Audiopipe APSM-1500 Bench Tested and compared to AP-15001D

[bigdwiz 10+ year member]

Based on the feedback and my test of the Audiopipe AP-15001D, I decided to bench test the "mini" APSM-1500 to find out how it stacks up against the "premium" version AP-15001D (Audiopipe's claim of premium, not mine, based on their literature) Big thanks to gumby688 for sending me the amp to test.

Those who don't like watching videos, here's my results at 14v:

Audiopipe APSM-1500's Results:

4 ohms = not tested

2 ohms = 840w

1 ohm = 960w

Efficiency

2 ohms: 75A @ 14v = 80% (based on measurement of 840W)

1 ohm 121A @ 14v = 56.7% (based on measurement of 960W)

Since the efficiency dropped so drastically between 2 ohms and 1 ohm (and the power increase was minimal), I decided against the 1/2 ohm resistive test.

I have a complex test bench fitted with wirewound resistors for the ohm loads, (2) 100A 13.8v power supplies "strapped" (showing 14v), SMD DD-1 for 1% distortion measurement, Velleman HPS50 o'scope for visual display of waveform and wattage measurement (or Volts RMS at 1 ohm), Klein Tools CL2000 True RMS Clamp Meter for measuring DC Amperage pull from amp, Fluke 85 III multimeter for verifying ohm loads, 40Hz test tone from DD-1 disc, Yamaha RX-V670 receiver as pre-amp (has large analog volume knob for precise adjustments) and iPod Nano 1st gen with Wolfsen audio chip and DD-1 test tone loaded in Apple lossless format.

*note: the Velleman HPS-50 o'scope was not used in this test as I need to replace the probes, which should be here for my next test...

I've seen many people "clamp" test this amp and get 1500w or more. Truth is, if you are using a speaker as the load, you must take into account electrical phasing. If you don't know what I'm talking about, see this

Click to read more...

 

[dutchmaster 10+ year member]

see what it does at 1/2 ohm and 1/4 ohm //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[mpowered325is 10+ year member]

See what happens when you throw it in the trash

 

[bigdwiz 10+ year member]

See what happens when you throw it in the trash

I sent it back to it's owner, so he'll have this opportunity, not me //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/idea.gif.5acb6a39a9b92425414c316dda202bad.gif

 

[porksoda 10+ year member]

This might sound dumb but when you bench test an Amplifier is that like the same amount that would be in an actual set up in a car?

 

[av83 10+ year member]

I ran my apsm1500 for six months at 2 ohms and loved it. Ran it at one ohm for a couple of weeks and then sold it because my ears (and nose) told me something was really wrong. Glad to see I can trust my senses. I'll start recommending it for two ohm use only, now. Thanks for the test,op.

 

[Suicide Bobb 5,000+ posts]

see what it does at 1/2 ohm and 1/4 ohm //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

Produce a lot of smoke, I'd imagine.

Even if it didn't, what do you really expect? The thing could barely manage another 100 watts by dropping the resistance in half from 2 to 1ohm, and by doing so lost almost 25% efficiency. It'd be a miracle if it could do more than 1050rms at 1/2 or 1/4 ohm (again, assuming it was stable at said resistance).