I decided I wanted to replace the very heavy 8-channel SpeakerCraft BB865 Class A/B 8-channel amplifier I use to drive some active 3-way stand mounts in my office. There were no problems with the existing sound, but the amplifier was causing the shelf it was sitting on to sag a bit. I wanted something lighter, so I made my mind up to build a 6-channel class D amplifier to replace the 8-channel class A/B. I decided to use pre-built class D modules rather than build something from scratch because I never had a talent for trouble-shooting switching power supplies, and class D circuits seemed to me to be similar.
As much as I would have liked to use Purifi or Hypex products, the price was simply too high, so I started looking at the next tier down in OEM products. I had seen more than a few posts on the forums discouraging using IcePower amplifiers, but the prices are more in line with my budget. I saw Amir’s review of the 125ASX2 on ASR and decided to look closer at the IcePower modules. I also had been interested in the CDA modules from ClassD Audio powered by an Antek power supply. There was very little technical data on the CDA modules, so I decided not to consider them and spent a few days poring over the IcePower datasheets and put together this chart.
Based on total price and the THD values specified in the manufactures datasheets I picked the IceMatch products versus the ASX2 line. In addition to the manufactured modules I need to design a few PCB's to support them and I also added a Raspberry Pi 3B+ to orchestrate a cleaned power on sequence and to run some PWM controlled fans and to monitor some temperature probes. It took me about 5 months of research, design and build the amplifier and I'm content with the finished product. Here is a link to my website with a detailing my build.
https://bellarossafabrica.net/6-channel-amplifier
As much as I would have liked to use Purifi or Hypex products, the price was simply too high, so I started looking at the next tier down in OEM products. I had seen more than a few posts on the forums discouraging using IcePower amplifiers, but the prices are more in line with my budget. I saw Amir’s review of the 125ASX2 on ASR and decided to look closer at the IcePower modules. I also had been interested in the CDA modules from ClassD Audio powered by an Antek power supply. There was very little technical data on the CDA modules, so I decided not to consider them and spent a few days poring over the IcePower datasheets and put together this chart.
Based on total price and the THD values specified in the manufactures datasheets I picked the IceMatch products versus the ASX2 line. In addition to the manufactured modules I need to design a few PCB's to support them and I also added a Raspberry Pi 3B+ to orchestrate a cleaned power on sequence and to run some PWM controlled fans and to monitor some temperature probes. It took me about 5 months of research, design and build the amplifier and I'm content with the finished product. Here is a link to my website with a detailing my build.
https://bellarossafabrica.net/6-channel-amplifier
