Clarion: Class G & H Technology

[WhoSayWho? 5,000+ posts]

Okay, so who can tell me about Class G & H. This Clarion mono amp:

http://www.onlinecarstereo.com/CarAudio/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=17289

is said to use a combination of Class G & H for greater efficiency.

Anyone know how much more efficient G & H should be over Class D?

I know there has to be downside, so what is it?

Thanks.

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[thch 10+ year member]

basically the issue in "linear" amplifiers is that you have a fixed supply voltage and vary the output voltage (to the speaker) up to a maximum of this fixed voltage.

so if you have a 20V supply (the amp will boost the 12V input to 20V internally), and you want to put out 10V, that means the amp's output stage has 10V across the transistor, and 10V across the speaker. for a 1ohm speaker this means 10A of current. So that's 100W to the speaker, and 100W at the amp.

Class G/H attempt to increase efficiency by changing this fixed voltage.

Class D should be more efficient. it operates the transistors in an On/Off switching mode -- both of which are minimum power states.

the downside to G/H is the increased complexity (multiple power supplies or one variable supply per channel), as well as any issues that arise from quickly switching these supplies or quickly altering the supplies.

 

[WhoSayWho? 5,000+ posts]

Thanks man, very nice explanation. I figured there was a reason why most were Class D.