New Preamplifier?

[joetama 5,000+ posts]

Looks interesting... But **** the name is so ghey...

 

[djman37 5,000+ posts]

i've got an old and barely used Kenwood C2A preamp I'd let go for the cheap.

 

[joetama 5,000+ posts]

Not exactly what I'm looking for...

 

[thylantyr 10+ year member]

I actually have done several amp swaps and like the Rotel the best vs. H||H V800, QSC Mx-1500a, QSC Series III 3500... On my old DM330i the H||H V800 sounded the best.

QSC Series III 3500 is;

* 48v low rail, 96v high rail

* grounded collector topology like RMX series [this is a strange design]

* 6 power transistors per channel

MX1500a is;

* 48v low rail, 96v high rail

* grounded collector topology like RMX series [this is a strange design]

* 6 power transistors per channel

PLX3402 is;

* 80v low rail, 130v high rail [i measured my amp]

* classic AB output stage topology [class H power supply of course]

* 8 power transistors per channel

Bridged PLX3402 gives you 160v / 230v of clipping headoom [not counting amp

losses]. That's why I like these amps alot, plus the excellent heatsinks/wind tunnel cooling.

Somewhere buried on the pro audio forum, the PLX3402 is the devil when

driving high frequencies, I believe it registered 5kw in bridged mode on a

burst test. But for subwoofer application, it will do much much less as the

power supply design is the limiting factor.

Two of these amps in bridged mode is sweet to drive any demanding pair of loudspeakers.

Note: Don't bother with the new and more expensive PLX2, it's the same power stage. lol

 

[joetama 5,000+ posts]

Good luck trying to find information on the H||H V800...

Anyway, you really can't compare the Series III or the MX1500a with the PLX3402. The speakers I have are 200 Watts, and I have tested this, during normal listening I only use about 35-50 watts. So, the 700 Watts of the 3402 is a lot more power, IIRC the MX is 350ish Watts and the Series III is 300 Watts (H||H V800 200x2 at 8 ohms). The Series III is also dual monoral and has no fans... //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

The PLX Series is amazing and very powerful but I doubt it sounds any better than the older amps. The PLX2 might be the same power stage but it will run circles around the PLX. We have used both of them on different installs using Meyer and Community Loudspeakers...

 

[thylantyr 10+ year member]

I only use about 35-50 watts.

It's normal to consume low power driving midrange and tweeters, the more important

variable is the clipping headroom and lower powered amplifiers have less.

If you are satisfied that the speakers are driven well and you aren't clipping your

amplifier, then ditch the quest for amplifier and start a new speaker quest vs. preamp quest.

The PLX Series is amazing and very powerful but I doubt it sounds any better than the older amps.

The better sound will be percieved when you drive the amplifiers to their limits, ie

the older amps will clip much sooner than the PLX will so at higher listening levels,

the music is not squashed due to clipping the transients.

The PLX2 might be the same power stage but it will run circles around the PLX. We have used both of them on different installs using Meyer and Community Loudspeakers...

It's normal behavior to assume the next series is superior than the previous series,

it's human nature to assume the company made a big leap forward in the next generation

of product. This may be so in the computer upgrade world, but it may not be so in the

audio world. If you look at QSC schematics, they have a habit of recyling the designs across

many product lines.

For example, PL236 'touring amp' [PL2 family] was the reference design. From this design they spawned lesser models in the PL2 family and all they do is minor tweaks to get

less power.

PLX series is the same circuit board as the PL236 reference board, for the PLX they do the

same methodologies to offer lesser models but the common denominator across the board

is they have the 'dataport' circuits [DataPort for remote computer control or the addition of external DSP modules] missing from

the circuit board.

This is good from a business point of view. You make one PCB and you created two

product families and in each you spawn different models.

PLX2 from an electronics point of view is the same as PLX except the PLX2 has

a simple active crossover for easy biamping, relocation of switches and new chassis.

In other words, it's 99% the same as PLX except for the cosmetics. The performance

numbers will be the same. The only unknown variable right now is if they made a new

PCB for PLX2 or did they just install and add-on inside. The only amp that is a complete new design is the class D PL380.

... but.. Someone on this forum posted a pic of the older QSC HV amp and the guts look the same as the PLX, lol

so the PL2/PLX PCB thing might have been done prior to these two families of product, lol...

There is alot of comedy with Crown & QSC ........ and the uber Labs have their own comedy too....

 

[ballstothewall 10+ year member]

I can get you whatever pics of a Powerlight 1.0HV you want. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[ngsm13 5,000+ posts]

Meh.

I think you're chasing ghosts. Get another RB1080, and bi-amp... lulz.

nG

 

[joetama 5,000+ posts]

Meh...