Lightning Audio S1.600D

Price & Contact: Call for pricing;
480-966-8278, www.lightningaudio.com
All measurements @ 14 colts unless otherwise specified:
Frequency Response (4-ohm IHF Load, 60 Hz Ref. crossover @ highest setting}: -0dB, -3 dB @ 240 Hz
L/R channel error max deviation 20 Hz to 20 kHz: N/A
Signal-to-Noise Ratio (Below Rated Output, “A” weighted): -85.1 dB
Distortion at Rated Output @ 60 Hz: 0.37% @ 600 watts
Output Power (Resistive) (4 ohms @ 60 Hz to 1% THD+N): 429 watts @14 volts, 344 watts @ 12.8 volts, 243 watts @ 10.5 volts
Output Power (Resistive) (2 Ohms @ 60 Hz to 1% THD+N): 673 watts @ 14 volts, 600 watts @ 12.8 volts, 393 watts @ 10.5 volts
Output Power (Reactive) (4-ohm IHF Load @ 60 Hz to 1% THD+N): 452 watts
Output Power (Reactive) (2-ohm IHF Load @ 60Hz to 1% THD+N): 804 watts
Crosstalk @ rated output, 20 Hz to 20 kHz: N/A
Damping Factor, 2 ohms @ 100 Hz: 62
Voltage for Rated Output: 231mV to 5.6 volts
Idle Current Draw: 1 amp
Current Draw @ 1/3 Maximum Power: 20.2 amps @ 226 watts
Efficiency @ 1/3 Maximum Power : 80%
Power-Up Noise: 50 dB SPL
Power-Down Noise: 58.7 dB SPL

		Lightning Audio S1.600D www.lightningaudio.com
		The “strike first” company invites you to throw a bolt of power into your subwoofer with the S1.600D amp.		Lightning Audio S1.600D Specs Price & Contact: Call for pricing; 480-966-8278, www.lightningaudio.com All measurements @ 14 colts unless otherwise specified: Frequency Response (4-ohm IHF Load, 60 Hz Ref. crossover @ highest setting}: -0dB, -3 dB @ 240 Hz L/R channel error max deviation 20 Hz to 20 kHz: N/A Signal-to-Noise Ratio (Below Rated Output, “A” weighted): -85.1 dB Distortion at Rated Output @ 60 Hz: 0.37% @ 600 watts Output Power (Resistive) (4 ohms @ 60 Hz to 1% THD+N): 429 watts @14 volts, 344 watts @ 12.8 volts, 243 watts @ 10.5 volts Output Power (Resistive) (2 Ohms @ 60 Hz to 1% THD+N): 673 watts @ 14 volts, 600 watts @ 12.8 volts, 393 watts @ 10.5 volts Output Power (Reactive) (4-ohm IHF Load @ 60 Hz to 1% THD+N): 452 watts Output Power (Reactive) (2-ohm IHF Load @ 60Hz to 1% THD+N): 804 watts Crosstalk @ rated output, 20 Hz to 20 kHz: N/A Damping Factor, 2 ohms @ 100 Hz: 62 Voltage for Rated Output: 231mV to 5.6 volts Idle Current Draw: 1 amp Current Draw @ 1/3 Maximum Power: 20.2 amps @ 226 watts Efficiency @ 1/3 Maximum Power : 80% Power-Up Noise: 50 dB SPL Power-Down Noise: 58.7 dB SPL
		by Brian Smith

		The S1.600D is a single channel class D subwoofer amp with power ratings of 300 watts into 4 ohms and 600 watts into 2 ohms. Features include a defeatable subsonic filter, a variable internal low pass filter, a wired remote bass boost, and pass through RCA outputs. Optional features include a cooling fan module that replaces the amp’s top panel and an electrolytic capacitor that can be connected via a plug located adjacent to the amp’s power input plug. Performance Performance from the S1.600D proved to be quite impressive. The amp managed to beat its power ratings by a substantial margin, especially when driving reactive loads. The only time output fell below the ratings was during our resistive measurements with a 10.5-volt supply, and that’s pretty much to be expected with a loosely regulated amp. Signal-to-noise measured just a bit better than -85 dB, which puts this unit among the quieter class D amps that we’ve seen. Efficiency measured an impressive 80 percent at 1/3 maximum power, requiring a meager current draw of 20.2 amps or about 283 watts to produce an output of 226 watts. About the only gripes that I can come up with from a performance standpoint are the relatively high turn-on/off noises and a slight increase in THD+N at low power levels with a 14-volt supply. The 1 to 2% THD+N seen between about 1 and 5 watts is unlikely to be a concern simply because very few people will ever listen to an amp of this size at such a meager power level. Connections & Adjustments Connections to the S1.600D include RCA inputs, paralleled RCA outputs, a telephone-style connector for remote bass boost, 5/8-inch spade receptacles for speaker connections, and modular plugs for power, ground, remote turn-on, and power-cell capacitor connections. Adjustments include input sensitivity, subsonic filter enable (-3 dB at 21 Hz), low pass cutoff frequency (3rd order, 44 Hz-240 Hz), and remote bass boost (+2 dB-+22 dB at 42 Hz). Installation From an installation standpoint, the S1.600D should be relatively easy to work with. The amp is quite small and all of the connections and adjustments are clearly labeled and laid out in a sensible manner. Aesthetically speaking, all of Lightning Audio’s amps have an “interesting” appearance. To take a stab at an analogy, I’d say that this unit looks like a cross between some type of racecar from the old sci-fi movie Tron and a nuclear powered vacuum cleaner. Given that aesthetics are completely subjective in nature, I’m going take the moral high road and stick with technical observation. And the main point that leaps to my attention is the relative lack of surface area provided by the amp’s heat sink. As Lightning Audio and many others have said in the past, this is a heat sink from the ‘thermal mass’ school of thought. While I’m in no mood to argue the finer points of heat sink design (again), I will give them one thing; if there’s an amp design in which one can get away with a less than optimum heat sink, class D would be it. Personally though, I’d be shelling out the few extra bucks for that optional fan module.