Powersoft Amp Mains Connections
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Category: General
Forum Name: Amp Forum
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URL: https://forum.speakerplans.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=103884
Printed Date: 27 March 2026 at 7:52am
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Topic: Powersoft Amp Mains Connections
Posted By: PAHS
Subject: Powersoft Amp Mains Connections
Date Posted: 18 June 2019 at 7:17pm
| I am considering upgrading my current amplifiers from MC2 to Powersoft after hearing my rig run with them, in my view there is a noticeable difference in sound quality. However I’ll be upgrading to 2 X K3 and 2 K8 to run my rig, but my question is how I mains power them. I see a lot of big rigs powered by 16A, 32A input supplies, such as c-form inputs but how does this differ when you are in a normal club which has the standard ring main, or doesn’t it make any difference? What is the best way to power them? |
Replies:
Posted By: csg
Date Posted: 18 June 2019 at 8:34pm
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i would STRONGLY recommend going down the X series route rather than the K series. K's are now very mature technology, i'd be surprised if they are produced by powersoft for much longer. The sound quality offered by X series is comfortably higher than that produced by K series units. DSP power is much improved in X series too. As regards power, you can easily run a X4 of 13A , maximum long term power draw is 3Kw, so you wont be blowing 13A fuses at 240V. There are those who can not deal with the duty factor at which the x series units operate - they are burst rated units ( as are the K series but to a lesser degree), but unless you are using your amplifiers as arc welding devices this is a non issue. ------------- “The fact is this is about identifying what we do best and finding more ways of doing less of it better” |
Posted By: toastyghost
Date Posted: 18 June 2019 at 8:44pm
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A T604 would be a better choice than two K3 now. An X4 is a much better choice than two K8. Both run the latest DSP. Both are fine on their own 13A plug if the show only has that. |
Posted By: PAHS
Date Posted: 18 June 2019 at 10:06pm
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Thanks guys - so are we saying that to power the likes of the K3 and K8, it’s more difficult when used in club surroundings? How do these fare on a standard 13A plug? Love the sound of the X4 etc but that’s a lot of £s and I don’t think I’ve seen them come up second hand at all, I may be wrong.
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Posted By: Father-Francis
Date Posted: 18 June 2019 at 11:49pm
and what replaces the K20 , the X4L cost may than the X8 , i also love to have an amp for subs , K20 does a good job , the price of one x4l will get me 2 and a half K20's , do i get the same power ? ------------- Music is the strongest form of magic.(+45 31879997)blakmanpro@gmail.com, foa@sweetboxaudio.dk |
csg wrote:Posted By: csg
Date Posted: 19 June 2019 at 6:16am
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for high duty factor use, nothing replaces the K20 directly. The long term output of the x4l is lower than that of the K20. In mainstream markets / touring there is nothing that the X4L can not power currently that i can think off. Unfortunately powersoft is probably not particularly interested in directly replacing the K20 for a very small market - so it may rumble on for a while yet. ------------- “The fact is this is about identifying what we do best and finding more ways of doing less of it better” |
Posted By: toastyghost
Date Posted: 19 June 2019 at 7:05am
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Long term current is not as useful as more peak voltage for 95% of music content, hence the X4L. Dynamics is the key, even for 6dB crest factor. And no they’re all fine in any circumstance. Just use an adapter. |
Posted By: taurusty
Date Posted: 19 June 2019 at 2:14pm
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What's an X4L? How does it differ fr a normal X4? How does it compare to a K 10 ( which I consider better value for money than a K 20)? |
Posted By: toastyghost
Date Posted: 19 June 2019 at 2:51pm
It's essentially an X8 in permanent bridge with hardware modifications and custom firmware to handle the 300V peak, 140A peak per channel voltage capability. A K20 is 225V and 125A peak per channel and a K10 is 200V and 125A peak per channel. The X series of course has DSP by default, running on the same ARM Cortex A8 found in many high end smartphones, and with 1GB of RAM. It's got a fixed 2.51ms latency vs. the KDSP fixed 5ms. It also has a power supply that runs on 3 phase, bi-phase, or single phase, amongst other things. |
Posted By: logsquared1
Date Posted: 19 June 2019 at 4:15pm
| X4L looks like a beast. Anybody now the long term power capabilities in watts? |
Posted By: csg
Date Posted: 19 June 2019 at 7:11pm
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maximum long term power consumption is rated as 5000w. this is the same as the X8, but obviously shared over fewer channels, not surprising as the PSU is likely identical if not very close. double the long term capability of the x8 which im sure has been identified and you will likely have the answer. as above, in the real world this is a monster that swings much voltage and will, given the opportunity, fry more or less any conceivable load. regarding the cost - 2.5 times a K20 is probably about right when you consider twice the channel count, more voltage and current on dynamic peaks, higher sound quality, much more powerful DSP and networking chips etc etc.
------------- “The fact is this is about identifying what we do best and finding more ways of doing less of it better” |
Posted By: logsquared1
Date Posted: 19 June 2019 at 10:18pm
Sorry, can't quite understand what you're saying here.
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Posted By: Chris Grimshaw
Date Posted: 20 June 2019 at 9:18am
+1. I really do like my T-series amps. I believe both have the option to limit the mains current they pull, although that will of course impact performance if you're running hard. Chris ------------- Quality sound from Sheffield www.grimshawaudio.com |