AB vs D class amps
03-24-2008, 05:47 PM
#1
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AB vs D class amps
I'm sure this has been beat to death but humor me please. Been shopping for a 5/6 channel amp to run my whole system (6.5" componets 6x9rears Subs TBD) Anyway i am trying to wade through the typical sales poop you get fed going to different shops. One shop is adamant that the PDX5 is the amp for me and the power ratings are right in where i want them to be, another shop is telling me to get a AB class amp as they are far more "musical" than a D class. I am not looking for a big booming SPL system i want to lean more toward a sound quality setup ( no intrest in competing just for my own listening) I guess my big question is the differnece in AB vs D class that apparent to the ear? The Alpine PDX is about half the price of my AB options but is the sound quality gonna disappoint me?
03-24-2008, 06:57 PM
#3
Found this info on another forum:
in short, Class D amps are more efficient but are only good for low frequencies (just for subs). other amps are generally less efficient but can be used full range (ie. for speakers too). what this means is that, if you had a 500 watt Class D amp and for comparison a 500 watt Class A/B amp (the most common I believe), the Class D amp would have less of a current draw on your battery because it requires less to make the same amunt of output.
However, Class D amps can't be used on highs because of the way they work. they only make square waves because of the technology involved, so they will make your highs sound lifeless and shitty. Class A/B amps are full variable and can capture subtle nuances better.
this is why most high power sub amplifiers (with a few exceptions) are Class D, because that way you can get gigantic output from a 12 volt amplifier that otherwise would be very expensive in terms of final cost and power to get out of any other amp... for instance, a 3000 watt Earthquake Class D is around $600 brand new while a 2000 watt US Amps Class A/B is around $600 used.
in short, Class D amps are more efficient but are only good for low frequencies (just for subs). other amps are generally less efficient but can be used full range (ie. for speakers too). what this means is that, if you had a 500 watt Class D amp and for comparison a 500 watt Class A/B amp (the most common I believe), the Class D amp would have less of a current draw on your battery because it requires less to make the same amunt of output.
However, Class D amps can't be used on highs because of the way they work. they only make square waves because of the technology involved, so they will make your highs sound lifeless and shitty. Class A/B amps are full variable and can capture subtle nuances better.
this is why most high power sub amplifiers (with a few exceptions) are Class D, because that way you can get gigantic output from a 12 volt amplifier that otherwise would be very expensive in terms of final cost and power to get out of any other amp... for instance, a 3000 watt Earthquake Class D is around $600 brand new while a 2000 watt US Amps Class A/B is around $600 used.
03-24-2008, 07:14 PM
#4
Found this info on another forum:
in short, Class D amps are more efficient but are only good for low frequencies (just for subs). other amps are generally less efficient but can be used full range (ie. for speakers too). what this means is that, if you had a 500 watt Class D amp and for comparison a 500 watt Class A/B amp (the most common I believe), the Class D amp would have less of a current draw on your battery because it requires less to make the same amunt of output.
However, Class D amps can't be used on highs because of the way they work. they only make square waves because of the technology involved, so they will make your highs sound lifeless and shitty. Class A/B amps are full variable and can capture subtle nuances better.
this is why most high power sub amplifiers (with a few exceptions) are Class D, because that way you can get gigantic output from a 12 volt amplifier that otherwise would be very expensive in terms of final cost and power to get out of any other amp... for instance, a 3000 watt Earthquake Class D is around $600 brand new while a 2000 watt US Amps Class A/B is around $600 used.
in short, Class D amps are more efficient but are only good for low frequencies (just for subs). other amps are generally less efficient but can be used full range (ie. for speakers too). what this means is that, if you had a 500 watt Class D amp and for comparison a 500 watt Class A/B amp (the most common I believe), the Class D amp would have less of a current draw on your battery because it requires less to make the same amunt of output.
However, Class D amps can't be used on highs because of the way they work. they only make square waves because of the technology involved, so they will make your highs sound lifeless and shitty. Class A/B amps are full variable and can capture subtle nuances better.
this is why most high power sub amplifiers (with a few exceptions) are Class D, because that way you can get gigantic output from a 12 volt amplifier that otherwise would be very expensive in terms of final cost and power to get out of any other amp... for instance, a 3000 watt Earthquake Class D is around $600 brand new while a 2000 watt US Amps Class A/B is around $600 used.
so what about JL Hd, and alpine, and all the other full range class D amps do they sound shitty to, LOL! Technology is constantly improving my friend!
03-24-2008, 07:15 PM
#5
Buzz. That info looks to be a bit dated. Full range Class D amps work as well as AB amps. If you really want the best "sounding" amps, AB are the better choice. But I doubt your going to hear any differance. Save money and space, go for the PDX.
03-24-2008, 07:45 PM
#7
Yes I agree the info is dated and the pdx amps sound great, but I was thinking along the lines of the older tube amps and how warm and musical they were compared to the digital amps that followed.
Todays technology is awesome but if I could get my hands on a couple tube amps at a reasonable price, that's the route I would go.
Definitely a/b and SQ all the way.
Todays technology is awesome but if I could get my hands on a couple tube amps at a reasonable price, that's the route I would go.
Definitely a/b and SQ all the way.
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