High power class D Amp Build (5 channel, spectrum analyzer, pre&post-amp signal leveling)

Question

Well I hope this is the right place to start this discussion. I don't know much about element 14.

Anyways, to the point.

The goal here is to make a high power (ie 5000w) 5 channel class d amp with signal leveling before and after the amplification process as well as having a spectrum analyzer. To get even more in depth when I explain this lets say I want it to take an audio signal in, analyze and level that signal, amplify that signal, analyze and level that signal again, send that signal to a spectrum analyzer, and cross that signal over to 5 channels (high-fq-l/r, mid-fq-l/r, and then 1 low-fq) all while maintaining great efficiency and audio quality.

I need help making the power supply, the eq and spectrum analyzer (thinking about Arduino), the amp it self, and the cross-overs (everything pretty much). And It has to be from scratch (as much as possible).

If I can get a list of all the components I need to have knowledge about I think I can figure out how to make this project come together. That's basically what I'm asking of you. Can Someone get me a list of components to research such as MOSFETS, Microprocessors, etc...?

jw0752 · Answer

Hi Buck, I would check out a book by Paul Scherz and Simon Monk called "Practical Electronics for Inventors ". Make sure you get the Third Edition as this edition is pretty clean of errata. This book takes you through the basics of electronics including MOSFETs and Arduino. While it will not give you the exact instruction for building what you have described in your amplifier project it will get you started in the right direction. John

michaelkellett · Answer

EQ can't get rid of distortion at the output of a power amplifier - you would need another power amplifier after the EQ - we solve this problem (in a great many control systems not just audio) by using feedback so we compare the actual output with the output we wanted and adjust the signal going to the amplifier or features of the amplifier accordingly. I'm going to bug you by saying this but you need to walk before you run - my first audio power amplifier was based on a design from the Mullard Audio Handbook and produced 25W. I went on and built quite a few high power audio amps from scratch - I still have a roughly 200W per channel amp that I built about 40 years ago - it still works. A 10kW amp is a big and serious project - at his power level you will almost certainly run into serious safety issues (and not just your ears) as well as very difficult engineering problems. You are years of study and effort away from this. BTW - 5kW is completely un-necessary to achieve a high sound level in a car - I know some people mess with such systems but they have about the same relationship to audio for listening as drag racers do to family saloons. I can't really help you in a general sense - if you come back with specific questions I'll do my best. if you decide to try your hand at a less ambitious amplifier for a start I can make some suggestions. MK