Dcstep, I meant to most other class D amps.... There have been too many modules in a box amps around. |
Oh fuddlebud. I am running my 1 ohm speakers at .3 ohm for the time being, as a foil resistor on the right speaker is malfunctioning and I am bypassing it. My class D amps are fitted with the 250A ICE modules. The highs are to drool for. The amps are room temperature. |
Let's take cymbal crashes for instance. My system breaks the metallic splash into its separate shimmering wavelengths the same way a prism breaks white light into it's rainbow waves. Unlike other class D amps, mine has a hefty power supply that supports huge dynamic swings. |
Eldartford, There is lots and lots of capacitors in the H2O. The big ones supply
clean power, and defeats ripple. The smaller ones fast fire this energy when
needed. Note that none of these caps are in the signal path.
It is a proven fact that the digital power supply ICE modules are not good for
high audio use. They are instituted in mass productions of popular electronics. |
Look you guys, it's like this. Class D is analog. This is true. A digital switching power supply is not. It shuts power off and on. Analog power supplies provide a constant energy source the analog module can draw from.
I think this debate relates well to Class A vs. Class AB. Sure, there are very good sounding class AB amps out there, but I believe most folks would say the class A amp sounds more natural. |
Eldartford, Yes, the analog power supply acts like bagpipes in the energy is pumped in as to need. Also, this being a low frequency switching one may believe that it would be much more audible than the much quicker switching of the digital PS ICE module. Only it isn't. there is no ripple for reasons you noted. Yes, it is expensive, but put in practice, it is worth the expense.
The H20 company also has inexpensive amps using the switching power supply. they are great sounding, just not as sweet and easy as their bigger brethren. |
Audiofeil, I have new speakers and a new DAC in the mix now. Things never stay the same in my system. They just get better. |
Kijanki, thanks for repeating my quote out of context. The 250A ICE module is getting clean power, and lots of it. There is no switching noise. |
ü Bang & Olufsen ICEpower a/s doubled its turnover from DKK 50 to DKK
100 million while the result improved by DKK 28 million from DKK 2 mil-
lion during the 2004/05 financial year to DKK 30 million in 2005/06.
There are so many class D auto amps out there I don't care to track down what is inside them.
Here is one that admits it uses ICE.
http://www.caraudiomag.com/0607_cae_alpine_pdx_4150_amplifier/index.html |
I'm not down, Eldartford. Not by a long shot. :) |
Audiofeil,
My new speakers are True Sound Works Apogee Scintillas with precision panels, and new specially engineered ribbons giving the Scintilla greater presence.
My new DAC is an Audio Note 2.1 highly enhanced by Henry HO, of H2O, so that it doesn't resemble stock Audio Note DACs. |
Kijanki, If it were so funny for amp builders to use analog power supplies. You sure got that backwards. There is nothing that switches in an analog power supply. Nothing. It does not switch. It is like I said. The big caps hold a whole lot of reserve, and the small caps are there to fast feed the module.
B&O makes the A series modules so that talented builders can put their knowledge into improving the product. |
Here's one. The digital power supply is noisy. My amp builder makes amps of
both modules. The newest module has cut distortion and noise by half. They
gave this module a different designation. There is a built in noise and distortion
filter in the module. It has to be there.
The analog power supply is just that. It operates just like class A in that it
contains all power that the module needs under any load and any loudness. It is
not an amp.
The ICE amp is analog, and not digital. Read their white papers. |
Kijanki, B&O would find your notion the modulation process is the same as the switching power supply unit insulting, or more likely, hilarious.
Henry Ho, an advanced electronics engineer is quite capable of creating a power supply that has no measurable ripple or other distortions. The 250A module is built to accept any power supply. My sound is proof enough.
By the way, take a look at the graphs provided by B&O. They show a distinct advantage of the A250 over the ASP250. |
Kijanki, thanks for the calm and reasoned response. As much as we want to believe the very talented engineers at B&O made the digital power supply to perfect the sound of their modules, the fact is they did it to shrink the package. There is no doubt the small size of their amps is their strongest selling point. These modules are finding their way into everything from phones to audio gear. Like their business report says, they sold more than a 100 million units last year. Audio amps account for just a tiny fraction of those sales.
Dcstep is entirely right. If you look into your Rowland, you will not see just a module in a box. There is other circuitry there to attenuate the sound to their liking. Same goes for the H2O.
Spectron says they don't use switching power supplies either. He won't say why, but I bet it isn't for conveniences sakes, or some easy way out. |
Henry Ho has had ASP amps out for years now. They are a cheap offering for people who want the class D sound but can't afford the flagship.
His Fire preamp, a HOT class A design, is pristinely clear and dynamic. I know if Henry thought using an ASP module to create a preamp a good idea, then he would not have gone to the trouble designing a preamp from the ground up. |
