A/B amp or class D ?
#1
Instructor
Thread Starter
A/B amp or class D ?
I'm considering an A/B amp for mids/highs versus a class D amp. I've read that the class A/B amps are less efficient but deliver a more realistic or lifelike reproduction of the music versus the "sterile" or "uninspiring" sound of a class D amplifier. Please add your thought and experiences if you have any, I'd love to hear them.
#3
Instructor
Thread Starter
That's what I think too, however almost every mainstream amp manufacturer is going or has gone class D on their multi-channel amps. I'd rather do a 3 channel or 5 channel amp for simplicity and weight savings but for better sound quality is looks like doing one class A/B for mids/highs and then a separate class D amp for a sub will net you the best sound quality.
#5
It depends more on the circuit design and power supply than whether it is class A/B or D. A good class D will sound better than a marginal A/B, and a good A/B will sound better than a marginal D. Class D has the advantage of greater efficiency (less waste heat) and, depending on construction, can be physically smaller. Those factors may be important or not. You'll do better relying more on reputation and listening to various amplifiers if you can find somewhere to audition them. Keep in mind that you'll get much better sound with a good DSP/tune than the difference in amplifiers.
Last edited by DWillys; 12-17-2018 at 10:47 AM.
#6
#7
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Jan 2017
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I went with the Morel 5 channel amp. Got it from Crutchfield. The front and rear channels are AB while the sub channel is D.
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_210MPS...5_amp&skipvs=T
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_210MPS...5_amp&skipvs=T
#9
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^ When I went from a modern-era class D two channel amp powering my mains to an old-school class A/B and the sound was obvious and crystal clear.
Current setup:
Current setup:
#10
I guarantee you can do a blind test with a $75 set of Pioneer 6.5" speakers against a thousand dollar set of Focal 6.5 speakers and half the people would say the Pioneer is better. It would probably be louder too. Most people don't even like the sound of flat/neutral music aka "true musical reproduction".
There are a hundred other factors when swapping an amp than just if it is D or AB. Gain settings the same? Wattage? Crossovers? All these can effect what you perceive is good or bad. And what we think sounds good can change by the day as well! Audio is black magic and completely subjective.
There are a hundred other factors when swapping an amp than just if it is D or AB. Gain settings the same? Wattage? Crossovers? All these can effect what you perceive is good or bad. And what we think sounds good can change by the day as well! Audio is black magic and completely subjective.
Last edited by IJCOBRA; 12-29-2018 at 01:24 PM.
#11
Drifting
If comparing apples to apples on quality, in other words looking at just the higher end amps, class AB on the mids and D on the subs is the way to go. Class A/B sound better to me. They may be larger and less efficient but my priority is sound quality at either lower or higher SPL's over all else. The sound reproduction is more lifelike and audiophile clean.
#12
https://jlaudio.zendesk.com/hc/en-us...oubling-Output