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So what do you think of Class D amp for subwoofers

I am curious to hear what folks think of Class D amplifiers for driving subwoofers. An interesting aspect of this is the switching frequency is ~1000x higher for the frequencies in question, as opposed to using a Class D amp for full range.

My home theater is Class D (Dolby 7.1) and my next major upgrade is replacing the amps with Class AB amps, although I will keep the low signal processing part of the amp.

In the high end system, I found a four channel, 450W into 8 Ohms Class D amp from Marantz to drive the four subwoofers. The price was right and I am not living in a fantasy land that it is a JC1 sitting there!

I have formed my opinions but I wonder if others share my opinions as well.

Thanks!
spatialking
coffeey's avatar
coffeey
363 posts
 
Coffey - how do you know what is on the recording, ,Ah it might be something called listening.
kijanki's avatar
kijanki
3,575 posts
 
Coffey - Funny that you mentioned Coda because president of Coda in letter to Stereophile after the review (that compared CODA S5 to Bel Canto class D amp) said they are very happy that S5 looked good in comparison with such great amp as Bel Canto. I can dig-out exact quote if you like. Stereophile in another review of Channel Island D-100 (class D) said that it has even ("head to head") performance with CODA S5. There is still chance that Stereophile and other reviewers are deaf but president of CODA? Do you think he is deaf? Frightening..
coffeey's avatar
coffeey
363 posts
 
I read it a long time ago, i'm sure he just didnt want to rock the boat.
coffeey's avatar
coffeey
363 posts
 
did you hear the news,Nelson Pass is going to start making dig amps.That will happen when Glen beck runs for president and his boyfriend Karl Rove runs for vice pres.
muralman1
1,527 posts
 
I have more experience with class D than just about any consumer. With that experience, I can truthfully say class D is the devil himself to get right. After settling onto one manufacturer, I have been trying for 5 years to get the sound to where I am satisfied. Now, having accomplished that a long time ago, I just keep finding the amps have not been fully mined. Right now, I just think there is no tomorrow in improving the sound I have now.

You just can't plunk down a class D amp, and expect it to sound as wonderful as I describe. Any number of components will sicken the class D sound. I can demonstrate that to anyone and have many times.
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