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Flexible Amplifier Summing Technology (FAST)

Site: QSC
Course: PLD & CXD Training
Book: Flexible Amplifier Summing Technology (FAST)
Printed by: Guest user
Date: Sunday, 24 November 2024, 8:14 PM

Description

Table of contents

Helpful Tips and Definitions

  • FAST or Flexible Amplifier Summing Technology enables the user to configure 4, 3, 2 and single Channel Amplifier Configurations.

  • All Amplifiers are limited by two primary factors; Current and Voltage. Understanding this means that FAST allows any combination of 4 Channels to be summed and run in parallel mode.

  • By running 2 Channels in parallel mode these Amplifiers allows the greatest amount of utilization for higher power at low impedences. Doing this provides a signifacntly larger amount of power while still maintaining low wattage.

  • These Amplifiers especially excel when multi-channel configuration is bridged with another multi-channel configuration running in parallel. This opens up a huge amount of power in the 4-8 OmH region where most loudspeakers reside.

Video Transcript

0:00
Hi. My name is Dale Sandburg and I'm the product manager for the new PLD and CXD amplifiers from QSC.
0:07
Today I'm going to show you the power-handling technology that makes these amplifiers so incredibly versatile, efficient, and unique.
0:14
It's called Flexible Amplifier Summing Technology, or FAST.
0:19
This patent-pending feature enables you to configure the amplifier using four, three, two, and single channel amplifier configurations, making this the most flexible amp QSC has ever created.
0:33
Let me show you how it works. All amplifiers are limited by two factors: current and voltage.
0:41
The vertical axis on this graph represents the amount of power than can be delivered at varying levels of loudspeaker impedance, seen on the horizontal axis.
0:50
This defines the deliverable power to a single audio channel.
0:54
Typical amplifiers allow the user to bridge an incoming signal across two channels.
0:58
This gets more power into higher-impedance loudspeakers.
1:02
You can think of these audio channels as garden hoses.
1:05
In order to increase the water coming out, you can increase the water pressure.
1:08
This is what bridge mode does.
1:11
But this bridging operation isn't very helpful to loudspeakers running at lower impedances.
1:17
FAST technology takes this idea to the next level.
1:20
First of all, FAST allows for any combination of four channels to be summed and run in parallel mode.
1:26
When two channels are run in parallel mode, they provide far better utilization of the current for higher power at low impedances.
1:34
In the garden hose analogy, parallel mode is like adding an additional water hose of the same pressure.
1:41
The total volume of water is doubled, or tripled, or even quadrupled.
1:46
You can see that running three or four channels in parallel provides significantly more power to loudspeakers with lower impedances, like multiple subwoofers connected together.
1:56
But where this Flexible Amplifier Summing Technology really shines is taking two channels in parallel and bridging them with another two channels in parallel,
2:05
opening up a huge amount of power in the 4-8 ohm region, where most loudspeakers reside.
2:12
Remember, the amount of deliverable power in this region will also be limited by the power supply of the amplifier.
2:19
It's easy to see that PLD and CXD amplifiers from QSC offer significantly more usable power than any other amplifier on the market.
2:27
And remember, we still offer single and bridge mode in addition to parallel and parallel-bridge modes.
2:33
If you're not sure which combination of channels is the best for your application, don't worry.
2:38
The onboard Configuration Wizard can analyze your loudspeaker arrangement and recommend the best setup for your particular application.
2:46
Thanks for watching.