Amplifier classes AB vs Digital: noticeable difference when hooked up to a subwoofer?

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

this is the best i could come up with on google... hopefully someone here will give me some answer about the amps i asked hehe... they all seem to be awesome amps... im still leaning more towards the Alpine, then the Crossfire...

Get whichever has the most power for the best price and has the features and cosmetics you enjoy.

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

Prove it //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/tongue.gif.6130eb82179565f6db8d26d6001dcd24.gif

Actually, the burden of proof falls onto yourself.

RC's thousands of tests on this exact subject disproves you. Therefore, it is up to you to prove you can infact tell an audible difference.

Go win RC's amplifier challenge. Then you have proof. Until then, you have nadda but a case of mistaken identity //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[Slaugh 10+ year member]

where is this RC's amp challenge thread.. id like to give it a read

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

where is this RC's amp challenge thread.. id like to give it a read

http://www.talkaudio.co.uk/vbb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18815

And on the forums at http://www.elitecaraudio.com there are a couple good threads (one specifically in the "Tech Discussion" section of the forum) that discuss the scientific validity of his experiment.

 

[Beat_Dominator 5,000+ posts]

I'm gonna need a link to some of these "tests" as you call them..... though we both know they are totally falsified.

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

though we both know they are totally falsified.

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You can't be serious ??

But if you are.... then //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif OL @ j00

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/hilarious.gif.02a037aad04aa96f19982b298a3d70a8.gif

there's hundreds of links. I've already got you started in the right direction.

Go read the thread in the Tech Discussion section of ECA. 100% scientifically valid experiment. No one's beat it or disproven his hypothesis.

 

[Beat_Dominator 5,000+ posts]

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You can't be serious ??

Class D stands for "Digital" too.... n00b //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/rolleyes.gif.c1fef805e9d1464d377451cd5bc18bfb.gif

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

I can //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

I have a hard time hearing the difference below 100Hz. Certainly not enough of a difference to warrant a price difference.

But above subbass? That's a different story //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

RC's amp test isn't the end all of tests...as I've said before //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

Class D stands for "Digital" too.... n00b //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/rolleyes.gif.c1fef805e9d1464d377451cd5bc18bfb.gif

Okay...now I seriously can't tell if you are being serious or sarcastic ?

 

[Beat_Dominator 5,000+ posts]

I'm always sarcastic.

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

RC's amp test isn't the end all of tests...as I've said before //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

It's as close anyone has gotten yet //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

Does it say all amplifiers will sound the same? No.

But it establishes what differences can and can't be heard, and how those differences must manifest themselves in order to be heard.

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

I'm always sarcastic.

I

 

[Beat_Dominator 5,000+ posts]

5% THD t00b style!

 

[faulkton 5,000+ posts]

i was following these two threads on the subject of class D vs A/B...and RC's test

http://www.soundbuggy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1776

(Gets into the rc thing at the end)

http://www.soundbuggy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1887

I am in no way implying i am a smarty, or have anything valid to contribute to a technical discussion, but its interesting to read.

I run a/b on my subs because of all the systems Ive owned my favorites have used a/b on subs (since my first amp a PG m44). I have heard some kick *** class D amps...but the only D i have personally owned was a hifonics 1500. I wasn't impressed and hence went back to a/b's. Thats what i have liked the best, so thats all i buy.

My personal opinion is buy what you like..hell if you like A/b because you think they tickle you balls more with the bass go for it. If you like D, buy D. I think the important thing is that you are happy with your system, who cares what the reason is or what anyone else thinks //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

Unless RC has changed his test, the stipulation was that you couldn't reliably distinguish between two amps of the same topology. Class D and Class A/B are different topologies.

From a purist standpoint, if SQ is your goal, avoid Class D amps. The are not linear amps. They approximate the signal fed to them, they do not truly reproduce it. The more efficient the amp the grosser the approximation. As mentioned, you probably won't be able to note a difference at the subbass freqs, but you will definitely want a low cutoff freq for the sub.

The problem that you run into is that if you want a lot of power for your sub-stage, you almost have to go with a Class D. The limiting factor is the efficiency of the Class A/B design. Best case you are looking at 50%. You can approach 85% with a good Class D. That is a huge reduction in load on the car's electrical system for the same amount of power. If you are looking at something in the 600W+ range and you don't want to go through the hassle of major reinforcement of the car's charging system, you would be hard pressed to go with anything other than a Class D IMO.

Me personally, I'm a SQ guy. I don't own a Class D amp and I can't forsee myself buying one. I don't need large amounts of power and I prefer fidelity over power. In a low powered system efficiency is not of paramount importance so I'm not that willing to compromise linearity for a little savings in current consumption that doesn't make any difference in my car.