A, B, D) or the technology (mosfet, fet, bipolar, etc). And certainly has nothing to do with analog vs digital front ends.
What's the real concern here? It sounds like you are getting wrapped around the topology and technology axle.
Use your ears to pick an amp.
What's the real concern here? It sounds like you are getting wrapped around the topology and technology axle.
Use your ears to pick an amp.
What this thread has me wondering about is: WHO CARES???
What matters is whether you like the sound. Most bass players have no idea what's inside their amps, and don't care. They could be powered by peanut butter and it wouldn't matter.
I'm a real gearhead - I have to know how cars and everything else works - and I understand electronics reasonably well. Frankly, I don't care either.
If an amp sounds good, it is good. Whether it's digital, anlog or steam powered really doesn't matter.
Slyjoe has it 1000000% right: Use your EARS to pick an amp.
(And maybe your back.)
The rest only matters to great people like AgedHorse who take the time to explain it to us - and who make me proud that I'm a G-B owner, because the amp and speakers not only sound great, the company cares enough to actually communicate.
What matters is whether you like the sound. Most bass players have no idea what's inside their amps, and don't care. They could be powered by peanut butter and it wouldn't matter.
I'm a real gearhead - I have to know how cars and everything else works - and I understand electronics reasonably well. Frankly, I don't care either.
If an amp sounds good, it is good. Whether it's digital, anlog or steam powered really doesn't matter.
Slyjoe has it 1000000% right: Use your EARS to pick an amp.
(And maybe your back.)
The rest only matters to great people like AgedHorse who take the time to explain it to us - and who make me proud that I'm a G-B owner, because the amp and speakers not only sound great, the company cares enough to actually communicate.
Ummm, sorry.
I'm interested by these things, you're not I guess.
This thread was going great, I'll never understand why if something doesn't interest you....you just don't ignore it.
Sorry if I annoyed you with my questions.
And yes, agedhorse's input was very valubale and very much appreciated.
I'm interested by these things, you're not I guess.
This thread was going great, I'll never understand why if something doesn't interest you....you just don't ignore it.
Sorry if I annoyed you with my questions.
And yes, agedhorse's input was very valubale and very much appreciated.
Nope. Not class D. Switching power supply. Class D refers to the power amp section.
You can have regular power supply with class D amp, a switching power supply with a "normal" (class AB OR B) SS power amp (hell, could probably have switching power supply with tube amp), or a switching power supply with a class D amp, the lightest of the light configurations.
And yes, there's no reason you can't get a tube sound with a class D power amp. Use a tube preamp, and the tube sound that results is faithfully reproduced by the class D power amp. What you wouldn't get is any effects of a tube power amp from overdriving that.
Randy
