A/B vs. D

[terra 5,000+ posts]

how bad will the strain on my electrical be for a class D 1000rms amp versus a A/B 1000rms amp? is it worth the time to look for a class D in that power range over an A/B that ive already found?

this is the amp im looking at...it says class d...then it says a/b. so confused

http://www.onlinecarstereo.com/CarAudio/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=18180

Click to read more...

 

[PSturmer 10+ year member]

i believe its an a/b. go to maxxsonics.com and check

1000 watts wont be very significant either way. about 20 amp draw difference.

 

[Lakota 5,000+ posts]

Class D tends to be more efficient.

 

[Symon_say 10+ year member]

Get a class D, it helps to have your electrical system less stressed

 

[NeoNot 10+ year member]

You might want to consider your sound quality when selecting between the A/B and D class amps. The A/B amps are continous power supplies while the D class is a pulsed power supply.

The D amps dont draw as much current since they turn off and on but it has been debated that this creates low sound quality while the A/B's constant power gives you better sound.

I have never personally owned a D class amp so I cant say what they sound like but if you look you will so there arent any D class amps to speak of on peoples seperates. The D class usually just shows up for subs and in street machines or SPL vehicles. Very few people use them in a SQ application.

Just some food for thought.

 

[dB-SPL 10+ year member]

Lots of people confuse class D with "subwoofer only", which isn't the case. Full range class D amplifiers are suitable for high frequency applications..

-Bill-

 

[terra 5,000+ posts]

lookin to power 1 18". i think ill get it. dont remember the last time i used an A/B class amp tho.

 

[dB-SPL 10+ year member]

Why don't you just get a 1606D or something of that nature? About the same power @ same impediance, a little cheaper and a class D. I'm pretty sure the AutoTek is an A/B amp.

-Bill-

 

[genxx 10+ year member]

You might want to consider your sound quality when selecting between the A/B and D class amps. The A/B amps are continous power supplies while the D class is a pulsed power supply.
The D amps dont draw as much current since they turn off and on but it has been debated that this creates low sound quality while the A/B's constant power gives you better sound.

I have never personally owned a D class amp so I cant say what they sound like but if you look you will so there arent any D class amps to speak of on peoples seperates. The D class usually just shows up for subs and in street machines or SPL vehicles. Very few people use them in a SQ application.

Just some food for thought.

You sir are miss guided. There are alot of full range Class D's on the Market that are just as good as running A/B up front. Let's see Alpine PDX just to name one. Your statments are way to generalized and are only debatable without proof of any kind. This topic of AB vs. D has been going on forever and some very knowledgable car audio people have never been able to agree on it. Some of your info is correct.

I have ran both off and on for gee I don't know 15+ years. I have never been able to hear the difference. You must have golden ears or something.

dB-SPL-You are fine running either one. The class D will be more effecient and generally a smaller foot print. You will not hear a difference though between the two especailly on a sub.

 

[johnson 10+ year member]

I have ran both off and on for gee I don't know 15+ years. I have never been able to hear the difference. You must have golden ears or something.

Eric Stevens of Image Dynamics can tell a difference. Well, he suggests class a/b amps or higher quality class d amps, but there is definately a difference for him. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[denim 5,000+ posts]

If you wanted super high end SQ, many still believe in the class-A amps. Sound Stream had some years back. But the newer full range class-d's are catching up. As for the current draw, under normal usage class-d will in most cases draw less then a class-a/b. But once the gains rise and the volume rises, the disparity in efficiency gets smaller.

 

[Symon_say 10+ year member]

There is a difference, i had and A/B class for my bass and the i get a D class and musically you can notice the difference, but that's just me.

 

[NeoNot 10+ year member]

You sir are miss guided. There are alot of full range Class D's on the Market that are just as good as running A/B up front. Let's see Alpine PDX just to name one. Your statments are way to generalized and are only debatable without proof of any kind. This topic of AB vs. D has been going on forever and some very knowledgable car audio people have never been able to agree on it. Some of your info is correct.
I have ran both off and on for gee I don't know 15+ years. I have never been able to hear the difference. You must have golden ears or something.

dB-SPL-You are fine running either one. The class D will be more effecient and generally a smaller foot print. You will not hear a difference though between the two especailly on a sub.

I dont believe I am misguided. I am simply taking the information that has been supplied for years through all the major publications. I have stated nothing as a fact.

I also stated that I have personally not had a D class amp to compare them myself. All I stated was the debate about sound quality between the A/B and Class D amps.

I next stated that you see very few if any Class D amps in sound quality Cars. I didnt say that no one ran the Class D's just that very few people ran them.

I next stated that the Class D amps show up mainly in street machines and SPL type cars. This is where the Class D amp shines. Its pulsed power supply draws less current and therefore doesnt tax a stock charging system near as much as a A/B amps constant power supply.

I still stand behind my statements. I dont feel they are false or misleading in any manor. Nothing was stated as a fact. I simply suggested he research the difference between the two amps if he was concerned about sound quality as that has been the key point of debate about the Class A/B vs Class D amps.

If you cant hear the difference between a Class A/B vs a Class D then there should be no issue with which one you purchase. I myself will personally listen to each amp prior to making a decision one way or the other, but that is me.

 

[xtremebassjunky 10+ year member]

the human ear can only hear a 3% THD difference from my understanding...

class d amps don't have very high thd nowadays.

I doubt you could tell the difference by ear.

 

[JonJT 10+ year member]

If you wanted super high end SQ, many still believe in the class-A amps. Sound Stream had some years back. But the newer full range class-d's are catching up. As for the current draw, under normal usage class-d will in most cases draw less then a class-a/b. But once the gains rise and the volume rises, the disparity in efficiency gets smaller.

The difference does smaller, but 20% isn't impossible at full output.

With all the distractions inside a car, I see no reason not to go class D unless your competing. I know I won't be able to hear the difference (If there is one at all) while I'm driving.