• WANTED: Happy members who like to discuss audio and other topics related to our interest. Desire to learn and share knowledge of science required. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!

Powering the subwoofer

In relation to powering the subwoofer what's your preferred technology

  • Class A with linear power supply

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Class A with smps

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Class A/B amplifier with tracking smps

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Class A/B amplifier with normal smps

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Class A/B amplifier with linear class H tracking power supply

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Class D amplifier with linear power supply

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    14
  • Poll closed .

modulardesign

Active Member
Audio Company
Joined
Mar 17, 2022
Messages
131
Likes
12
Bass quality is affected by many things including amplifier, bass driver and room.
 

osscar

Member
Joined
Aug 1, 2022
Messages
16
Likes
17
Location
Riga, Latvia, EU
I like class AB and linear power supply.
High transient peak margin/power reserve and reliability.
Of course - heavy weight and low energy efficiency.
I've seen a lot of dead class SMPS/D subwoofers.
 

voodooless

Grand Contributor
Forum Donor
Joined
Jun 16, 2020
Messages
10,229
Likes
17,811
Location
Netherlands
Since all of these options can yield audibly transparent results (results may vary depending on implementation), especially at low frequency where distortion is very hard to hear, one should go for the most efficient option. Also given the fact that one usually needs copious amounts of power.

There are usually more important things to worry about than what amplifier technology is used. The implementation itself is far more important than the topology.
 

FeddyLost

Addicted to Fun and Learning
Joined
May 24, 2020
Messages
752
Likes
542
Class A/B (and especially A) in case of typical decent subwoofer means a lot of heat and heatsinks at least.
Good active customer subwoofers have amps of ~ 1 KWt and I see no sane way of anything but class D for such powers.
I've owned Halo A21 and I doubt that something equal to it in AB class (750 watts RMS x 1, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 8 Ω) will fit active sub smaller than good fridge.
 

osscar

Member
Joined
Aug 1, 2022
Messages
16
Likes
17
Location
Riga, Latvia, EU
Of course, for high powers - class D is the right solution. But for a home user (up to 200w) - class AB/B is ok.
I have seen branded subwoofers - which work in class B with small heatsinks - very basic 4-transistor circuits with Darlington transistors at the output.
 
OP
M

modulardesign

Active Member
Audio Company
Joined
Mar 17, 2022
Messages
131
Likes
12
Thanks for your input. We have three more months to go to see how this stacks up. Just like Apple vs Android :)
The brain decides how we hear or what we perceive. Keep sharing your perceptions .
 
Top Bottom