Need recommendations for high gain/small footprint class d amplifier


I'm looking for a smaller sized class d amplifier to biamp the bass drivers in my custom speakers, which I was told should be about a 3 ohm load.  I'd say something with at least a nominal voltage gain over 30 dB should do.  My stereo rack was built for smaller components, mainly using Bel Canto and Red Dragon currently.  I can squeeze something up to 13.75 inches into the rack but a bit narrower would be easier to work with. I've been considering the Channel Islands D-500 but would like to keep it under a $1000 used if possible.  Your recommendations are appreciated.

lcherepkai

Showing 5 responses by lcherepkai

The CLass D Audio amps can have a gain over 30dB but the Buckeye and the Bel Cantos are 26 and 27 respectively.  In my system, the woofers are significantly lower in sensitivity than the rest of the drivers so, to compensate, I do need an amp with higher gain.  I'm temporarily using a Jaton AV 5140, which only puts out 140w into a 4 ohm load, but has a gain of 32dB.  This allows me to get the same output level from the woofers as the satellite section of my speakers but a lower gain amp, even with crossover set at +10dB sounds a bit thin and lightweight.  I have a D-Sonic amp and the gain is specified at 26db, with the output level on the crossover full up, the bass output is still lower than the rest of the speaker so.... really need something with a gain of over 30dB and the power to back it up.  Thanks for the options and please keep them coming.  

mapman:  would you use the Ganfet amp(s) solely to power woofers?  What I've read about them is quite positive but, I'm not a fan of their appearance.  I like their older cases much better.  

Hello Erik.   The bass amp needs to be higher gain than the Red Dragon S-500 I'm using to drive the satellite section of my large Legacy Focus clone/diy speakers.  These use Eton drivers, 2 midbass, midrange, tweeter per side, and these drivers are significantly more efficient than the woofers.  When I first acquired these speakers, I bi-wired but did not bi-amp them and I was shocked out just how little bass I was getting despite 4 12" woofers.  Eventually, I did bi-amp, using a pro amp with the volume control pots to gain-match to a large SET in the colder months and a gainclone in the warmer ones, via the RCA outputs.  My source was a Raysonic 228 cdp which I ran directly into both amps simultaneously.  The player was tubed and the RCA outputs were connected to the valves while the XLR outputs were solid state, exactly what you'd want connected to the bass amp.  

   I'm now using either a Bel Canto DAC 2.8 or Audio Alchemy DDP-1 and the balanced outputs are the ones I use to drive the Red Dragon powering the satellite section of the speakers.  I have to run the bass amp from the RCA outputs which are half the gain of the XLR outputs, so it becomes necessary to have a higher gain amp on the woofers.  I use an NHT X-2 active crossover only on the bass drivers and it allows for +10dB of gain, which full up with the D-sonic amp (rated gain of 26dB), is just adequate on most material/recordings, but can be insufficient on other material where extra bass would be desirable.  I did insert an active preamp, a Kingrex PREference, between the crossover and the bass amp briefly.  It gave me plenty of additional gain but lost a bit of detail and could easily get boomy.  

    With the Jaton amp as the bass amp, with a gain of 32dB, I seldom turn the NHT X-2 up all the way so, it's obvious to me, going with a higher gain amp is the way to go.  I'm just looking for a decent but affordable class d amp with sufficient power and that higher gain to take over the bass duty.  I know the mentioned Channel Islands D-500 monoblocks fit the bill but really don't want to spend quite that much and then I'll need to get another matching power cord for the other bass amp.  

   So, I think you'll be able to see the importance of a higher gain amp in my application and yes, there are low-gain class d amps.  I've seen a few listed at or below 20 dB, which would be useless as the bass amp in my system.  

Thanks mapman.  I'll look further into Class D Audio.  I'm not thrilled with that industrial look you mentioned but the size and sound are the major factors for me... well, and price of course.  

 

lanx0003---only their NC2K monoblocks have sufficient gain, 31dB, all their other amps are 25db at the high setting, but you do make a good point to consider.  I guess the best thing to do is just go to all the class d amp manufacturers websites and compare directly.  That'll be time consuming, and I was just hoping for some recommendations that actually are in 30+dB range.  Thanks