Re: World's Greatest Amp or Dog Turd?


<nyob123@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:u4fif.5810$N45.4424@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> "Trevor Wilson" <trevor@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:43895bc1$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>
>> "Bret Ludwig" <bretldwig@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>> news:1133045423.969255.72880@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>> After listening to one today through classic Altec horn driver
>>> systems, I believe the answer is, the QSC amplifier is a well built
>>> economical and reliable amplifier for high power commercial sound
>>> reinforcement. In a home with efficient speakers there are far better
>>> choices. It's a mediocre to poor product for that use (or misuse.)
>>
>> **Duh. QSC, like many pro amps uses 'rail switching' (aka: Class H, Power
>> Envelope, or whatever bull*** name you want to give it) to extract more
>> power from a smaller package. Many manufacturers call it different
>> things, but the result is the same: Crap sound.
>
> Not all QSC amps are class H.

**True.

> Many of them are class AB.

**They're ALL Class A/B. The monkier Class H is a bull*** term. It has no
meaning to REAL amplifier designers. It is a MARKETING term. Here is a
COMPLETE list of amplifier classes:

Class A
Class B
Class A/B
Class C
Class D

That's it. There are no more. Rail switching schemes (aka: Class H) relates
to the power supply, not the amplifier.

> The only comment I ever heard on Class H sound was that it was better for
> over 1KW applications than for lower ones.

**For sound reinforcement and non-critical applications, perhaps.

>
> Having listened to Several of the old Soundcraftsmen class H amps rated
> 250 wpc, subjectively compared to other power amps the only sound I would
> attribute to them is they were able to produce very powerful bass by
> comparison to other amps such as Rotel, Kenwood, Mission, Adcom,
> Nakamichi, Sumo, and Luxman. Some of them did as well and others not as
> much. None of this was double blind and levels were matche by ear, so the
> memories and the comparisons are only what I perceived from those
> conditions.

**Then the tests were irrelevant.

>
> Whatever sound class H is supposed to be crap wasn't anywhere near it.

**Oh, yes it is.

>
>
>
> Consider the situation of NAD.
>> During the late 1970s and early to mid 1980s, NAD built up a considerable
>> reputation for quality sound on a budget. THEN NAD released the 2200
>> power amp. The first product carrying the moniker: 'Power Envelope',
>> later shortened to 'PE'. A fancy-schmancy name for rail switching. The
>> same disastrous technology used in a multitude of Carver, Yamaha and a
>> bunch of other designs. The technology allows the designer to extract
>> more power from an amplifier, which has a smaller power supply and less
>> heat sink, which leads to lower manufactured cost. Sounds perfect? It is,
>> unless you actually want to listen to the fucking thing, of course.
>> Anyway, Power Envelope technology was NOT adapted by many of NAD's
>> competitors. Rotel, was the standout. Rotel just kept building decent,
>> basic amps, with decent power supplies and plenty of heat sinks. Surprise
>> surprise, Rotel's fortunes have improved and NAD's have not. NAD, I've
>> noticed, no longer make a big deal about Power Envelope technology. Ever
>> wondered why? Because it sounds like crap.
>>
>
> Or in tweako audio land it got a bad reputation just like direct driver
> turntables, which are clearly superior to belt drive, or leaving off tone
> controls.

**Strawman noted. SOME DD turntables were grossly inferior to belt drives.
Some were not. Depends on the turntables. Tone controls are a waste of time.

>
> Lots of things seem to become well known fact that are compeltely untrue.
>
>> Anyway, rail switching is fine for headbangers, concert venues and other
>> non-critical applications. For decent mid end audio, forget it.
>>
>>
> Fortunately, it's possible to enjoy the benefits of pro audio gear and
> never have to buy a class H amp. There are plenty of AB amps that are
> built for the pro market that still have wattage in the over kill are for
> home audio, that are extremely inexpenisve compared to consumer or ultra
> high end prices and perform as good any high end amp made. IOW purely
> transparent which is what an amp should be.

**Strawman noted. We're discussing the bull*** rail switching amps.


--
Trevor Wilson
www.rageaudio.com.au


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