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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / Car Audio / May 2004

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Amp Efficiency? Class AB or D? Stereo/Mono?

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Dan Erick - 27 May 2004 18:54 GMT
Which set-up would you gurus choose? Or is there really no difference
in power efficiency?

1) A Class AB - 250w x 2 @ 2 ohms two channel amp bridged to 500w x 1
@ 4 ohms

or

2) A Class D - 500w x 1 @ 4 ohms mono amp

The load for these would be TWO DVC dual-4 ohm drivers wired in
series/parallel to present a 4 ohm load to the amp.

Daniel
Scott Gardner - 27 May 2004 19:50 GMT
Well, a digital-switching amp (often called "Class D" by the marketing
types) is inherently more efficient than the traditional Class A/B
design.  Since you're talking about the same power, your results
should sound the same either way, assuming both amps are rated
honestly.  The digital-switching amp will be less of a current drain
on your car's electrical system though.  Typical efficiency for AB
amps is about 50%, whereas you can get 70-90% from a digital-switching
amp.

Scott Gardner

>Which set-up would you gurus choose? Or is there really no difference
>in power efficiency?
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
>Daniel
Mister_B - 28 May 2004 05:31 GMT
Class D Hifonics or PPI 500 watts @ 1 ohm  Mono .. Run subs at 2 oh
each , wire um together and get 1 ohm total load .. Subs are suppose
to be mono anyways , no stereo .. PLUS you get a cool bass remote !
:-) Will save you money over the class A/b , and is MADE to run subs .
Quit askin with different names too .
--
Mister_
Kevin McMurtrie - 28 May 2004 05:09 GMT
> Which set-up would you gurus choose? Or is there really no difference
> in power efficiency?
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> Daniel

The Class D is is much more efficient.  Their high output efficiency is
in the 70% to 80% range while Class AB is 40% to 50%.  It becomes a
strong advantage in higher power amplifiers.  Class D amps are smaller,
consume less power, and need less cooling.

On the down side, Class D is less common and there are fewer brands.  It
can be harder to shop for them.  Most can only be used for subs but some
are full range.
Mister_B - 28 May 2004 05:41 GMT
I would definately go with a Hifonics BX500D .. Go with the Autote
sx1700 off of eBay  if you know how to crank it down for 500 watts ..
and - NO ; simply turning the gain 1/2 way down wont do it ) you wil
need a multimeter and the knowledge of how to do it .. Good buy a
$200'is
--
Mister_
 
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