Old schooler getting back into it.....have amp questions.

[gunz4me2 10+ year member]

IMO the Class A and A/B amps have a lot more full/clean/dynamic sound than the new Class D amps. The higher quality ones, sound close or the same as an A or A/B.

I used to be brainwashed into that line of thinking until I decided to run some amplifiers head to head. Granted, some of the older budget class D amplifiers struggled below 45 Hz whereas the higher quality ones didn't. When it comes to my money, I'll take the more efficient product in most cases unless I have a specific reason for wanting to run something else, which is generally to match my amplifiers.

Even the full range class D amplifiers have come a long way. The JL Audio HD series were one of the first full range class D amplifiers that I've auditioned that didn't have that odd sound to them. With the older Alpine PDX, I could never put my finger on what it was, but something just never sounded quite right. Now, better full range class D amplifiers are popping up all over the place like those from Zed, JBL, Kenwood, and a few others.

Old gear is just... OLD. I should know because I went through 43 12 volt amplifiers in a 3 year period. Also, running old school gear in this day and age brings on another set of problems... MAINTENANCE.

 

[whitedragon551 5,000+ posts]

IMO the Class A and A/B amps have a lot more full/clean/dynamic sound than the new Class D amps. The higher quality ones, sound close or the same as an A or A/B.

I like my old school Eclipse EA3532 amp. It was made circa 2003 according to the manual print date. I also have my XA5000 and its a class D 5 channel. Sounds every bit as good as any class A/B amp Ive ever heard. When I had my Cadence Z1200 made around 03 as well it had a THD of .04% at rated power and it was a class D as well and sounded phenomenal.

 

[PPI_GUY 10+ year member]

It's hard for me to accept a amp that is only 7 years old as "old school". It's a point that has been argued for quite awhile but, my cutoff point for something being called 'old school' is anything made before 1995. I've seen people posting amps and subs from '05 as 'old school' items for sale. I think the mid-nineties(maybe '95-'98) are a good division point because alot of the major manufacturers started selling off and sourcing products from overseas.

As far as the quality of real old school amps, maintenance will be a problem with any product after 15-20 years of constatnt use.

 

[whitedragon551 5,000+ posts]

It's hard for me to accept a amp that is only 7 years old as "old school". It's a point that has been argued for quite awhile but, my cutoff point for something being called 'old school' is anything made before 1995. I've seen people posting amps and subs from '05 as 'old school' items for sale. I think the mid-nineties(maybe '95-'98) are a good division point because alot of the major manufacturers started selling off and sourcing products from overseas. As far as the quality of real old school amps, maintenance will be a problem with any product after 15-20 years of constatnt use.

Only reason I classify the EA3532 from Eclipse as old school is because it was one of the first lines they produced.

 

[nateberrier 10+ year member]

I have an old granit 110.2 running my highs and I switch off from rubicons and my punch 40i DSM, orion xtr 250 and a/d/s amps. only made in usa touches my highs. also have some shiz for sale.

 

[VWBobby 10+ year member]

I used to be brainwashed into that line of thinking until I decided to run some amplifiers head to head. Granted, some of the older budget class D amplifiers struggled below 45 Hz whereas the higher quality ones didn't. When it comes to my money, I'll take the more efficient product in most cases unless I have a specific reason for wanting to run something else, which is generally to match my amplifiers

I was only mentioning it because my Class A/B amps sound better than the Class D amps I've used and heard. I have a MB Quart DSC1500.1D that I'm using for some subs that sounds OK, but it doesn't sound "right". It has a somewhat hollow sound to it. Not that full, high headroom, dynamic sound that a traditional power supply offers. I'm sure higher quality amps have better sound. I've only heard the typical MBQ, HiFonics, American Bass, and a few other Class D amps.

http://www.coustic.com/support/pdfs/AMP-560.PDF

In this manual for a Coustic AMP-560 it states:

""With 12 output devices per channel at a rating of 150 watts and 15 amps each, that gives the AMP-560 a theoretical 1,800 watts and 180 amps of output capability or 7,200 watts in bridged mode."

Now, I know that doesn't mean the amp will put out 7,200 watts bridged, or even 1/4th of that. What it means is the amp is over-engineered enough that the power supply can potentially supply that much power if needed. This translates into "headroom" because the amp isn't bogging down on dynamic bass hits.

To me, a Class D amp almost sounds like a 6db crossover compared to a 12 or 18+ db.

Class-D is basically "never on", where A or AB is "on" or "mostly on" and ready for sound constantly. People who understand power supply design classifications will understand what that means.... I just don't want to bore everyone.

 

[RFCV 10+ year member]

Old gear is just... OLD. I should know because I went through 43 12 volt amplifiers in a 3 year period. Also, running old school gear in this day and age brings on another set of problems... MAINTENANCE.

I still run 2 RF Punch 150's from 1989, just before the HD's. No problems at all.. granted I don't daily listen to my system. Ride is in garage & drive stock SUV. Take it out occasionally & for shows.

As far as the quality of real old school amps, maintenance will be a problem with any product after 15-20 years of constant use.

Constant, but like I mentioned above mine isn't.