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Amp Review
Eytan Gidron:
Langston Holland wrote on Sat, 13 November 2010 23:15
:Optional DSP card available with FIR filtering, but not on the order of either the Crown HD or Lab PLM series.
Thanks Langston for this great review. What did you actually mean in this comment of the K10 DSP?
Langston Holland:
Eytan wrote on the 20th:
Langston wrote on the 13th:
Optional DSP card available with FIR filtering, but not on the order of either the Crown HD or Lab PLM series.
Thanks Langston for this great review. What did you actually mean in this comment of the K10 DSP?
Good question - I gave no clues other than the non-trival pursuit of downloading the Powersoft software to have a go at it. You'd have to download, install and learn the control software for the other amps as well to make a full comparison. It has become popular with many of these processor mfg.'s to skip the detailed manuals and make you go fishing instead. :(
The built-in processing in the ITech HD and (to an even greater extent) the PLM amps have far more filter selections in type and quantity. Though the optional processing card for the K10 has less power, it can do as good a job in many cases. The Powersoft FIR filtering has a minimum useful frequency around 1kHz, under which the slope attenuation per octave is too shallow and standard IIR filters should probably be used. This is due to a lower maximum number of FIR coefficients allowed. Then again, the Powersoft processor allows direct import of FIR coefficients, which engineers can design very application specific filters with. I've heard that if you know the right people at Crown you can do the same with the ITech HD. This didn't used to be possible with the Lake processing, but with EAW's announcement that the PLM's would support focusing, that may have changed.
The Powersoft engineers obviously feel that there isn't enough of an audible advantage using high slope linear phase filters apart from the mid to high crossover point. One advantage of this is that you incur less of a latency hit with this approach vs. using high slope FIR filters at the low to mid crossover region. For sound reinforcement work where delaying the PA 10 or 15 msec is usually helpful, the ideal hybrid crossover IMO is IIR between subs and lows with high slope linear phase FIR above that.
One more thing - a nicely written Powersoft K10 Review from 2005.
Franz Francis:
I forgot to ask, have you auditioned the new Camco vertec 8 silver series, it is suppose to be their answer in the four thousand (4000) watts per channel professional amplifier competition.
Just wondering if the sonic signature of the Vortex 6 is consistent with the entire Camco line or is it just related to the Vortex 6.
Based on the info on their website the Class H output stage is still present with the Vortec 8 Silver. No class D compromises there.
Franz
Iain_Macdonald:
Hi,
Well all good things come to those who wait! Have a look at this thread and Binks answer further down the page. Maybe now we can move towards getting some meaningful results from all the (often wasted) time and effort spent on speaker, and electronics testing. Though they did seem to be good social occasions.
I agree with Ivan, that there is a still a need for continuous sine wave testing for pro products. Why? In HOW situations the organ/synth is often connected to the PA system, and some of those synth notes are very nearly sine waves. Also some of the 80's bands, and some of the newer indie bands are using bass pedals and lots of continuous low frequency synth notes. In the rave/club world, some genres have sine waves/sweeps added to the original mix.
So class D is not good enough Handbags at dawn!
Iain.
Iain_Macdonald:
Langston wrote
The net result of the amp upgrade will be approx. 3dB more output from the same loudspeaker arrays from 200Hz downward. Same truck pack, same weight, same size, but more rig for the gigs. Just need to pony up around $10k (assuming sales of my existing amps) and I’m in. Is 3dB under 200Hz worth 10 grand for my (24) KF730’s and ( TH118’s? Heck yes.
Surely 3db peak output.
Lanston also wrote
As a side point, I think advanced limiter topologies that simultaneously deal with long-term heating and peak mechanical issues of loudspeakers in a sonically pleasing way are the next area of serious improvement in the quest for high SPL and good sound. Driver design will need to go hand-in-hand with this. NEXO is a forerunner here.
Analogue modeling was used by a number of manufacturers before Nexo's controller - EV Meyer R-H SA etc.
Langston wrote regarding PowerSoft
Optional DSP card available with FIR filtering, but not on the order of either the Crown HD or Lab PLM series
Powersoft do a number of DSP cards for their badged and co-branded models. Some of these have considerably more dsp power than the standard version.
Nice report Langston. Thanks very much for your efforts.
Iain.
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