Class AB vs, Class D

[CHAOTIC 10+ year member]

I've been researching amps to power component speakers. Originally, I thought Class D amps were only best suited for powering subs.... But it seems like a full range 4 channel Class D amp would run pretty efficient.

I've read that newer technology no longer limits the Class D full range from producing the high freq. like a Class AB would. I'm not saying I think they're equal, I'm sure there is an efficiency trade off when it comes to power produced vs frequency produced.

I'm just looking for input based upon people's experience with the two.

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[cleansoundzz 10+ year member]

I hope this thread doesn't turn into a fight.

 

[dragnix 5,000+ posts]

why is it that one of these thread pop up at least once a month?

 

[SicAudio 5,000+ posts]

if you spend enough money for the d/g or d/t hybrid full range you shouldn't notice i difference in sound quality, but any sq nut will hear it right away.

everyone thought the alpine d class was gonna be the shit till they heard how crappy they really are.

 

[altoncustomtech 10+ year member]

if you spend enough money for the d/g or d/t hybrid full range you shouldn't notice i difference in sound quality, but any sq nut will hear it right away.
everyone thought the alpine d class was gonna be the shit till they heard how crappy they really are.

I'll agree with the Alpine..... the full range PDX amps just don't sound right.... but I felt that Zapco's DC reference amps sounded fantastic.... of course there is a BIG price difference there too...

 

[SicAudio 5,000+ posts]

yeah zapco is a shitload better lolz

 

[CHAOTIC 10+ year member]

why is it that one of these thread pop up at least once a month?

Sorry to re-hash an old subject, but I had issues with the search function on this forum. I was just looking for input, negative or positive.

 

[cleansoundzz 10+ year member]

These discussions usually end in a fight because one person feels that is no sound difference between A vs D and the other gets offended because they can hear a difference. Then other people chime in and blah, blah, blah.

 

[gunz4me2 10+ year member]

I'll agree with the Alpine..... the full range PDX amps just don't sound right.... but I felt that Zapco's DC reference amps sounded fantastic.... of course there is a BIG price difference there too...

Plus the noise floor sucked on the full range PDX amplifiers. Nothing like that HISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS noise on digital silence or when flipping between tracks.

Zed has a pair of new full range Class D amplifiers as well as JL Audio with their HD series. Although many on this forum DESPISE JL Audio, they actually did a great job with the newer HD amplifiers. Sound wise, they are leaps and bounds ahead of the Alpine PDX full range amplifiers.

I can't comment on Zed's amplifiers other than they are his return after being out of the manufacturing game for a while. I don't know of anyone locally who has ordered one, so I can't comment on their sound either.

 

[TMali 10+ year member]

im not going for sound quality, so i like the power of the D class

 

[pawn man 10+ year member]

class d is more eff., class ab is cleaner

 

[THUMPPER 10+ year member]

it all depends on the rest of the set up....

if you run all crap RCA's,speaker wire and cheep components a good class

A/B would be a waste of money...there is just no way for the rest of the

system to use the benefits of a better amp to it's potential

it's also important to have a good head unit

in a case like mine where I got all directional RCA's,premium wire and

two sets of 660gti components I can hear the sound around the recording

as well as the stage floor (some class D amps have HORRIBLE hiss)

right now I'm using two Exile Xi 800.4 amps bridged 2 channel mono

(400w rms x 4) class A/B with Triple Darlington output stages...a nice little amp