This is a review and detailed measurements of the D-Sonic M3a-600M Class-D monoblock amplifier. It is on kind loan from a member and costs US $1,175.
Packaging is a step above "DIY"/budget class D amplifier with heavy gauge steel all around. It also weighs more than amplifiers in those classes. Back panel shows balanced input and trigger which is appreciated:
Company doesn't state the origin of its class D design but a review says it is based on Pascal X-Pro series. Many OEMs uses these modules for their reliability and high power capabilities. To wit, the spec for M3a-600M calls for 800 watts into 8 ohm despite the name indicating otherwise.
D-Sonic M3a-600M Measurements
Let's start with our dashboard of 5 watts into 4 ohm load using XLR input:
I was disappointed to see such high level of 3rd harmonic in this day and age. That dominates SINAD, delegating the amplifier into our "fair" category of all amplifiers tested to date:
Zooming in:
Amplifier gain is quite high at 31 dB which is a likely contributing factor to even lower performance with RCA input:
Now noise dominates. I played with different grounding methods but that was the best I could get.
Naturally, that reflects into our SNR measurements:
Not a good showing but situation improves at full power:
Frequency response is very good for a class D amplifier:
Multitone shows increase in distortion with frequency:
Which naturally is also reflected in our 19+20 kHz intermodulation distortion test:
Product's claim to fame is power and on that front, it delivers:
But at noted, distortion sets in early. I checked Pascal spec (inset) and it is only a bit better than what I am measuring.
Protection circuit is robust and strong but at the same time, it didn't allow me to get reliable max power. But did work for peak power:
That is hell of a lot of power!
We get good bit of power at 8 ohm as well:
I was impressed with amplifiers ability to produce lots of power into high frequencies -- many amps have trouble here:
The backward excursion of the graphs shows the amplifier protection circuit. We can see in excess of 600 watts before that happens above 500 Hz.
Warm up was uneventful:
There is likely power off pop however:
The amplifier finished the measurements with its bottom plate pretty warm. Considering how much power it has though, that is to be expected. Be sure to not stack it on other amps.
Conclusions
Story here is pretty simple: noise and distortion is below par by some 10 dB. But you have tons and tons of power. You all need to do the math for me as far as value relative to the power it produces. A way to look at this amplifier is that it is like a "Pro" amplifier but with no fan with 3 to 4 times higher cost.
I personally can't recommend the D-Sonic M3a-600M due to high level of distortion and noise (in unbalanced). But you may decide otherwise if you want a branded amplifier with lots of power.
------------
As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.
Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/
Packaging is a step above "DIY"/budget class D amplifier with heavy gauge steel all around. It also weighs more than amplifiers in those classes. Back panel shows balanced input and trigger which is appreciated:
Company doesn't state the origin of its class D design but a review says it is based on Pascal X-Pro series. Many OEMs uses these modules for their reliability and high power capabilities. To wit, the spec for M3a-600M calls for 800 watts into 8 ohm despite the name indicating otherwise.
D-Sonic M3a-600M Measurements
Let's start with our dashboard of 5 watts into 4 ohm load using XLR input:
I was disappointed to see such high level of 3rd harmonic in this day and age. That dominates SINAD, delegating the amplifier into our "fair" category of all amplifiers tested to date:
Zooming in:
Amplifier gain is quite high at 31 dB which is a likely contributing factor to even lower performance with RCA input:
Now noise dominates. I played with different grounding methods but that was the best I could get.
Naturally, that reflects into our SNR measurements:
Not a good showing but situation improves at full power:
Frequency response is very good for a class D amplifier:
Multitone shows increase in distortion with frequency:
Which naturally is also reflected in our 19+20 kHz intermodulation distortion test:
Product's claim to fame is power and on that front, it delivers:
But at noted, distortion sets in early. I checked Pascal spec (inset) and it is only a bit better than what I am measuring.
Protection circuit is robust and strong but at the same time, it didn't allow me to get reliable max power. But did work for peak power:
That is hell of a lot of power!
We get good bit of power at 8 ohm as well:
I was impressed with amplifiers ability to produce lots of power into high frequencies -- many amps have trouble here:
The backward excursion of the graphs shows the amplifier protection circuit. We can see in excess of 600 watts before that happens above 500 Hz.
Warm up was uneventful:
There is likely power off pop however:
The amplifier finished the measurements with its bottom plate pretty warm. Considering how much power it has though, that is to be expected. Be sure to not stack it on other amps.
Conclusions
Story here is pretty simple: noise and distortion is below par by some 10 dB. But you have tons and tons of power. You all need to do the math for me as far as value relative to the power it produces. A way to look at this amplifier is that it is like a "Pro" amplifier but with no fan with 3 to 4 times higher cost.
I personally can't recommend the D-Sonic M3a-600M due to high level of distortion and noise (in unbalanced). But you may decide otherwise if you want a branded amplifier with lots of power.
------------
As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.
Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/