Class D Power amps

[edham]

I'm building powered full range speaker cabs intended for acoustic instrument amplifications. (pa use not studio).

We are close on the cab design and the choice of drivers (one 12" and two 5")(horns suck!) but now it comes to the power section.

Can anyone recommend a super light weight / high wattage class D power amp ????

Looking to internally mount it (no rack mounts please).
Something like this http://pro-audio.powersoft.it/produc...nu=213&obj=112

So far I have been stunned by how "high wattage" seems not to yeild high volume with class D amps.
I spent some time with the acoustic image amps http://www.acousticimg.com/products/prod_focus.html.
My old 100 watt QSC blows its "800" watt's away.

So the grail quest continues and we are getting closer. Just need a power section thats up to the job.

I have to really thank those who previously gave advice on OEM driver makers!!! Your advice was superb!

[squeegybug]

Have you considered Bel Canto:

http://www.belcantodesign.com/prodmain_amps.html

Their new designs appear to be pretty compact and lightweight, I have not used those, only the older ones. And of course these all are high efficiency so no extra heat. And, their amps also happen to sound really great.

Not sure of your price range, but if you are looking at Powersoft then Bel Canto should fit in that ballpark. I would have recommended Powersoft up until recently -- a pro live sound friend had been using them for quite a while in all his stage rigs, but has recently removed them all and recommends against them now due to continuing stability and reliability issues. I'm usually not much for hearsay, but when this guy who earns his living at it speaks, he knows what he is talking about. Maybe the amps are being improved, and the newer models might work better, don't know.

There is also Flying Mole, don't know if they have any models that can meet your power requirements. And of course Bryston Powerpacks, but those aren't switching amps.

SLS recently bought a digital amp company and are incorporating them in their new powered line arrays and studio monitors. Don't know if they would sell the amp kits separately, might be worth a shot, www.slsaudio.com
PS, I have SLS passive speakers and they are incredible. All I use for PA now, and they sound just as good in the studio. Since you said "horns suck"... and I would certainly agree, especially with acoustic music.... their ribbons are the real deal.

And of course, there are always the old Carver switching series, if you don't mind used. Some of those have some serious horsepower, but little heat. I've used a couple of the 650 wpc M-1.5t for years and they can crank it out, and sound good doing it. Maybe not small enough for you, but they are light weight.

Steve

[tINY]

Originally Posted by edham

So far I have been stunned by how "high wattage" seems not to yeild high volume with class D amps.
I spent some time with the acoustic image amps http://www.acousticimg.com/products/prod_focus.html.
My old 100 watt QSC blows its "800" watt's away.

Nonsense! You need to compare similar ratings. 100w of continuous sine power is probably gonna be louder than 800w of "music" power....

http://www.madisound.com/cgi-bin/ind...d=5449784.4051


-tINY

[O.F.F.]

I'd recommend the MC2 Audio E series!
Recently heard one and they are stunningly good for a switching amp and very powerful indeed.

[Jim Williams]

www.powerphysics.com

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

[tINY]

The Power physics guys require you to have your own amp production - no contract manufacturers. Or at least that was the story a while back.

They may well have designed the powersoft amps.



-tINY

[squeegybug]

Another one I forgot -- some of the higher powered Stewart amps are good.

Steve

[edham]

Gents - thanks for the replies!

Walter Woods ...... how does he get a 350 watt per side stereo amp in his 10lbs amps?
That's sort of the goal. 35lbs is too heavy and full rack mount power amps are a no go.

Clearly I need to bone up on power amp design. I was hoping to find OEM units but as of yet no luck. Any pointers????

The grail is to have a cab with a 12" LF and two 5" mid/highs in a powered cab with about 400 watts of power.
And to keep it light enough for gigging life in NYC.

[tINY]

What is running into it? What sort of venues are you playing?



-tINY

[edham]

Trying to build my idea of the ultimate full range gigging cab.
I'm a guitar player that uses full range cabs but our cab is more aimed at keyboard players and upright bass players.
Venue size is anything from jazz club to club date to something the size of the what the Bottom Line was - meaning a large venue were there will be a PA but it won't sound good because the sound guy missed sound check so your amp needs to be able to carry the stage and the front rows.

300 watts per side is about the minimum. The cabs can take 450 rms.
Just talked to flying mole. They have a 500 watt board that's 1.2lbs. That's the idea.

[tINY]

"Our cab" makes it sound like you are going to market these....

Sounds like you are trying to make a light-weight keyboard combo amp.

Have you looked here?
http://pro-audio.powersoft.it/an_ser...63&id_menu=213




-tINY

[edham]

"our cab" is more like - "there are a few of us" putting effort into it.
It all stems from extreme dissatisfaction with current offerings.

I was caught off gaurd by how many freinds want to buy one even at this early stage but I can't imagine there is any money in marketing such a box - way too expensive.

It really is a grail quest.

I linked the powersoft stuff in my initial post. It looked interesting but there seems to be questions about reliability.
I would have been really happy just to find a 400watt per side power amp in a 10 lbs package. Could have just adapted the cab for it but as of yet no luck so I guess we are into buying cards and adding power supplies. Please stand back - this could get dangerous.

[Monkey Mouse]

Rotel is making some killer Class D amps these days.