Does anybody know why they used class D for bass and AB for mid and treble ?
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BL 9 class D amplifier ?
11 replies
Purely technical I think. Due to the operating principle, class D amps get increasingly difficult to implement when the required audio frequency range gets higher. Also, the main advantage of class D is power efficiency, and most of the power is required at the bass section. Therefore, using class D for the higher frequencies as well would add a lot of cost and technical difficulties with practically no benefits.
And it is essentially the same chassis as that of the Beolab 1 so it needed no big design costs.
My B&O Icons:
Therefore, using class D for the higher frequencies as well would add a lot of cost and technical difficulties with practically no benefits.
Interesting, what about 5's then ?
Is there any down sides with this setting D+AB ?
Therefore, using class D for the higher frequencies as well would add a lot of cost and technical difficulties with practically no benefits.Interesting, what about 5's then ?
Even the mid and treble amps are much bigger in the 5s, so I believe it is already a question of practical implementation issues... if it needed two uncompromised quality 250W conventional amps in addition to what is already in there, I think you would need a fork truck to move them around, and the amount of generated heat would be too much.
Is there any down sides with this setting D+AB ?
None really. They are matched together and it's not an issue at the listener end 🙂
Even the mid and treble amps are much bigger in the 5s, so I believe it is already a question of practical implementation issues...
And possibly also a matter of prestige in using their own ICE-technology in their TOTL speaker?
BTW, great thread and great answers from tournedos - many people seem to think that class D is better than AB in all aspects, which it isn't. It's better in some, worse in others.
And possibly also a matter of prestige in using their own ICE-technology in their TOTL speaker?
Interesting point ...
I'm not that technically educated, but can you go digital with mixed amplifiers ? D+AB
BL5 are all D and they have digital input.
There is no such thing as a digital amp. D in class D doesn't stand for digital. That notion is purely marketing. There has to be a DAC somewhere in the chain and there is no tech benefit of building it in in the speaker.The main benefit of class D is effiency. AB is soundwise equivalent and even better when it comes to high frequencies.The design choices in both bl5 and bl9 makes sense from a tech perspective.
The main benefit of class D is effiency. AB is soundwise equivalent and even better when it comes to high frequencies.
hm ... Does it mean that class D mid's and high's in to BL5 are there for "purely marketing" reason ?
Or it is not "audiophile correct" to sell 18K speakers D+AB ?
I think the Ds are there because 250 watt AB would weigh a ton and you would need cooling the size of a fridge, ie they are their because they are efficient
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