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Post subject: The new power amps
Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2013 9:46 am
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Rock Star
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So what do we think of this new breed of ultra light weight S/S power amplifiers that's on the market now?

Crown is making some really light and inexpensive P/A amps.

Ampeg is making a 500 watt bass head that is only one half of a 1u rack space and weighs only 11 pounds.

I've looked at some of this gear in the stores. I picked up one of those Ampeg heads in my hands and I did notice it had hardly any heft to it at all. I also noticed there was no cooling fan. 500 watts into 4 Ohms in a package that small and no cooling fan. I'm having trouble wrapping my mind around that. How the hell are they making these amps? Clearly it's not the conventional way. Is this new technology, whatever it is, any good? Do you think it will be reliable? I mean besides the fact that most of it is made offshore.

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Post subject: Re: The new power amps
Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2013 9:53 am
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I guess they have their place, just not with my gear. I never liked solid state amps. I didn't even like the Quilter amps. To each his own. If those amps have some hefty heat sinks and ventilation, heat shouldn't be an issue.

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Post subject: Re: The new power amps
Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2013 10:30 am
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Do some research on "Class D" amplifiers.

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Post subject: Re: The new power amps
Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2013 10:43 am
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Doesn't seem like heat is an issue at all. Like I said, I like my tubes. :lol:

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Post subject: Re: The new power amps
Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2013 12:27 pm
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Rock Star
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Thanks for the suggestion, Bill.
I hadn't noticed that all those amps were class D. I don't normally pay attention to that sort of detail since I'm not much of an electronics whiz.

I read the Wiki page on class D amplifiers. The vast majority of the info went over my head but I did pick up on a few important design facts namely the switching aspect.
I have heard some of that lingo before in a non-related application; welding.
Inverter welding machines are typically much lighter, smaller and cooler running than rectifier machines. They also weld much more smoothly because the rectification is done on so much shorter of a wavelength that the DC output is much more smoothly regulated. It's almost as linear as normal DC. These machines weld almost as well as an old fashioned generator.

So I understand the basic premise of class D now.
I guess the question is: Is it reliable?
These things are pretty cheap.
Do we consider them disposable short term appliances?
How does one shop for a better model?
What do you look for?
How do you know if they took shortcuts and left out the filtering?

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Post subject: Re: The new power amps
Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2013 1:20 pm
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Class D amps have been around for quite a few years now and have proven themselves in the audio industry. Many subwoofers for home theater use are equipped with class D amps. I would say that if they are purchased from a reputable company, they are as reliable as any other amp on the market. Bassists seem to be less hung up on the tube vs SS thing and there are quite a few high power class D bass amps in use.

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Post subject: Re: The new power amps
Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2013 2:39 pm
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Rock Star
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Thanks Bill.

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Post subject: Re: The new power amps
Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2013 4:29 pm
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You're welcome. :D

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