4 channel Class D amps.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,783
Likes: 15
From: Northern California
4 channel Class D amps.
Is anyone using a class D "4 Channel" amp?
I know class D amps are usually for Subs but, I've been looking at the 4 Channel amps from JL Audio, RE Audio, Alpine, Powerbass and Pioneer and was wondering if they would be more efficient than the 4 channel A/B amps of similar specs or not worth the change.
I plan on using the 4 channel amp in 3 channel mode with 2 channels powering the front components and bridging the 2 rear channels for the sub. Thanks
I know class D amps are usually for Subs but, I've been looking at the 4 Channel amps from JL Audio, RE Audio, Alpine, Powerbass and Pioneer and was wondering if they would be more efficient than the 4 channel A/B amps of similar specs or not worth the change.
I plan on using the 4 channel amp in 3 channel mode with 2 channels powering the front components and bridging the 2 rear channels for the sub. Thanks
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,504
Likes: 6
Is anyone using a class D "4 Channel" amp?
I know class D amps are usually for Subs but, I've been looking at the 4 Channel amps from JL Audio, RE Audio, Alpine, Powerbass and Pioneer and was wondering if they would be more efficient than the 4 channel A/B amps of similar specs or not worth the change.
I plan on using the 4 channel amp in 3 channel mode with 2 channels powering the front components and bridging the 2 rear channels for the sub. Thanks
I know class D amps are usually for Subs but, I've been looking at the 4 Channel amps from JL Audio, RE Audio, Alpine, Powerbass and Pioneer and was wondering if they would be more efficient than the 4 channel A/B amps of similar specs or not worth the change.
I plan on using the 4 channel amp in 3 channel mode with 2 channels powering the front components and bridging the 2 rear channels for the sub. Thanks
Former Vendor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 18,293
Likes: 137
From: Hazel Green, Wi www.doubledmods.com
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
Yes
the ASA series are good.
The have a new mini series coming out but nothing shipping yet
I have sent out dozens of Powerbass amps and not had a single return on them.
if your wanting 4 channel amp I would go with the ASA 600.4
169.99 shipped to you
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
From: Katy TX
JL Audio HD 600/4 and 750/1 in my setup.
The digital amps will be more efficient such as the PDX, the new XD JL series and Kenwood XR series are great.
Can't say you will like the sound better than a Class A/B amp if you have heard an A/B amp and then switched to a class D one.
A/B amps will usually sound warmer, and I prefer my Arc Audio amp over the JL HD amps I have but space and weight can be a bigger issue with A/B amps. This among other reasons is a big factor why people go with Class D amps [SPACE/efficiency].
The digital amps will be more efficient such as the PDX, the new XD JL series and Kenwood XR series are great.
Can't say you will like the sound better than a Class A/B amp if you have heard an A/B amp and then switched to a class D one.
A/B amps will usually sound warmer, and I prefer my Arc Audio amp over the JL HD amps I have but space and weight can be a bigger issue with A/B amps. This among other reasons is a big factor why people go with Class D amps [SPACE/efficiency].
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,783
Likes: 15
From: Northern California
I have a Hifonics Zeus 4 channel A/B amp that I like but was just wondering if the class D's would be worth the switch. I like the sound quality now so, I hope a class D amp won't sound too harsh. Thanks everyone.
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Former Vendor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 18,293
Likes: 137
From: Hazel Green, Wi www.doubledmods.com
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
I was looking at the PowerBass Xtreme XAX-4160FD 4 channel amp but, I'll compare it to the ASA 600.4. Thanks
I have a Hifonics Zeus 4 channel A/B amp that I like but was just wondering if the class D's would be worth the switch. I like the sound quality now so, I hope a class D amp won't sound too harsh. Thanks everyone.
I have a Hifonics Zeus 4 channel A/B amp that I like but was just wondering if the class D's would be worth the switch. I like the sound quality now so, I hope a class D amp won't sound too harsh. Thanks everyone.
Check out
http://www.vibeaudio.co.uk/products/
Very nice stuff as well for a reasonable price
To bad I can not advertise these on the internet and its all "local" business
Last edited by Double D Mods; Jan 5, 2011 at 10:39 PM.
Former Vendor
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,713
Likes: 9
From: Morgan Utah
I have tried many D class amps over the years including some very expensive ones and always revert back to A/B, even for subs.
I am currently running class G (A/B with a switching power supply) mini amps in my C6 and Duramax and absolutely love them, tiny, efficient and sound incredible. My Duramax is a very high end system, SQ competition level build and I am simply amazed at the power, dynamic range, zero noise, etc..... of these amps.
As a prior audio competitor that has beaten a world champion and judge I have heard and or owned some of the best gear ever made thus I have a pretty good idea of what sounds good, these amps surpassed all my expectations
Class D amps have gotten better and are just fine for most but those that want the best, just not good enough and not going to be( I have had in depth conversations with two very highly regarded car audio engineers on this subject)
I had to take my son to a class in town last night and stopped by a good audio shop that I know to kill the time waiting. The install manager who is very much into high end sound(few actually know what that means, sadly) wanted a demo. He told the rest of the guys it was the best system he ever heard(though it is not even tuned all the way yet) and was blown away when I showed him the amps at just how powerful they are.
The system consists of:
Eclipse ECD8053 HU (best HU for the money ever and I have owned $2,5k HU, soon I will have something more exotic)
Image Dynamics top line compression horns (takes some tuning but you need to hear a good horn install!!!!!)
Image Dynamics 6x9 midbasses, one of the few 6x9's ever built worth using, these are the best ever!
Image Dynamics IDQ10V3, quite possibly the best SQ sub in the history of car audio and quite loud for being one, temp solution until the IDQ12 enclosure is done, most likely I will end up with a dual 15" ID blow through into the tool box in the bed
3 G class mini amps, 75x2 on the horns, 250x2 on midbasses, 500x1 on the sub, total weight of all the amps is around 9 lbs!
I wish you guys could hear this truck, I might go back and see if I can possibly fit some ID horns in my Vette now
Good day
Rick
I am currently running class G (A/B with a switching power supply) mini amps in my C6 and Duramax and absolutely love them, tiny, efficient and sound incredible. My Duramax is a very high end system, SQ competition level build and I am simply amazed at the power, dynamic range, zero noise, etc..... of these amps.
As a prior audio competitor that has beaten a world champion and judge I have heard and or owned some of the best gear ever made thus I have a pretty good idea of what sounds good, these amps surpassed all my expectations
Class D amps have gotten better and are just fine for most but those that want the best, just not good enough and not going to be( I have had in depth conversations with two very highly regarded car audio engineers on this subject)
I had to take my son to a class in town last night and stopped by a good audio shop that I know to kill the time waiting. The install manager who is very much into high end sound(few actually know what that means, sadly) wanted a demo. He told the rest of the guys it was the best system he ever heard(though it is not even tuned all the way yet) and was blown away when I showed him the amps at just how powerful they are.
The system consists of:
Eclipse ECD8053 HU (best HU for the money ever and I have owned $2,5k HU, soon I will have something more exotic)
Image Dynamics top line compression horns (takes some tuning but you need to hear a good horn install!!!!!)
Image Dynamics 6x9 midbasses, one of the few 6x9's ever built worth using, these are the best ever!
Image Dynamics IDQ10V3, quite possibly the best SQ sub in the history of car audio and quite loud for being one, temp solution until the IDQ12 enclosure is done, most likely I will end up with a dual 15" ID blow through into the tool box in the bed
3 G class mini amps, 75x2 on the horns, 250x2 on midbasses, 500x1 on the sub, total weight of all the amps is around 9 lbs!
I wish you guys could hear this truck, I might go back and see if I can possibly fit some ID horns in my Vette now
Good day
Rick
Last edited by RAAMaudio; Jan 6, 2011 at 12:21 PM.
Former Vendor
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,713
Likes: 9
From: Morgan Utah
NOTE:
I honestly wish D class amps could do what I need as I was looking into having my own line custom made for our cars. The quality manufacturers I spoke with just did not believe they would be what I wanted to offer and they are using the latest and best components made.
I honestly wish D class amps could do what I need as I was looking into having my own line custom made for our cars. The quality manufacturers I spoke with just did not believe they would be what I wanted to offer and they are using the latest and best components made.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,231
Likes: 0
I have tried many D class amps over the years including some very expensive ones and always revert back to A/B, even for subs.
I am currently running class G (A/B with a switching power supply) mini amps in my C6 and Duramax and absolutely love them, tiny, efficient and sound incredible. My Duramax is a very high end system, SQ competition level build and I am simply amazed at the power, dynamic range, zero noise, etc..... of these amps.
As a prior audio competitor that has beaten a world champion and judge I have heard and or owned some of the best gear ever made thus I have a pretty good idea of what sounds good, these amps surpassed all my expectations
Class D amps have gotten better and are just fine for most but those that want the best, just not good enough and not going to be( I have had in depth conversations with two very highly regarded car audio engineers on this subject)
I had to take my son to a class in town last night and stopped by a good audio shop that I know to kill the time waiting. The install manager who is very much into high end sound(few actually know what that means, sadly) wanted a demo. He told the rest of the guys it was the best system he ever heard(though it is not even tuned all the way yet) and was blown away when I showed him the amps at just how powerful they are.
The system consists of:
Eclipse ECD8053 HU (best HU for the money ever and I have owned $2,5k HU, soon I will have something more exotic)
Image Dynamics top line compression horns (takes some tuning but you need to hear a good horn install!!!!!)
Image Dynamics 6x9 midbasses, one of the few 6x9's ever built worth using, these are the best ever!
Image Dynamics IDQ10V3, quite possibly the best SQ sub in the history of car audio and quite loud for being one, temp solution until the IDQ12 enclosure is done, most likely I will end up with a dual 15" ID blow through into the tool box in the bed
3 G class mini amps, 75x2 on the horns, 250x2 on midbasses, 500x1 on the sub, total weight of all the amps is around 9 lbs!
I wish you guys could hear this truck, I might go back and see if I can possibly fit some ID horns in my Vette now
Good day
Rick
I am currently running class G (A/B with a switching power supply) mini amps in my C6 and Duramax and absolutely love them, tiny, efficient and sound incredible. My Duramax is a very high end system, SQ competition level build and I am simply amazed at the power, dynamic range, zero noise, etc..... of these amps.
As a prior audio competitor that has beaten a world champion and judge I have heard and or owned some of the best gear ever made thus I have a pretty good idea of what sounds good, these amps surpassed all my expectations
Class D amps have gotten better and are just fine for most but those that want the best, just not good enough and not going to be( I have had in depth conversations with two very highly regarded car audio engineers on this subject)
I had to take my son to a class in town last night and stopped by a good audio shop that I know to kill the time waiting. The install manager who is very much into high end sound(few actually know what that means, sadly) wanted a demo. He told the rest of the guys it was the best system he ever heard(though it is not even tuned all the way yet) and was blown away when I showed him the amps at just how powerful they are.
The system consists of:
Eclipse ECD8053 HU (best HU for the money ever and I have owned $2,5k HU, soon I will have something more exotic)
Image Dynamics top line compression horns (takes some tuning but you need to hear a good horn install!!!!!)
Image Dynamics 6x9 midbasses, one of the few 6x9's ever built worth using, these are the best ever!
Image Dynamics IDQ10V3, quite possibly the best SQ sub in the history of car audio and quite loud for being one, temp solution until the IDQ12 enclosure is done, most likely I will end up with a dual 15" ID blow through into the tool box in the bed
3 G class mini amps, 75x2 on the horns, 250x2 on midbasses, 500x1 on the sub, total weight of all the amps is around 9 lbs!
I wish you guys could hear this truck, I might go back and see if I can possibly fit some ID horns in my Vette now
Good day
Rick
3rd Gear
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Rick!!!!!!!! Holy crap I just joined the forum, didnt know you were a Vette fan too! Glad to see you reppin the ID stuff especially the horns! good stuff no doubt and I willl never run anything other then the X69 for midbass until Eric makes someting better. :-)
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 51,504
Likes: 6
From: Sacramento CA
BTW Gkk, you're welcome to listen to my alpine PDX amp or my Arc KS amps.
I wish I could A/B it with my ARC but it's not a fair comparison. The PDX is pushing a pair of pioneer speakers, and the ARC is running Dyns.
But you can clearly hear the "PDX sound" in the Pioneers.
*
My arcs are not a/b, I think they were... H? KS300/4
http://www.arcaudio.com/productpics/...testreport.pdf
My arc amps are configured thus:
(90watts normal, 350w bridged)
KS300.4:
Front channels: Tweeter
Rear Channels Bridged: Sub
KS300.4 2:
Front channels: Bridged Left midrange
Rear channels: Bridged Right midrange
I wish I could A/B it with my ARC but it's not a fair comparison. The PDX is pushing a pair of pioneer speakers, and the ARC is running Dyns.
But you can clearly hear the "PDX sound" in the Pioneers.
*
My arcs are not a/b, I think they were... H? KS300/4
http://www.arcaudio.com/productpics/...testreport.pdf
My arc amps are configured thus:
(90watts normal, 350w bridged)
KS300.4:
Front channels: Tweeter
Rear Channels Bridged: Sub
KS300.4 2:
Front channels: Bridged Left midrange
Rear channels: Bridged Right midrange
Last edited by Kale; Jan 7, 2011 at 10:40 AM.
Former Vendor
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,713
Likes: 9
From: Morgan Utah
I love our Vettes buddy One was a race car but becoming a pro tour car with a 53 Studebaker body and will have the ID horns and these incredible X69 midbass drivers. They are one of a very few 6x9s that are even usable let alone maybe the best midbass I have ever used! I asked Eric if he could build me some IDQ10's with neo magnets for our Vettes, he could but the engineering and tooling costs, minimal orders, etc....$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ ouch!
The Arc KS regular size amps are dang good for the money, the engineering was done by one of the very best companies ever, the design is basically passed down from an older amp that was their top model a few years back, the same ones I used to beat a world champion with. H class is similar to G, much better than D.....
I also looked into my own line of class G mini amps, different manf, an even bigger $$$$ ouch!
----------
I am slammed like mad, just getting a bit of forum fix before getting back to my back log of orders and emails, been absolutely crazy here!
I will be available for calls later this evening or tomorrow, etc.....even Sunday is fine.
I am recovering from a nasty cold I picked hanging around my wifes families kids(I love kids, they love me it seems as they gave me lots of attention and a cold so at times my voice is a bit rough right now.
801-829-4997
----------------------
I will make a new thread on more things I am working on, processing, etc......
Good day
Rick
One was a race car but becoming a pro tour car with a 53 Studebaker body and will have the ID horns and these incredible X69 midbass drivers. They are one of a very few 6x9s that are even usable let alone maybe the best midbass I have ever used! I asked Eric if he could build me some IDQ10's with neo magnets for our Vettes, he could but the engineering and tooling costs, minimal orders, etc....$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ ouch!The Arc KS regular size amps are dang good for the money, the engineering was done by one of the very best companies ever, the design is basically passed down from an older amp that was their top model a few years back, the same ones I used to beat a world champion with. H class is similar to G, much better than D.....
I also looked into my own line of class G mini amps, different manf, an even bigger $$$$ ouch!
----------
I am slammed like mad, just getting a bit of forum fix before getting back to my back log of orders and emails, been absolutely crazy here!
I will be available for calls later this evening or tomorrow, etc.....even Sunday is fine.
I am recovering from a nasty cold I picked hanging around my wifes families kids(I love kids, they love me it seems as they gave me lots of attention and a cold
so at times my voice is a bit rough right now. 801-829-4997
----------------------
I will make a new thread on more things I am working on, processing, etc......
Good day
Rick
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,783
Likes: 15
From: Northern California
Thanks, Kale for the listening demo.
The ARC Audio KS 300.4 looks like the way to go. I want a Cleaner sounding 4 channel amp with efficient power.
I have a 91 C4 Vette so, speaker placement is very limited. I have Infinity Kappa 5 1/4" components in the lower door sill area with the tweeter mounted high in the door panel. I'm looking to replace these speakers or add a small midbass driver in the door panel somewhere but, for now I'm concentrating on the heart of the system.
It's hard to tell by the different manufacturers amp specs because they're all very similar. It's nice to get actual reviews from people who have installed and heard these amps.
The ARC Audio KS 300.4 looks like the way to go. I want a Cleaner sounding 4 channel amp with efficient power.
I have a 91 C4 Vette so, speaker placement is very limited. I have Infinity Kappa 5 1/4" components in the lower door sill area with the tweeter mounted high in the door panel. I'm looking to replace these speakers or add a small midbass driver in the door panel somewhere but, for now I'm concentrating on the heart of the system.
It's hard to tell by the different manufacturers amp specs because they're all very similar. It's nice to get actual reviews from people who have installed and heard these amps.
Last edited by GKK; Jan 7, 2011 at 01:08 PM.
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Santa Cruz CA
I have a JL XD700/5 mounted under the passenger's seat on a 1LT. My goal was have a small amp that was hidden (stealth). I have been very happy with the amp. It has enough power for my needs and sounds great with my Focal/JL speaker-sub set up. To me the biggest benefit of Class D is the space savings, if that is not really a concern, then a class A/B amp would probably give you more bang for your buck.
Former Vendor
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,713
Likes: 9
From: Morgan Utah
Here is a G class amp, basically an AB with a switching power supply, engineered by one of the all time best, tiny, 3.2 lbs, far better amp than any D class amp can ever be
Power @ 4 ohms 75 X 4 watts
Power @ 2 ohms 125 x 4 watts
Power @ 4 ohms (Bridged) 250 x 2 watts
Signal to Noise 92dB
THD .05
Frequency Range 10Hz– 50KHz
Crossover Butterworth (55Hz – 550Hz)
Bass Boost 15dB 45Hz
Fuse 30A x 2
Size 11.6' (L) x 5.15” (W) x 1.7”(H)
http://http://www.arcaudio.com/productdescription_pages/amplifiers/ks-series/ks-125.4.asp
I am using 2 of these, 2 of the sub amps and one of the 2 channel amps in my Vette and Duramax and love them
Rick
Power @ 4 ohms 75 X 4 watts
Power @ 2 ohms 125 x 4 watts
Power @ 4 ohms (Bridged) 250 x 2 watts
Signal to Noise 92dB
THD .05
Frequency Range 10Hz– 50KHz
Crossover Butterworth (55Hz – 550Hz)
Bass Boost 15dB 45Hz
Fuse 30A x 2
Size 11.6' (L) x 5.15” (W) x 1.7”(H)
http://http://www.arcaudio.com/productdescription_pages/amplifiers/ks-series/ks-125.4.asp
I am using 2 of these, 2 of the sub amps and one of the 2 channel amps in my Vette and Duramax and love them
Rick
