• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Class D popping up everywhere. Innovation?

#101
You really are confused about amplifier classes and transformers.

Class D does not require a transformer, nor do other transistor amps, except in the power supply if the amp runs on AC (or with rail voltages that differ from the supplied DC voltage).
 
#104
Bellair Audio said:
I am speaking in general terms and not about circuits designed to distort.
Click to expand...
You fail even with that attempt at qualifying your statements. There are many DSP preamps that provide tone and amplitude coloration and effects across the entire spectrum of squeaky clean to lightly colored to heavily effected, regardless of your interpretation of the word "distortion". Even if you backtrack and say you only meant power amps, many of the combined amp heads and powered cabs use DSP in their handling of the signal on its way into the final current-boosting stage.
 
#105
The advantage of class D is that it produces less heat for the same output your speakers can do something with. This reduces the amount of heatsinks needed, so manufacturers can go with the lightweight/compact trend of nowadays.

It's not significantly cheaper than the other solid state technologies afaik.
 
#106
fourstringburn said:
Just a questions for the tech guys, Are class D the better amps in terms of sound and reliability compared to older technology or is class D the manufacturer's lower cost higher profit amp?
Click to expand...

Class D is more electrically efficient. For a given amount of output power an amp could have a smaller power supply, smaller heat sinks, fewer output transistors, etc. Or it could yield a more powerful amp for a given amount of AC service.

Read on back in the thread for more info.
 
#107
fourstringburn said:
Just a questions for the tech guys, Are class D the better amps in terms of sound and reliability compared to older technology or is class D the manufacturer's lower cost higher profit amp?
Click to expand...

CLASS D is really neither, IMO. It is however a way to build lighter amps with higher efficency/lower draw. Though it may seem "new" to bass players, most recently since the current crop of cheapie modules became OEM-able, it's been commercially successful for some time now in the SR sector.
 
#108
Bellair Audio said:
Crest is obviously talking about the output stage of the power supply. There is no class D output in the amplifier as class D is a switching circut in the power supply. There is no switching in the signal path!!!
Click to expand...

Come on, man.
 
#109
greenboy said:
CLASS D is really neither, IMO. It is however a way to build lighter amps with higher efficency/lower draw. Though it may seem "new" to bass players it's been commercially successful for some time now in the SR sector, ever since cheapie modules became OEM-able.
Click to expand...

+1

It's been used in car audio for years in subwoofer amps, too, largely because of the limits of operating on 12V, of keeping cool in the trunk, etc.
 
#110
FYI: In the world of hi-fi stereo there has been a long standing debate/disagreement over tubes vs. SS vs hybrids. Same thing with whether or not pre-amps should be in a seperate box from the amp(s).

The general hi-fi consesus is that tubes sound best but are too expensive, too heavy and require maintainence.
 
#111
Thanks for the info, bottom line should be how does one like the sound? I like mine, it is noticeably different from a QSC 4000HD I've used which I liked very much. I recently switched to a class D because the QSC 4000 weighs a ton and my rack is heavy enough. I would say my Crest Audio CD3000 seems to produce low frequencies a little better, but the QSC seems to respond better in the mid/high frequency range.
 
#112
Bob Lee (QSC) said:
It's been used in car audio for years in subwoofer amps, too, largely because of the limits of operating on 12V, of keeping cool in the trunk, etc.
Click to expand...

Yeah, it's in a lot of small low-draw devices as well. Again, with the advent of modules and some practically single-chip miniature solutions it looks like Class D is going to predominate across all tiers eventually.
 
#116
Mike19 said:
FYI: In the world of hi-fi stereo there has been a long standing debate/disagreement over tubes vs. SS vs hybrids. Same thing with whether or not pre-amps should be in a seperate box from the amp(s).

The general hi-fi consesus is that tubes sound best but are too expensive, too heavy and require maintainence.
Click to expand...

Many in the hi-fi world don't consider the source material (among other things) when judging what "sounds" best. IOW, if the amp alters the signal, that's distortion, and distortion may sound good in some situations but it doesn't necessarily mean that the amp "sounds better."
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back