Noticeable difference in sound between Class AB and Class D amps?

[DET08 10+ year member]

I understand that class D amps are much more efficient, but have more distortion. But is it a big, noticeable difference in sound between class AB amps? just trying to power 1 sub

Click to read more...

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

For sub duty class D is fine and often the top choice.

 

[CAT MAN 5,000+ posts]

you wont notice the distortion that does happen with class d. i went from a/b to d and noticed nothing in sound but then again its hard to hear distortion period in substage

 

[trumpet 5,000+ posts]

There's absolutely nothing to gain by running A/B on subs. Full range Class D vs A/B will have people swearing up and down they need their A/B on speakers, but class D has a solid place in world class competition vehicles. The reason Class D can have noise is because of high frequency switching. Any good full range Class D amplifier will have that noise filtered so it's completely inaudible to our ears. Some class D amplifiers do this better than others. The old Eclipse full range Class D amplifiers are an example of a poorly executed design, while on the opposite end of the spectrum we have the JL HD series and the Alpine 2nd generation PDX series.

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

There's absolutely nothing to gain by running A/B on subs. Full range Class D vs A/B will have people swearing up and down they need their A/B on speakers, but class D has a solid place in world class competition vehicles. The reason Class D can have noise is because of high frequency switching. Any good full range Class D amplifier will have that noise filtered so it's completely inaudible to our ears. Some class D amplifiers do this better than others. The old Eclipse full range Class D amplifiers are an example of a poorly executed design, while on the opposite end of the spectrum we have the JL HD series and the Alpine 2nd generation PDX series.

The first gen was garbage

 

[denim 5,000+ posts]

Full range Class-d amps have improved a great deal in the last few years. Heck I know a couple of people with Class-D amps on their mid's and an A/B on their sub woofer. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[maylar 10+ year member]

There was discussion in the early days of Class D that they had poor damping factor. Is that still the case?

 

[Mr.SoloDolo 10+ year member]

There's absolutely nothing to gain by running A/B on subs. Full range Class D vs A/B will have people swearing up and down they need their A/B on speakers, but class D has a solid place in world class competition vehicles. The reason Class D can have noise is because of high frequency switching. Any good full range Class D amplifier will have that noise filtered so it's completely inaudible to our ears. Some class D amplifiers do this better than others. The old Eclipse full range Class D amplifiers are an example of a poorly executed design, while on the opposite end of the spectrum we have the JL HD series and the Alpine 2nd generation PDX series.

I own a PDX-F6 and it sounds clear as day on my frontstage. Also very powerful I might add