Where can I find the best conversations about class D amps?

[denton57]

My ears

 

[Pbman]

Then on top of that, it looks like the Gain knob is essentially an input volume.

Where are all of your controls set and what bass are you running?

The gain is tied to the input , but it's mainly there to add in the tube overdrive if turned up too far . All of my basses are Fender passives or Fender type passive

 

[D.A.R.K.]

How come? It's just a module and externally to it manufacturers can perform a wealth of unique things.

For instance, Fender Rumble V3 amps employ the same ICEpower modules as dozens of other manufacturers but they still implement a nice soft clipping peak limiter plus their "DeltaComp" compressor circuit to the power amp.

Because it gives a standard base line (heh, bass line) to then evaluate further. A good example that would voice differently is Quilter- that power section, despite being class D, is not the same as an ICE module. Had a nice chat with Pat about it, and the way the design effects the sound.

 

[Dave W]

The gain is tied to the input

Yes, yes it is

 

[teemuk]

Because it gives a standard base line (heh, bass line) to then evaluate further.

What base line? Most manufacturers are going to precondition the signal driving the module anyway. The way a manufacturer will do that in, say, a powered PA speaker, will be very different to, say, a guitar amp.

I just gave an example that Rumble V3 amps feature Fender's unique soft clipping limiter and Delta Comp added to the power amp, along with extra protections and such. We didn't even discuss terms of bandwidth or other response alterations a musical instrument amp will most likely feature. So what's the "baseline" if actual specs will differ from those of the module in all those regards?

And then vary according to whim of each amp manufacturer and amp model.

A good example that would voice differently is Quilter- that power section, despite being class D, is not the same as an ICE module.

Well, it's just a good example that amps can be build to quite a many different applications. Quilter's power amps, for instance, employ tube emulation techniques (guitar amps) and dynamic range compressors (bass amps). Many have alterated damping factors (guitar amps). I have no doubt that would they make a "transparent" PA amp - or something along those lines - such features would be omitted with possibly very little changes to the class-D amp architecture itself.

Even Quilter's tube emulation patents state that output stage topology is practically of no importance, except for class-D just offering the most cost effective solution for higher power outputs. They don't even discuss any specific details of the actual power amp stage. The patent practically treats it as a "module".

There are no reasons why use of generic ICEpower module should exclude any external signal processing added to "voice" it to meet specific application-related preferences. It is just a "module" for convenient use.

Before, and still after, popularisation of class D modules all kinds of amps used to feature class AB integrated power amp chips like TDA7294, LM3886, TDA2050 etc. These have been used in applications from cheapest tabletop radios to PA speakers and guitar amps with very advanced tube emulations. There is no "baseline" to derive from amps that happen to share such same power amp "module" in this regard because what manufacturer chooses to add externally to it can make a drastic difference.