Hi,
I have a couple of Abletec Anaview ALC 0100-2300 class D amps. These are 50wpc@4ohm and can work in BTL for 100w@8ohm.
I am feeding this amps with an ADAU 1401 DSP with an output sensitivity of 0,9Vrms.
My woofer and tweeter are both 8ohm, so when working in stereo mode I get around 25wpc or something like that, which considering the poorish sensitivity of my components, they don't get too loud... but it's OK.
The thing is that I want to try the BTL mode and get 100w@8ohm.
According to the amplifier's spec sheet, it can work in BTL mode with single ended or balanced input signal. I am using a single ended signal. I wired it just like the diagram (pin 12 and 10 are input + and 8, 9, 11, 13 are ground), and shorted the "CONN5" like the PCB says.
The amp sounds good in BTL mode but it's not louder than the stereo mode, which is weird as it is almost 4 times as powerful!!
I am making something wrong? I am understanding something wrong?
Looking forward to your help.
I have a couple of Abletec Anaview ALC 0100-2300 class D amps. These are 50wpc@4ohm and can work in BTL for 100w@8ohm.
I am feeding this amps with an ADAU 1401 DSP with an output sensitivity of 0,9Vrms.
My woofer and tweeter are both 8ohm, so when working in stereo mode I get around 25wpc or something like that, which considering the poorish sensitivity of my components, they don't get too loud... but it's OK.
The thing is that I want to try the BTL mode and get 100w@8ohm.
According to the amplifier's spec sheet, it can work in BTL mode with single ended or balanced input signal. I am using a single ended signal. I wired it just like the diagram (pin 12 and 10 are input + and 8, 9, 11, 13 are ground), and shorted the "CONN5" like the PCB says.
The amp sounds good in BTL mode but it's not louder than the stereo mode, which is weird as it is almost 4 times as powerful!!
I am making something wrong? I am understanding something wrong?
Looking forward to your help.
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There may be a problem with following that circuit diagram but note that double the power is nothing like double the volume. In fact, it's only a 3dB increase which is noticeable, but nowhere near the subjective feeling of being twice as loud. In many cases, it just isn't worth the cost of implementation.
Doubling Power vs. Doubling Output – JL Audio Help Center - Search Articles
Also, hit the report post button and ask for your post to be transferred to the class D forum, where there are likely more folk with experience of this product.
Doubling Power vs. Doubling Output – JL Audio Help Center - Search Articles
Also, hit the report post button and ask for your post to be transferred to the class D forum, where there are likely more folk with experience of this product.
Thanks for your reply!
Yup. I was wrong about the "twice as loud", thanks for the information.
Still, how can I test if I am getting the "real" 100watts?
In stereo mode the amp is like 25wpc@8ohm and in BTL it's 100w@8ohm so at least I should note a slightly (if not a lot) difference in loudness.
I always thought I needed a balanced signal for BTL operation but the amp spec's clearly shows otherwise.
Also, I though this is the CLASS D AMP forum, or I am wrong?
Yup. I was wrong about the "twice as loud", thanks for the information.
Still, how can I test if I am getting the "real" 100watts?
In stereo mode the amp is like 25wpc@8ohm and in BTL it's 100w@8ohm so at least I should note a slightly (if not a lot) difference in loudness.
I always thought I needed a balanced signal for BTL operation but the amp spec's clearly shows otherwise.
Also, I though this is the CLASS D AMP forum, or I am wrong?
For BTL you join same colour inputs together.
Yellow to yellow, green to green.
One goes to ground for single ended.
Yellow to yellow, green to green.
One goes to ground for single ended.
I am following the scheme shown in the spec sheet, which basically shows what you say... Are you running this amps in BTL?
I have ALC0300-1300, 1 amp behind each speaker (stereo):NOT BTL.
I also have AMS0100-2300 in BTL: I don't know why but I was never impressed with the sound. I should really get equipped to do some measurements and get to the bottom of why they sound so poor. Note this is the (flagship) AMS, not ALC.
I reverted back to the previous ALC0300-1300 amps which sound great.
Although a more powerful amp, the input sensitivity is lower so at same level source there actually shouldn't be much difference in output.
I also have AMS0100-2300 in BTL: I don't know why but I was never impressed with the sound. I should really get equipped to do some measurements and get to the bottom of why they sound so poor. Note this is the (flagship) AMS, not ALC.
I reverted back to the previous ALC0300-1300 amps which sound great.
Although a more powerful amp, the input sensitivity is lower so at same level source there actually shouldn't be much difference in output.
I like how this amp sound, buy I miss something more powerful.
Compared to an ICEpower 50ASX2, I definitely could not hear any difference with my ALC0100-2300 in stereo mode. Not that my ears are golden or anything, but still quite nice for an amp that costs 3 times less than the ICEpower.
If I could get them sound right at BTL, it would be awesome.
Compared to an ICEpower 50ASX2, I definitely could not hear any difference with my ALC0100-2300 in stereo mode. Not that my ears are golden or anything, but still quite nice for an amp that costs 3 times less than the ICEpower.
If I could get them sound right at BTL, it would be awesome.
AS an Update I finally made it work... IDK if it is 100Watts but it's certainly more "powerful" than in stereo mode.
It looks like I was misreading the diagram, and the BTL speaker outputs where +L en -R, and I was using +L and +R(for-), the wird thing is tat it also worked that way, alas not as "powerful".
I talked about powerful, and not louder, because it's not much louder than in stereo mode, which is weird because if the amp gives 100W@8ohm in BTL it's quite more than the 25W@8ohm in stereo... all this was single ended input with the following chain: laptop's 3.5mm output > ADAU1701 input ADC > ADAUC 1701 output DAC > amplifier.
I suspect the output sensitivity of my laptop is very poor, because I also tried a Behringer UMC204HD output to feed my DSP and I've got a little more gain.
It looks like I was misreading the diagram, and the BTL speaker outputs where +L en -R, and I was using +L and +R(for-), the wird thing is tat it also worked that way, alas not as "powerful".
I talked about powerful, and not louder, because it's not much louder than in stereo mode, which is weird because if the amp gives 100W@8ohm in BTL it's quite more than the 25W@8ohm in stereo... all this was single ended input with the following chain: laptop's 3.5mm output > ADAU1701 input ADC > ADAUC 1701 output DAC > amplifier.
I suspect the output sensitivity of my laptop is very poor, because I also tried a Behringer UMC204HD output to feed my DSP and I've got a little more gain.
Just in case (i.e., ignore this if you already understand this point; this is to avoid a very common possible misunderstanding): Volume and power ability aren't the same thing, more power won't be louder, it just lets you get louder while staying clean. Just because you have 4x the power capability doesn't mean that it will be louder at a low given % setting on your volume control. Having more power just means that it can get louder without clipping or distorting should you try to play it that loud. If neither amp ever clips or runs out of power, then the power capability doesn't matter.
Bill,
Thanks for clear that out for me. I though for more power means more "volume".
So, if 100W is not (necessarily) louder than 25W, can I add a little output gain to get more "volume" but staying within the distortion limits?
Thanks!
Thanks for clear that out for me. I though for more power means more "volume".
So, if 100W is not (necessarily) louder than 25W, can I add a little output gain to get more "volume" but staying within the distortion limits?
Thanks!
BTL mode
I read that the ALC0300 does not perform as well as the AMS-0300. Better highs from the new model. Your experience makes me wonder.
Do you think stereo vs BTL is why you like the ALC version better?
I have been thinking bout cobbling one together. The 25 watts is plenty. But want to use AMS0300 and can only find the ALC0300.
My speakers are 8 ohm, and over 100 dB efficient. Low noise is more Important than higher power. The stereo 0300 are fine.
I read that the ALC0300 does not perform as well as the AMS-0300. Better highs from the new model. Your experience makes me wonder.
Do you think stereo vs BTL is why you like the ALC version better?
I have been thinking bout cobbling one together. The 25 watts is plenty. But want to use AMS0300 and can only find the ALC0300.
My speakers are 8 ohm, and over 100 dB efficient. Low noise is more Important than higher power. The stereo 0300 are fine.