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I have a new subwoofer that has a class D amp in it. Can you run this class of amp 24/7? I have never had a class D amp before....
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It's designed to be "on" 24/7.
Opus 33 1/3
Without signal, class D amps are kind of off on their own.
I had a Bel Canto EVO 200.6 class T, similar to Class D...it stayed on for 12 years...no issues, very efficient stayed room temperature...
My subs would go into stand-bye with no signal present...
thanks
Mark
The short answer is yes. Class D amps are super efficient so they consume very little power while sitting idle. That said, some subwoofers can turn themselves ON/OFF by sensing if there's an audio signal present.
Yes, it IS true that sitting idle, power consumption is nil. Some 'green' requirements help this along.
BUT, the 'high efficiency' of 'd' amps is mainly at high powers where they can run 80%+ from plug to speaker, WITH a switch mode PS.
Efficiency falls RAPIDLY with power. But, not to worry,
Too much is never enough
Sure, Class D amps run efficient while playing music but if you measure the idle power draw, they're pretty efficient too relative to more traditional Class AB designs.
Nobody listens to music 'at idle'. Not even the supremely hearing endowed.
Most listening is in the broad middle of a couple watts to maybe 10 or 12 watts. 10 watts with a 100 watt peak being a 10db crest factor, that's pretty darn loud. Even with lower sensitivity panels.
I just grabbed this link and hope it's what I'm looking for.
Enjoy. And don't forget, that the addition of a SMPS helps a lot. A conventional PS will lower all efficiency ratings at all powers. though, I suspect not equally or even in proportion to power drawn.
Too much is never enough
Nobody listens to music 'at idle'. Not even the supremely hearing endowed.Of course not but in the context of leaving amps ON 24/7, which is what we're talking about, power draw 'at idle' is the more important factor.
I have measured power draw 'at idle' on more than a few amplifiers and in all cases Class D amps draw very little sitting there 'idle'. This is NOT the case for traditional Class AB. And we all know that Class A amps are extremely inefficient drawing tons of power whether playing music or not.
Edits: 02/22/15
100%. Sorry about being a sheer smart ass. I've TRIED to listen to music 'at idle' and end up getting a tune stuck in my head. That'll Really make me nuts!
If I had a 'switchable' amp with a choice of 'a' and 'a/b' I'd use the 'a' in the winter to heat the house a little. In summer, I'd not want to put the extra pressure on the AC. Some EMOTIVA amps feature that choice.
I believe that if 'a' amps are FORCED to conform to 'green' rules, You will eventually have to pay something LIKE a 'gas guzzler' tax to buy one. And here in California, you'll even have some Carbon Credits to buy, like we do as a result of a TAX INCREASE in pump gas.
An 'a' amp with idle / no signal at a a fraction of an amp, would essentially be worthless until warmed. Which would defeat much of the purpose of leaving it 'on'.
Too much is never enough
I didn't know you were being a smart ass so I was being too serious. ;-)
I think we both 'get it' though.
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