
3db
Audioholic Slumlord
A stellar deal @ twice the price!! (that's sarcasm if anyone thinks I'm being serious)So.....upgrading to the pricey capacitors and transformers ($7,500 Stereo Amp) will reduce the THD+N from about 0.006% down to 0.001%?![]()
A stellar deal @ twice the price!! (that's sarcasm if anyone thinks I'm being serious)So.....upgrading to the pricey capacitors and transformers ($7,500 Stereo Amp) will reduce the THD+N from about 0.006% down to 0.001%?![]()
Do you have some specific examples in this regard? Sub amps are are just mono, so that helps a bit in generalIt's probably as expensive as it is at least partially due to them being a small company, lacking economies of scale. All in all it looks like a high quality amp. But overpriced for what you get, for sure.
What I don't get it how are subwoofer companies able to put such powerful amps in their subs for such reasonable prices, but stand alone amps that have much less power are even more expensive than an entire quality sub with a more powerful amp. I'm sure there are reasons, I'm just unaware of them. But, it seems puzzling. Good article material for Audioholics!
Yes, bass masks distortion better than mids and high frequencies, so I don't think you need a super-pristine amp for subs. Furthermore, many subwoofer drivers have an intrinsic low-pass filter since they just can't play upper frequencies that well, and that would help to mask distortion from an amp.To add the HD's, sub amps also don't have (and usually don't) to have super low THD+N figures mainly because of the way masking works (if I interpreted his article incorrectly on this, I hope @shadyJ would chime in and correct me).
I highly recommend those interested in subwoofers and amps read the following articles, at least the conclusions:
The Audibility of Distortion At Bass Frequencies | Audioholics
Intermodulation Distortion: Can it Predict Good Bass Performance in Subwoofers? | Audioholics
The point is, it could mean less R&D as well as implementation costs associated with power amps mainly aimed for subwoofers.
It depends on the amps used. We all know that not all amps and "subwoofer amps" are created equal....how are subwoofer companies able to put such powerful amps in their subs for such reasonable prices...
Perhaps but not necessarily. See:It's probably as expensive as it is at least partially due to them being a small company, lacking economies of scale.
two reasons. The amps in subwoofers aren’t even close to as good as this. They aren’t usually even a high fidelity amp. They don’t need to have wide bandwidth feedback. They only need enough bandwidth to maintain moderately low distortion up to a few hundred hz. Second, they aren’t hand made in America. This amp is completely made in the USA. Even the boards. Very few of the other american brands can make similar claims.It's probably as expensive as it is at least partially due to them being a small company, lacking economies of scale. All in all it looks like a high quality amp. But overpriced for what you get, for sure.
What I don't get it how are subwoofer companies able to put such powerful amps in their subs for such reasonable prices, but stand alone amps that have much less power are even more expensive than an entire quality sub with a more powerful amp. I'm sure there are reasons, I'm just unaware of them. But, it seems puzzling. Good article material for Audioholics!
This isn’t the same thing. Bruno makes his modules in Malaysia I believe. Not Europe or the USA. That brings the cost down considerably. These guys then buy the modules and stick them in a case. Nothing wrong with that, but it’s a lot cheaper way of making amps.Perhaps but not necessarily. See:
March Audio
Nord Acoustics
Apollon Audio
Here’s a guy that will assemble Hypex amps at a very low cost:
Buckeye Amps
Everything is in house design wise. Tommy designed the amplifier himself. It isn’t based in any sense on any other amplifier design or parts.Also partially their's is in-house, they don't buy modules from Hypex or Purifi.....
Yep, I know and know Tommy O'Brien in a few audio groups....Everything is in house design wise. Tommy designed the amplifier himself. It isn’t based in any sense on any other amplifier design or parts.
The ATI amp uses Asian made modules. I don’t think it’s $2k anymore is it? I thought I was told the prices went up substantially. In any case, the big price is coming from the American made piece.$6K Cherry class D amp THD+N is 0.0056% (AH).
$2K ATI 522NC class D amp THD+N is 0.001% (ASR).
Not that we can hear any of these THD+N, but I wonder how these compare to the amp sections of the Denon and Yamaha AVR?
Ok. I just want to make sure it’s clear to others that this is a Tommy design. Not Bruno, not TI, not Icepower. I think it’s quite an accomplishment that the only other Class D amp I am aware of that performers better are from Bruno, and are the best amps on the market. Tommy’s are really close while offering more power. It’s an accomplishment. There is so little original engineering in this world anymore.Yep, I know and know Tommy O'Brien in a few audio groups....
Id love to know who can hear the difference between THD+N of .006 vs .001%, especially given that it was all power supply Spurs at -90dB or more. It bothered me which is why I mentioned it, but it only looks as bad as it does because the noise floor is so low otherwise. Most amps would hide those spurs.So.....upgrading to the pricey capacitors and transformers ($7,500 Stereo Amp) will reduce the THD+N from about 0.006% down to 0.001%?![]()
Thank you for writing this. Was getting pretty ridiculous the hate these amps were getting solely based on their price. Being all made in-house and the power that is under the hood, the price is actually very reasonable.two reasons. The amps in subwoofers aren’t even close to as good as this. They aren’t usually even a high fidelity amp. They don’t need to have wide bandwidth feedback. They only need enough bandwidth to maintain moderately low distortion up to a few hundred hz. Second, they aren’t hand made in America. This amp is completely made in the USA. Even the boards. Very few of the other american brands can make similar claims.
This right here is what bothers me the most about all measurements from all sites.At these low noise and distortion levels, everything is finicky. Even the orientation of cables can change things slightly. How I arrange the boxes or what USB strip I use.
This is a very good point regarding cost.The ATI amp uses Asian made modules.