d&b D80: More power, clean power

Until this, d&b audiotechnik has powered its entire range of PA cabinets with either of just two amplifiers, the D6 and D12. The D6 isn’t suitable for some of d&b’s systems, while the D12 caters for them all.

Now a new flagship amplifier has been released, called the D80, and again like the D12 it contains configurations for all d&b loudspeakers and a linear mode, however the specs from that point on are a very different read. For example, the 3RU D12 offers 2 channels of 1200 watts into 4 ohms – the 2RU D80 gives you 4 channels of 4000 watts into 4 ohms.

As you’d expect the D80 has a swag of DSP functions for system design and the boffins at d&b tell us that one consideration behind the 2RU design was to provide enough front panel real estate for a decent-sized TFT touchscreen. They also put extra effort towards the D80’s power supply.

The Class D amplifier utilises a switch mode power supply with Power Factor Correction (PFC). The PFC technology promises that the output of the D80 remains largely independent from voltage variations caused by heavily loaded mains supplies or dodgy on-site generators.

You can quickly compare all three amplifiers at www.dbaudio.com and there’s a D80 video presentation that won’t be winning any Oscars anytime soon. A nice change from much of the new NAMM stuff – which is often announced, but not actually available yet – stock of the D80 exists in Oz right now.