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dual a/b amp vs mono d amp


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jyojiman 
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Posted: February 28, 2009 at 2:29 PM / IP Logged  
I have two dvc pioneers rated at 400 rms @ ohms each.
I'm not sure if I should get a dual A/B amp which will put out 450 rms @ 2 ohms per sub, or get a mono D amp which will put out 900 rms @ 2 ohms in total so 450 rms per sub as well.
I was leaning towards A/B but someone said the D amp would be better, any input would be great, thanks.
soundnsecurity 
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Posted: February 28, 2009 at 3:47 PM / IP Logged  
the class D amp will be more efficient.  but as far as the sound, you wouldn't really notice a difference.
i am an idiot 
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Posted: February 28, 2009 at 4:25 PM / IP Logged  

If you are talking about a Dual brand of amplifier, you would really be better off with any class D amp.

jyojiman 
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Posted: March 01, 2009 at 12:27 AM / IP Logged  
By dual i meant 2 channels
No1stunna 
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Posted: March 14, 2009 at 9:12 AM / IP Logged  

"the class D amp will be more efficient.  but as far as the sound, you wouldn't really notice a difference."

I have to dissagree with that, yes a class d is typically more efficient, but at the expense of sound quality. On a sq setup you can tell a night and day difference between A/B and D, the A/B will always sound cleaner and typically crisper and deeper. I'v ran a number of quality class D amps (alpine, mmats, crossfire, and memphis) and I have over the years gone back to all A/B amps, they use a little more power but its worth it for good sq. So it boils down to whether you are concerned with hot amps and bigger current draws associated with class A/B amps.

if you're willing to sacrifice SQ, or are running a bandpass or a poorly ported box, or strictly want spl or don't have good airspace around your amp for cooling... go for the class D.

if you want quality sound and can provide the power and can mount your amp with sufficient room for cooling then go for the A/B.

haemphyst 
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Posted: March 14, 2009 at 11:54 AM / IP Logged  
No1stunna wrote:
I have to dissagree with that, yes a class d is typically more efficient, but at the expense of sound quality. On a sq setup you can tell a night and day difference between A/B and D, the A/B will always sound cleaner and typically crisper and deeper. I'v ran a number of quality class D amps (alpine, mmats, crossfire, and memphis) and I have over the years gone back to all A/B amps, they use a little more power but its worth it for good sq. So it boils down to whether you are concerned with hot amps and bigger current draws associated with class A/B amps.
WHA...?!?!
No1stunna wrote:
if you're willing to sacrifice SQ, or are running a bandpass or a poorly ported box, or strictly want spl or don't have good airspace around your amp for cooling... go for the class D.
Again... WHA...?!?!
No1stunna wrote:
if you want quality sound and can provide the power and can mount your amp with sufficient room for cooling then go for the A/B.
Which is why Spectron amplifiers (Class D, my friend) are some of the most expensive amplifiers on the planet, watt for watt. Which is why Jeff Rowland no longer builds Class AB amps - ALL Class D, now. Which is why B&O ICEPower amplifiers are frequently reviewed as "the world's most perfect amplifier module". Which is why Audi uses Class D amplification in it's MOST high-end (translation: $$$) cars, and they also have been reviewed as "the best sounding car stereo on the planet". Not "OEM", not "aftermarket": ON... THE... PLANET.
Yeah, Class D isn't quite ready for prime-time, I'd say.
You are wrong, I have 2200 watts of PDX in my trunk, and I have had DOZENS of systems in all of my various cars, from Precision Power to Special Edition to Alpine to Nakamichi to Orion to Linear Power, and all of those "old school" by the way, not the new garbage; all of those names arguably the best that there was in their heyday. The PDX amplifiers are some of the most neutral sounding, controlled amplifiers I have ever heard. The ONE amplifier that I would have instead of the PDX would be McIntosh.
It all reminds me of something that Molière once said to Guy de Maupassant at a café in Vienna: "That's nice. You should write it down."
No1stunna 
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Posted: March 14, 2009 at 2:42 PM / IP Logged  

WHA....?!?! WHA...?!?!? wow, sorry to offend you, theres no reason to be an anus about it. If the pdx is anything like the last v12 series its sound output is nothing compared to the old school v12. On the exact same setup I have noticed over and over just by swapping amps that there is more clarity with a class a/b. obviously this is a matter of opinion, but many others agree also. and part of the reason that all new ammp manufacturers are going digital is because its cheaper typically and it offers digital compliance with the rest of the digital world.

I'm just a rookie so I'm sure i'm wrong but in sq competetions the vast majority of people run class A/B or better for fullrange and sometimes class d for subs dont they?

there are far more expensive amps out there than spectron, and cost isn't a direct correlation of "best".

anyway, I did'nt mean to offend anyone with my apparent ignorance I'm just going by personal experience and what  I've observed .

haemphyst i know your'e very knowledgeable but there is alot of hard evidence that backs up my claims and yes class d is getting better and soon class a/b likely won't even be made available. in any event you can't honestly back up this particular subject with cost, and opinion, and judgement of factory installed amplifiers which are respectively chosen for their superior power draw and mountability.

No1stunna 
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Posted: March 15, 2009 at 2:05 AM / IP Logged  

sorry if I confused this topic for you jyojiman,  and haemphyst can correct me if I'm wrong.

Bang and Olufsen's ICEPower Class D system has been used in the Alpine PDX range and some Pioneer's PRS range and Eclipse I believe.

"These revised designs have been said to rival good traditional AB amplifiers in terms of quality."

Before these higher quality designs existed ( ICEPower) an earlier use of Class D amplifiers and prolific area of application was high-powered, subwoofer amplifiers in cars. Because subwoofers are generally limited to a bandwidth of no higher than 150 Hz, the switching speed for the amplifier does not have to be as high as for a full range amplifier. The drawback with Class D designs being used to power subwoofers is that their output filters (typically inductors that convert the pulse width signal back into an analogue waveform) lower the damping factor of the amplifier.

This means that the amplifier cannot prevent the subwoofer's reactive nature from lessening the impact of low bass sounds.

*Class D amps are switching or pulse-width modulation (PWM) amplifiers. Because the switches are either fully on or fully off, losses in the output devices are drastically reduced. Efficiencies of 90-95 percent have been reported.

The audio signal is used to modulate a PWM carrier signal, which drives the output devices. Since Class D amps are switchers they create switching noise. The last stage is a low pass filter that removes the high frequency PWM carrier frequency. AB amplifiers have the advantage of not creating EMI

I have not personally owned a newer class d with the ice technology so I cannot comment on it, apparently they are very good. If you're concerned with the power requirements or if you need a smaller cooler running amp then definately go with a class D. I personally prefer A/B's becauce I, in my humble opinion,  think that they provide a little tighter bass. I suggest that you go to a high end audio store and listen to a few amps and decide for yourself. If haemphyst says the amp using ICEpower sound just as good or better than a A/B then I'm sure he's right....But this is a fairly new technology and not all class D's meet that standard.

DYohn 
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Posted: March 15, 2009 at 10:45 AM / IP Logged  

Damping factor is an extremely overrated and misunderstood amplifier property.  Choosing an amp based on published damping factor is very foolish, IMO.

New Class D technology is every bit as high fidelity as any class A/B amplifier.  Is there a difference?  Sure, any two amps can sound different from each other.  But just because of its design class does not mean very much these days about an amp's sound quality.

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soundnsecurity 
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Posted: March 15, 2009 at 12:31 PM / IP Logged  
No1stunna wrote:

I'm just a rookie so I'm sure i'm wrong but in sq competetions the vast majority of people run class A/B or better for fullrange and sometimes class d for subs dont they?

if what you are saying is true, then you just proved my point.
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