Class D and Power Cables


I just put a new pair of W4S Class D monoblocks in my system. So far, I'm very pleased with the result. Now that I know I'm going to listen to them for awhile, I'm starting to consider power cords. But, I started thinking. Does a power cord actually make a difference with these new digital Class D amps? Before I run out and spend a few hunderd on power cables, I was hopoing some of you fellow Agoners could give me some input/experiences. Thanks in advnace.
teletrout

Showing 2 responses by kijanki

It might depend on design of power supply. Some class D amps have straight linear PS while others (like mine) have switchers and some have switchers with power factor module. The most sensitive to power cable is perhaps linear power supply. Switching supply is less sensitive since it is regulated while Power Factor correcting type like Bel Canto Ref1000v2 have additional bank of capacitors minimizing short current spikes - a way that power supply normally takes energy from mains. All this is only my guess and I suspect that any amp can take advantage of better power cable. It is only to what extend.

Hifial is absolutely right - class D is analog. Outside it presents itself as as normal amplifier with about 1% of switching noise that is not audible but inside it operates on principle of Pulse Width Modulation (duty cycle of constant voltage square wave converted to average value of voltage). What is hard to understand is that duty cycle and not the voltage is analogous quantity (it is continuous without discrete steps)
Since amplifier's power supply draws current in narrow spikes of high amplitude it might be better to plug it into conditioner that has energy storage and filter (huge capacitor and inductor). My amp is placed on Furman Elite PFi 20 and connected with 0.5ft shielded cable. Conditioner can provide 55A of peak current for the amp but peaks drawn by conditioner from the mains are filtered and have much lower amplitude causing only small voltage drops.