What is the diff between classAB and class D amplifiers.

 

AB is less efficient, runs warmer, used primarily for vocal speakers like your fronts and rears. They're meant to give you a richer sound.
D is more efficient but the quality of sound out of them is garbage which is why they're used for subs - no voices only bass - however that said you can turn the cross over up to get voices through them but I REALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLY wouldn't recommend it.
That's the quick coles notes version.

 

I agree with most parts of what TroysG said. Except not ALL class D full range amps are junk for vocals. There are some class T (class D amps made with tripath chipsets) that actually make nice amps. I know eclipse made a high power tripath amplifier a couple years ago (DA6213), but I do not know what other commercial amps had this. I had one for awhile, but then moved up to Zapco There are a BUNCH of DIY amps people have made based on these tripath chipsets that have had distortion below many high end class AB amps.

The main reason class D generally is not good for anything but bass is because they generally have more distortion than their class AB counterparts.

 

Realisitally you wont notice a diffrance in sound if your asking this question......not trying to be rude, just honest.

Thier are many classes of amps

A,B,AB, T,D, etc

read up on em

 

I guess I disagree there... class D really has to be done correctly to get decent "not-subwoofer" sound out of it. It can sound noticeably distorted if not done right.

As for classes of amps:

Class A - Least distortion, horrible efficiency (runs hot as hell), not used much, if at all in car audio due to efficiency

Class B - Better efficiency than A, also suffers from crossover distortion (a whole other topic)

Class AB - in between class A and B. Higher efficiency than A, less distortion than B. Most car amplifiers are in this class

Class D - Basically a fast switching amplifier with a giant output filter on the output to try to recreate sound. Highest efficiency, generally more distortion than class AB

Class T - A trademarked class D type amplifier that was made by a company called Tripath.

 

Main problem that you face now is finding a class D amp that will allow full range. They aren't all that common from what I've noticed. The xover usually only goes as high as 250Hz. I haven't seen many class Ds that go above that. Full range capable amps will have much higher xover options as well as allow high pass adjustment instead of just low pass

 

I was thinking of driving 2 up6 up front and the original back side speakers(for a bit of rear fill ) , and 1 ID 10" sub , all with one Alpine PDX-5, I guess it's not a good idea ??

 

was planning on doing pretty much the same thing as randyc by running the PDX-5. I'm looking for a small 5 channel amp I can hide in the stock amp location and from the reviews it looks like it would be the perfect amp for my situation (power wise as well)...anyone using it and how do you like it? any other amps I should be looking at?

 

the PDX-5 is a different kind of amp it's one of those amps that Midnight was talking about. it's got built in circuitry that will allow for the efficiency of the D class amp but will give you the warm sound of the class AB amp.
Either way a 5 channel amp is made to do that.
When you were asking about class ab vs D I thought you were thinking of something else... more details man!!! haha

 

Yeah, the newer class d amps such as the JL HD 600/4 and the Alpine pdx series don't necessarily follow the typical class d profile. I'm not aware of other class d amps or companies that make similiar amps.

 

Audison, Focal, basically a lot of the higher end amp manufacturers make at least one.
I almost bought the Audison SRx3 2 grand for that lil sucker... but got the focal amps much cheaper than cost

 

Glad to hear the PDX-5 will do fine .THANKS GUYS FOR INFO