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Class D is Class D?
Aside from QC differences between brands, is there any fundamental difference between a Class D amplifier made for home audio and a Class D amplifier made for car audio?
As I’m going further along the journey of planning and building out my DIY home theater, it’s obvious that one of the biggest expenses is amplification. But, when I see videos from Williston Audio Labs on YouTube, where Class D car audio amplifiers deliver so much for so little, I can’t understand what stops someone from utilizing these in home audio.
Looking at the Stinger Audio MT1000.1 Class D Monoblock amplifier (1500 Watts RMS), the manufacturer lists power ratings as 1000 watts at 1 Ohm, 700 watts at 2 Ohms, 400 watts at 4ohms, and a huge 1800 watts bridged at 2 ohms. Williston Audio Labs’ testing showed it to meet those power rating and then some (at 1% THD): 1146 watts at 1 ohm, 844 watts at 2 ohms, and 511 watts at 4 ohms. He didn’t have a second one to test the bridged rating, but from the other numbers one could assume accuracy at least, but likely higher results than rated. And all of this is for just $159.
I understand a power supply would need to be purchased in order to use one of these in home, but that still comes out far cheaper than any home audio monoblock amplifier I’ve seen with that many watts. So, what am I missing? Why isn’t this a thing? Is it not that simple?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4ALS-6NwoY&t=593s
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This discussion was modified 2 weeks, 2 days ago by
UnknownSpectre. Reason: error correction
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This discussion was modified 2 weeks, 2 days ago by
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3 Replies
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As far as I can ascertain, it comes down to the power supply. Remember Watts = Volts x Amps. In vehicles, you tend to max out the voltage at 14.8 +-. That means you Ned to really increase the output amperage in order to get the watts, or you need to run a step up internal power supply to up the voltage. So either way, you’d need an automotive power supply capable of lots of amperage.
Home amps already use power supplies that give the appropriate voltage and amperage to hit the target wattage. It just makes more sense that way.
Nothing says you can’t do it just be ready to deal with a big honkin’ power supply.
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There definitely are. Especially in the output stage and power supply stage. However, when we talk most cheap amplifiers that use the TI chips etc, they often use the same basic design. So there is little difference between them, besides quality of parts. But when you get to the higher end amplifiers like Purify, Hypex, Ice Power, that is where things really change, And where you will start to see a major performance boost. Unfortunately a lot of those modules aren’t available to the DIY crowd, but you can get very affordable amps from Dylan at Buckeye Amps.
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Well looks like there aren’t any shortcuts, and I’m also not the brilliant guy I was hoping I am, thinking of “solutions” nobody else has lol!
Guess I’ll stay on the lookout for upcoming Prime Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday sales