Poultrygeist
Lunatic Member
Class D of a few years ago is not the same as it is today. The technology is advancing so rapidly that you don't want to get stuck with an older implementation.
Any experience with Class D amps and impressions?
- Thread starter kurtgo
- Start date
Soundphile
Active Member
Anyone tried a Class D amp running GaN outputs? I haven't heard it but apparently, its a significant improvement in audio quality, extremely low background noise, wide frequency range with very low dropouts, etc.
Poultrygeist
Lunatic Member
Are they widely available? I only found an evaluation board for $1300+. If GaN is as good as they say I'll wait on the affordable Chinese clones.
Soundphile
Active Member
I think GaN Class D amps are not widely available as yet. I too am awaiting the affordable clones. It looks to be an interesting development.
Poultrygeist
Lunatic Member
Let us know when you kind a clone.
Their biggest challenge is the significant amount of ultrasonic switching noise present in the signal. Do those outputs allow for higher frequency switching?
Right now the class D amps being built using the new IceEdge 1200as2 modules, such as Mivera and Nord, have captured a lot of attention. People are selling their high priced AB amps, Pass et al after hearing these.
A new one that looks very interesting from Nuprime-
A new input stage with a 1MΩ input impedance.
700KHz high-speed switching Class-D module
http://nuprimeaudio.com/product/evolution-one/?v=7516fd43adaa
A new one that looks very interesting from Nuprime-
A new input stage with a 1MΩ input impedance.
700KHz high-speed switching Class-D module
http://nuprimeaudio.com/product/evolution-one/?v=7516fd43adaa
Poultrygeist
Lunatic Member
and we'll be able to afford them when the Chinese introduce their clones
I think you'll be waiting a long time for that.
Poultrygeist
Lunatic Member
We'll see. With the Texas Instrument TPA's it only took a few months.
But using oem TI production, afaik.
45rpmspinner
Super Member
TPA 3110/6/8 were, and still are, dirt cheap. Especially in bulk.
One of the reasons you don't see too many Chinese TPA 32XX builds is because the chips cost 3-4-5 times as much, depending on what you're comparing.
Btw...looks to me like GaN output units are currently only used in industrial/military applications.
One of the reasons you don't see too many Chinese TPA 32XX builds is because the chips cost 3-4-5 times as much, depending on what you're comparing.
Btw...looks to me like GaN output units are currently only used in industrial/military applications.
Poultrygeist
Lunatic Member
Another reason you won't see the proliferation of the TPA 32xx amps ( compared to the TPA 31xx ) is due to the higher cost of their more powerful psu's.
Soundphile
Active Member
Class D Amps and Switch Mode Power Supplies work in almost a similar manner. Both can only function by employing very high ultrasonic frequencies ... that introduce noise. Has anyone tried to power a Cass D amp with Linear Power Supply? I figure that with this setup, the power supply part will not have any ultrasonic noise (effectively, half of the noise will not even be generated at all). The inductors after the output stage only needs to filter out a much lower "quantity" of ultrasonic noise, resulting in a cleaner output. The downside is that the larger size of the Linear Power Supply would just take up more space. Any thoughts?
From this point onwards, I tend to believe that Cass D amps will develop rapidly to a stage where they would eventually trounce the CLass AB or Class A amps in all aspects of audio quality. Clones from the East would also become available rather rapidly. It would appear that we are sitting on the cusp of a Class D invasion !!!
From this point onwards, I tend to believe that Cass D amps will develop rapidly to a stage where they would eventually trounce the CLass AB or Class A amps in all aspects of audio quality. Clones from the East would also become available rather rapidly. It would appear that we are sitting on the cusp of a Class D invasion !!!
Poultrygeist
Lunatic Member
I use Astron linear power supplies with class D amps ( see post 82 and 83 ). You can readily hear the improved SQ vs a SMPS.
