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OK, What's the Final Verdict on Class D?

Bongolation

Bongolation

Nov 9, 2001
8,047
148
California
Disclosures
No Bogus Endorsements
#1
They're remarkably light and the manufacturers must be saving a fortune on production costs relative to retail, but now that the novelty is wearing off some and the amp mavens have had a chance to mess with them for a couple of years...has Class D really replaced the "conventional" bass amps we've all been playing for years? Are those forty-pound heads just boat anchors?

I've searched around and haven't really found anyone address this question head-on.

Thanks for any serious analysis.
 
#6
i actually like the smaller amps better than the bigger solid state and hybrids. never really did get used to the sound of solid state amps. but the small class ab's and d's rock tonally as well as sizewise for me.
 
#8
The technology has proven itself valid, but each manufacturer must prove valid its own implementation of the technology a) under sustained, severe-duty conditions and b) for the long term. I think they're in the middle of that process. Some are much further along than others who appear still to be learning. Maybe I'm over-cautious, but I'd never bring a switcher to a paid gig without having a proven non-switcher sitting in the truck as a standby. (But then again, I always have a standby along anyway, so maybe it doesn't matter after all.)
 
#11
I'm one of the guys buying up the "old iron". More and more is showing up on my local CL for cheap as the musico-types upgrade to the lighter-weight hardware. Weight is not a problem as most of the stuff is either racked (with wheels) or carted with a hand truck.

Performance....its all good, baby!

Riis
 
#14
Just played my 1st gig with my 3 lb EA Doubler. Sold an 86 lb SVT to get it-mostly for the coNvenience of switching between electric & upright without settig up extra crap to make the upright work. I expected to miss the SVT tone on the electric but...it was awesome! Punchy and warm and I came out $450 ahead on the switch. AND...no longer have to carry the 86 lb SVT.
 
#16
These things haven't been around long enough to have any proven long-term reliability. They've been around PA/sound re-enforcement circles longer than all-in-one bass heads but it still hasn't been that long.

Not dissing them, may be the next big thing but to me something the size and weight of a briefcase stuffed full of crap is a light amp (read 20-40lbs.)

Folks can argue all day long about the subjective subject of tone but truth is, A/B them all behind a curtain and a lot of us either couldn't tell the difference or could tell there is a difference but couldn't pick which is which when washed into an entire band mix. Expand that from bass player out to the whole audience in general and you're talking 99% don't know the difference. You could put a 4lb. switching power supply amp in a SVT headcase and it's the same to them.
 
#18
will33 said:
Expand that from bass player out to the whole audience in general and you're talking 99% don't know the difference. You could put a 4lb. switching power supply amp in a SVT headcase and it's the same to them.
Click to expand...

This is one of those cases where I could care less if the audience can tell a difference or not. They don't have to know the difference either, they're not the ones paying for our gear. All they have to do is like what they hear regardless of what gear's being used.
 
#19
cassanova said:
This is one of those cases where I could care less if the audience can tell a difference or not. They don't have to know the difference either, they're not the ones paying for our gear. All they have to do is like what they hear regardless of what gear's being used.
Click to expand...
+1. it's not the audience's job to care what we're using. it's ours.
 
#20
Clearly they are a success, the market does not lie. Class D is not just a "flash in the pan", it is here to stay and continues to get better it seems.

For me it's important to note that the "lead sled" technology is also improving in terms of weight. I've settled into a QSC PLX3102, 3100W bridged at 4ohms and 21lbs gives it a pretty slick weight to power ratio IMO.
 

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