Lab.gruppen fp 2200 Brochure
Regulated Switch Mode Power Supply
(R.SMPS™)
R.SMPS™ is a key element in all Lab.gruppen products. A
masterpiece of engineering, its fundamental efficiency and
simplicity enable us to create such compact and lightweight
amplifiers. The fact that it is a regulated design guarantees its
ability to produce consistent transients and undistorted bass,
regardless of fluctuation in mains voltage.
masterpiece of engineering, its fundamental efficiency and
simplicity enable us to create such compact and lightweight
amplifiers. The fact that it is a regulated design guarantees its
ability to produce consistent transients and undistorted bass,
regardless of fluctuation in mains voltage.
Compact and Efficient: The transformer is much smaller
than those found in classic conventional amplifiers. Yet
through the use of an enhanced ferrite power transformer
core (fP = ‘ferrite Power’), huge magnetic field storage is
maintained at a capacity equivalent to its traditional heavy
iron-core counterpart.
Due to the efficiency of the power supply, the amount of
current required from the mains supply is considerably
reduced, dramatically lowering the risk of tripping the mains
fuses/breakers mid-show.
than those found in classic conventional amplifiers. Yet
through the use of an enhanced ferrite power transformer
core (fP = ‘ferrite Power’), huge magnetic field storage is
maintained at a capacity equivalent to its traditional heavy
iron-core counterpart.
Due to the efficiency of the power supply, the amount of
current required from the mains supply is considerably
reduced, dramatically lowering the risk of tripping the mains
fuses/breakers mid-show.
Reliable Power: In real world conditions, all too often the
mains voltage can drop significantly below nominal levels. It
mains voltage can drop significantly below nominal levels. It
may happen due to
regional problems,
unstable generators or
long cable runs. With an
fP Series amplifier and
its R.SMPS™ the supply
can drop down to as
much as 20% below
nominal mains voltage
and the amp will contin-
ue to deliver full output
power.
regional problems,
unstable generators or
long cable runs. With an
fP Series amplifier and
its R.SMPS™ the supply
can drop down to as
much as 20% below
nominal mains voltage
and the amp will contin-
ue to deliver full output
power.
Characteristics of different power supply designs:
1) The rail voltage of a conventional power supply (typically toroidal iron transformer)
drops proportionally with mains voltage sag.
1) The rail voltage of a conventional power supply (typically toroidal iron transformer)
drops proportionally with mains voltage sag.
2) The Lab.gruppen R.SMPS™ used in the fP Series provides stable voltage rails even
when mains voltage drops. as low as 90 Volts(@115V nom.) or 180 Volts (@230V nom.).
when mains voltage drops. as low as 90 Volts(@115V nom.) or 180 Volts (@230V nom.).
3) The rail voltage of other typical SMPS drops severely due to semiconductor losses.
Current limiting or low-voltage conditions shut down the supply
Current limiting or low-voltage conditions shut down the supply
6400 W into 2
Ω – weighing 10 kg / 22 lbs
Class Matters
When it comes to high power, we cannot forget about class.
Class AB, Class H, and even Class D are all familiar amplifier
topologies. At Lab.gruppen, we developed a class of our own.
Our flagship amplifiers, fP 6400 and fP 3400, utilize our own
patented Class TD design.
Class AB, Class H, and even Class D are all familiar amplifier
topologies. At Lab.gruppen, we developed a class of our own.
Our flagship amplifiers, fP 6400 and fP 3400, utilize our own
patented Class TD design.
The Evolution of Class TD: Class TD could be called ‘the
evolution of Class D’, where ‘TD’ stands for ‘Tracking Class
D’. Simply put, the power supply tracks the audio signal at all
frequencies and supplies the required rail voltage while also
reserving additional headroom. The voltage and current
delivered to the output stage is therefore exactly the precise
amount of energy required in real-time. This process is
extremely efficient, as only a tiny portion of energy is turned
into heat at the output stage.
evolution of Class D’, where ‘TD’ stands for ‘Tracking Class
D’. Simply put, the power supply tracks the audio signal at all
frequencies and supplies the required rail voltage while also
reserving additional headroom. The voltage and current
delivered to the output stage is therefore exactly the precise
amount of energy required in real-time. This process is
extremely efficient, as only a tiny portion of energy is turned
into heat at the output stage.
Our Class TD represents a quantum leap in amplifier design.
For high-power amps it proves to be the ultimate solution for
all the existing design compromises. Class TD combines the
For high-power amps it proves to be the ultimate solution for
all the existing design compromises. Class TD combines the
reliability and sonic per-
formance of Class AB
and the efficiency of
Class D. The quality of
the output signal
remains high due to the
proven Class AB com-
ponent of the design.
The entire audio path is
analog and is never
routed through the
switching portion of the circuit. Therefore the signal never
suffers from the side effects of being chopped into bits, such
as the ripple commonly found in the audio signal of a Class D
or PWM output. To make life even easier, Class TD works
perfectly under all conditions. The amp maintains its flat fre-
quency response with all complex loads even as low as 2W
(nominal). It is mono-bridgeable, reliable, and it does not interfere
with any other RF equipment.
formance of Class AB
and the efficiency of
Class D. The quality of
the output signal
remains high due to the
proven Class AB com-
ponent of the design.
The entire audio path is
analog and is never
routed through the
switching portion of the circuit. Therefore the signal never
suffers from the side effects of being chopped into bits, such
as the ripple commonly found in the audio signal of a Class D
or PWM output. To make life even easier, Class TD works
perfectly under all conditions. The amp maintains its flat fre-
quency response with all complex loads even as low as 2W
(nominal). It is mono-bridgeable, reliable, and it does not interfere
with any other RF equipment.
Both superb sound quality and high efficiency are
made possible thanks to Class TD technology.
made possible thanks to Class TD technology.
Evolution
A hundred years ago most people thought Jules Verne was
crazy when he said that some day boats would carry people
underwater and airships would transport people to the moon.
Today submarines roam the seas and astronaut Neil
Armstrong’s walk on the moon is ancient history.
Less than two decades ago, touring audio professionals every-
where thought that serious lightweight power amplifiers were
a pipedream. They were noisy, anemic-sounding and simply
unreliable.
crazy when he said that some day boats would carry people
underwater and airships would transport people to the moon.
Today submarines roam the seas and astronaut Neil
Armstrong’s walk on the moon is ancient history.
Less than two decades ago, touring audio professionals every-
where thought that serious lightweight power amplifiers were
a pipedream. They were noisy, anemic-sounding and simply
unreliable.
Switch Mode Technology: Fast-forward twenty years and
Lab.gruppen has changed things forever. To date, hundreds of
Lab.gruppen owners using thousands of Lab.gruppen amplifiers
know from personal experience that Lab.gruppen switch
mode technology and Class TD output technology is simply
superior to conventional designs. With fat bottom-end, out-
standing mids and silky smooth highs, Lab.gruppen performs
day in, day out.
Lab.gruppen has changed things forever. To date, hundreds of
Lab.gruppen owners using thousands of Lab.gruppen amplifiers
know from personal experience that Lab.gruppen switch
mode technology and Class TD output technology is simply
superior to conventional designs. With fat bottom-end, out-
standing mids and silky smooth highs, Lab.gruppen performs
day in, day out.
Professional Power
Looking at the power specification of amplifiers, the first
question always asked is ‘How much?’ The numbers on the
specification sheets can often be ambiguous. The real question
should be ‘For how long?’
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires that a power
amplifier must provide one-third of its nominal maximum output
power for at least one hour to meet its criteria. Except, most
average amplifiers are only able to deliver one-eighth of their
quoted power for more than a few minutes before going into
protection. Lab.gruppen believes that a professional amplifier
should meet, at a minimum, FTC test requirements.
All Lab.gruppen fP Series amplifiers are designed to meet or
exceed this stringent test, performing at more than one-third
of their nominal power for periods longer than an hour.
question always asked is ‘How much?’ The numbers on the
specification sheets can often be ambiguous. The real question
should be ‘For how long?’
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires that a power
amplifier must provide one-third of its nominal maximum output
power for at least one hour to meet its criteria. Except, most
average amplifiers are only able to deliver one-eighth of their
quoted power for more than a few minutes before going into
protection. Lab.gruppen believes that a professional amplifier
should meet, at a minimum, FTC test requirements.
All Lab.gruppen fP Series amplifiers are designed to meet or
exceed this stringent test, performing at more than one-third
of their nominal power for periods longer than an hour.
To Lab.gruppen ‘professional’ is more than just a word.
A ferrite transformer used in
the fP Series (upper) versus a
conventional iron transformer
typically used in conventional
designs (lower).
the fP Series (upper) versus a
conventional iron transformer
typically used in conventional
designs (lower).
AP printout shows that R.SMPS™ delivers improved power delivery at sub-bass
frequencies versus conventional designs.
Upper curve: fP 3400, R.SMPS™, Class TD
Lower curve: conventional amp, toroidal transformer, Class H.
The graph is not frequency response but shows maximum power delivery versus
frequency at less than 1% THD. The output of the fP 3400 remains almost perfectly
linear throughout the entire power bandwidth while the conventional amp sags
significantly at both low and high frequencies. While the conventional amp used in this
test is considered to be "one of the best amps for bass" in the business, the test
results clearly show that the fP is even better.
frequencies versus conventional designs.
Upper curve: fP 3400, R.SMPS™, Class TD
Lower curve: conventional amp, toroidal transformer, Class H.
The graph is not frequency response but shows maximum power delivery versus
frequency at less than 1% THD. The output of the fP 3400 remains almost perfectly
linear throughout the entire power bandwidth while the conventional amp sags
significantly at both low and high frequencies. While the conventional amp used in this
test is considered to be "one of the best amps for bass" in the business, the test
results clearly show that the fP is even better.
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