Mono Block Amp?

[apollo30346]

Could someone please explain what a Mono Block or a Mono amp means and is there a difference in the way they are hooked up...I know that Mono, means just that ( not stereo)..But my question is on a Class D Mono Amp..That looks like it has 2 channels, but does it really.... I just got the new Orion 600D and when I opened the box there is no mamual....and of corse the place said would look for one...But I even went on Orions website and there is no manuals on the how to hook it up....I know how to install, but am confused on if a mono amp is really only 1 channel or is it really 2...I hop this makes sense...maybe I am just tired of doing my system so many times....and am now doing it again... f someone could help me with the how to hook up or where online I can look at the manual...that would be great...

[brianw21]

A mono amp means that there is a single amplification channel. MY JL 1000/1 has a stereo input even though it's mono.

JL reccomends (to get the best performance) getting a Y connector from radio shack or the like.

Class D amplifiers use a digital switching technology to switch the amplifiers output devices at a very high rate. When you average the switching off and on, you get a sine wave, and hence sound. Because switching it much more effiecient than current control (mosfets) you get a much higher effeciency, lower heat output, and smaller chassis.

Because the Class D devices can only switch so fast by design, they loose sonic resolution the higher the frequency they have to amplify... so most of the time you only see them amplifing to 120hz.

Tripath developed a faster switch, but it doesn't handle as much power. They dubbed thier design Class T. Because it switches so fast it can amplify the enitre range... but looses current control, and hence has a lower power output.

Class A/B devices use a bias current that is always on, this allows for a VERY accurate control of the output current. Because of the higher bias current there is a lot of energy wasted, so thier effeciancy is low (30 - 50%). But the sound is much lower.

The following is pretty standard for quality amps at full power:

A/B: .01% THD
D: .5% THD
T: .1% THD