So there was this topic a long time ago but it's gone now but search isn't helping

Basically, I'm looking for opinions on digital amps. There aren't too many out there (Blaupunkt and US Amps off the top of my head) but what is the general consensus on them in general?

 

Here's what I know from experience:

Philips used to make one or two models of home stereo digital amps and they were discontinued because of reliablity problems.

Blaupunkt makes some digital amps and rumor has it that they have had reliability problems.

My Blaupunkt digital amp lasted about 3 months before it fried (blows the 30 amp fuse as soon as it turns on). It was installed in a small space in the passenger footwell area to power a 10" sub. I don't push it very hard at all and it had a 12v fan to circulate the air.

By contrast my Kenwood 4x50 amp is installed over the gas tank, pressed against the rear shelf insulation (limiting air circulation), has no fan, and has worked fine for 2 1/2 years.

If I can get Blaupunkt to fix my digital amp under warranty I'll sell it to you.

 

Just the man I was hoping would respond

But no, I don't want one.

Today at work, I got caught in a discussion as to the advantages and disadvantages digital amplifiers would hold over analog ones. I took the side of analog amps of course as I prefer at least the theoretical idea of continuous tuning to discrete...

His whole argument was basically that "Digital is more high tech so it has to be better."

I know there's gotta be more to it than that...

 

i've always been a big advocate against them... D-class amps seem to have a decent history, and work alright for sub duty... but the T-class amps use a gizmo method to 'correct' an inherent noise distortion from the amplifying process... garbage in = garbage out, even if you do polish it up and make it shiny... like the famous quote from Christine, "You can't polish a turd."

the handful that i've typically heard do not have a good musical sound at all... they sound mechanical, primarily in the mid-highs and highs range.... ~5000hz+. similar to the quality of medium to good quality (~128kBps 44hz) MP3's... decent, but they don't sound as good an original CD.

Modifry's points on reliabilty just hammer the point home imo.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by PJK3


i've always been a big advocate against them...

 

Heh...I haven't really heard good reviews about the Bel Canto 200.2 but I doubt its problems reproducing midrange have anything to do with it being digital

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Ubetit

 

What do you need a digital amp for? My PPI PC275 fit fine right on top of the gas tank.