Views: 1944 Author: Sanway Audio Publish Time: 2019-12-09 Origin: Site
Recently, we have many customers sent us inquiry for a solution that choosing a suitable amplifier for their speaker. Some of them are DIY loudspeaker makers, some of them was thinking to make their passive speaker active, so that can save money rather to buy a rack amplifier.
Which plate amplifier should I use for my speaker?
Firstly, you should know different kinds of plate amplifier module.
What is plate amplifier?
Plate amplifiers are designed for use in powered speaker system. There are various kinds of plate amplifier module with different channel, power and function. Currently, Sanway Audio has produced three categories active amplifiers: One channel, two channel and three channel.
All plate amplifier with built-in DSP with MUTE, Polarity, Gain, Delay ,Limiter, Mixer, EQ, X-Over function allows the user to set up and modify the signal processing data.
Also integrated USB or RS-485 interface enable DJ or engineer to control the system via PC.
One channel plate amplifier for use in full- Range speaker and subwoofer.
D1-450D | 1x450W at 8 ohms; 1x500W at 4 ohms |
D1-650D | 1x650D at 8 ohms; 1x700W at 4 ohms |
D1-800D | 1x800W at 8 ohms; 1x850W at 4 ohms |
D1-1KD | 1x1000W at 8 ohms; 1x1200W at 4 ohms |
D2-SUB8 | 1x1600W at 8 ohms |
D2-SUB4 | 1x900W at 8 ohms; 1x1800W at 4 ohms |
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Two channel active speaker amplifier module for use in bi-amp loudspeaker, line array and stereo or subwoofer+ satellite sets
D2L/D2S | 2x500W at 8 ohms; 2x900W at 4 ohms |
D2S-TWO | 2x500W at 8 ohms; 2x900W at 4 ohms with additional output to link another passive speaker |
D2450 | 2x450W at 8 ohms; 4x500W at 4 ohms |
D2650 | 2x650W at 8 ohms; 2x700W at 4 ohms |
D2800 | 2x800W at 8 ohms; 2x850W at 4 ohms |
D2-825 | 800W+250W 8 ohms |
D103S-2CH | 1000W+300W at 8 ohms; 1600W+550W at 4 ohms |
D133S-2CH | 1300W+300W at 8 ohms; 1700W+550W at 4 ohms |
D155S-2CH | 1500W+500W at 8 ohms; 1800W+700W at 4 ohms |
D3-2CH | 2x1500W at 8 ohms; 2x1800W at 4 ohms |
D2-250D | 2x250W at 8 ohms; 2x350W at 4 ohms |
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Three channel active amplifier module for use in stereo sets, composed of subwoofer and full range speaker pairs, installed in a subwoofer.
D3 | 1500W+500W+500W at 8 ohms; 1800W+900W+900W at 4 ohms |
D3-2.1 | 1500W+2x500W at 8 ohms; 1800W+2x900W at 4 ohms |
D3-215 | 1500W+1500W+500W at 8 ohms; 1800W+1800W+900W at 4 ohms |
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Secondly, you should know your speaker.
1. RMS power of each speaker driver in the speaker.
To choose a suitable amplifier, you should know the power of your speaker and nominal impedance firstly, so that know how much amplifier power will you need.
A massively distorted signal can blow a speaker at lower levels much faster than a clean signal will at high levels. The bottom line is that you want to have an amplifier that can drive the speakers hard enough that you don’t need to be maxing out every part of the signal chain in order to get the music loud enough for the speakers. That’s where you start to run into messy audio and risk damaging your drivers.
You should have about 1.5 times more than nominal rated power for your top speakers and 2 about times more for your subwoofer so that you can handle the peaks associated with more dynamic tracks.
2. Connection of speaker driver
After understanding what power will you need, you may need to know how many channel of the amp do you need?
A. Full range speaker and single subwoofer.
If your speaker is full range speaker or single subwoofer, you could choose one channel plate amplifier.
Example:
1) SF15 single 15 inch full rang speaker: rms 500W 8 ohms.
We should choose a amplifier is one channel, power need 500x1.5=750W. Sanway Audio is using the D1-800D amplifier module 1x800W at 8 ohms for the speaker.
![]() Frequency Response (±3 dB) 50 Hz - 18 kHz Sensitivity (1w/1m) 102 dB SPL Long-term SPL 126dB Maximum SPL 136 dB Nominal Impedance8ohms Power rated(rms)500 watts Peak Power handling1000 watts Nominal Dispersion90 °H x 50 °V Low Frequency Driver 1×15inch High Frequency Driver1×.3 inch |
2) A single 18 inch subwoofer: rms 800W 8 ohms.
We should choose a amplifier is one channel, power need 800x2=1600W. We will use the D2-SUB8 1600W at 8 ohms plate amplifier for subwoofer.
B. Bi-amp line array and dual woofer subwoofer.
If your speaker or line array is bi-amp or dual woofer subwoofer, you should choose two channel plate amplifier.
Example:
1) L-2 speaker consists of 1x5 inch LF driver, 1x8 inch MF driver, and 1x1.75 inch HF driver. There a crossover between MF and HF. LF is 400W 8 ohms, MHF is 250W at 8 ohms. Sanway Audio is using D2-825 2 channel amplifier 800W for LF, 250W for MHF.
![]() Sensitivity(1w/1m) LF:102dB MF:106dB HF:107dB Low frequency driver 1 ×15 inch Mid frequency driver 1 x 8 inch High frequency driver 1 ×1 inch Nominal dispersion50 ° ×25 °V Dimensions(H ×W ×D)920×522 ×445mm Enclosure material18mm plywood |
2) L-8028 dual 18 inch subwoofer. Each woofer RMS is 800W at 8 ohms. Sanway Audio installed D3-2CH 2x1500W at 8ohms 2 channel subwoofer plate amplifier for L-8028.
C. stereo sets, composed of subwoofer and full range speaker pairs, installed in a subwoofer.
If you want to make a powered system that active subwoofer power 2 pcs passive top speaker, Sanway Audio D3 3 channel plate amplifier is the good choice.
Example: VR10&S30 line array system. We mount one D3 customized 1800W+900W+900W at 4 ohms three way class-D DSP powered amplifier module in S30 cabinet box. The 1800W channel to driver the S30, and 900W+900W two channel to driver two top VR10 Bi-amped line array speakers.
![]() ModelVR10 Drivers1 x 10" LF / 2 x 1.75" HF Frequency range60 - 16000 Hz Power capacity program / peak:500 / 1000 W bi-amped LF 200 / 400 W bi-amped HF 600 / 1200 W ModelS30 Driver2 x 15" Frequency range35-200 Hz Power capacity/ peaker2400/4800W Impedance4 ohms |
3. Space of the cabinet box.
If you are a speaker box maker, you could open the hole in the cabinet according to the dimension of the amplifier module.
After choosing the right power plate amplifier, you should check the size of the amp if you want to make your current passive speaker to be active. Some speaker is so compact, they may not have enough space to install a plate amplifier.
Please feel free to send us the specification of your speakers, Sanway team is glad to give you suggestion for a suitable plate amplifier.
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: sales@china-sanway.com
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