Power amplifiers for installed sound and live events
A power amplifier takes a line-level signal from a mixer or processor and drives the loudspeakers, either at low impedance (2 to 8 Ω) or on 70 V or 100 V distributed lines that run many ceiling speakers from one channel. This collection covers Bose Professional PowerShare, PowerShareX, PowerSpace, PowerMatch and FreeSpace IZA amplifiers, d&b audiotechnik D-Series and installation amplifiers with their touring racks, JBL CSA-2120 commercial amplifiers and the Shure MXN-AMP PoE+ amplifier for meeting rooms.
Amplifiers sit between the signal processing and the loudspeakers. The processors that feed them over Bose AmpLink or Dante are in Audio Processors, and the speakers they drive are in Loudspeakers and Ceiling & Wall-Mount Speakers.
How to choose a power amplifier
Low impedance or 70 V / 100 V lines
Ceiling speakers in offices, shops and hotels usually run on 70 V or 100 V lines, where each speaker has a transformer tap and the taps are added up per channel. Full-range and subwoofer cabinets in halls and venues run at 4 or 8 Ω. Bose PowerShare and PowerShareX channels switch between 4 to 8 Ω and 70 V or 100 V without bridging. The FreeSpace IZA 2120-HZ is a 70 V / 100 V model and the IZA 2120-LZ a low-impedance model, both rated 2 × 120 W.
Power per channel and power sharing
Add up the speaker taps or power ratings on each channel and keep headroom. Bose PowerShare amplifiers share their total power across 4 channels: the PS404D has 400 W and the PS604D 600 W, so one channel can take more when another needs less. The PowerShareX range is rated 300 W (PSX1204D), 600 W (PSX2404D) and 1,200 W (PSX4804D) per channel at 4 Ω, 8 Ω, 70 V or 100 V. d&b rates the D80 at 4 × 4,000 W into 4 Ω.
Installation, mixer and touring amplifiers
Installation amplifiers such as the d&b 40D, 10D and 5D use Euroblock connectors and rack mounting for permanent systems; the 5D is 1RU and half rack width. Touring amplifiers such as the d&b D40, D80 and D90 are built for mobile use, and d&b supplies them in prewired touring racks of 3 or 6 amplifiers with mains distribution. Mixer amplifiers such as the Bose FreeSpace IZA combine source inputs, a paging microphone input and amplification in one unit for small zones.
Inputs, networking and control
Dante, AmpLink and Milan
Networked inputs remove long analog runs between rack and amplifier. Bose PowerShare and PowerShareX amplifiers take 4 Dante input channels, and Bose PowerMatch amplifiers accept a Dante card or an AmpLink input card from ControlSpace processors. The d&b D40, 40D and D90 accept 8 Milan network audio inputs, 4 analog and 4 AES3 channels, and the 5D takes 4 Dante and 4 analog inputs. The Shure MXN-AMP has 4 Dante inputs and outputs.
DSP, presets and power
Bose lists PowerShare, PowerShareX and PowerSpace+ as multichannel DSP amplifiers, configured in Bose software, and d&b amplifiers carry loudspeaker presets for current d&b cabinets, with LoadMatch on the D40 preserving tonal balance over cable runs of up to 70 m. The Shure MXN-AMP is powered by PoE+ and delivers 14.5 W combined, enough for up to 4 Shure MXP loudspeakers at 8 Ω or 8 MXP-5 or MXP-6 loudspeakers on 70 V.
Where power amplifiers are used
Mixer and multichannel amplifiers run background music and paging in retail stores, restaurants, hotels, offices and fitness clubs, often with wall controls from Zone Controllers in each area. High-power d&b and Bose PowerSpace amplifiers drive the main and subwoofer cabinets in ballrooms, auditoriums, places of worship and live events, and the Shure MXN-AMP powers ceiling speakers in meeting rooms; see Boardrooms & Meeting Rooms. In the UAE, amplifiers produce heat in racks that are often in small rooms, so plan cooling and airflow with the air conditioning.
Installation and planning
An amplifier rack works reliably when power, heat and wiring are planned with the loudspeaker layout. Before ordering, check:
- Load per channel: the total transformer taps on each 70 V or 100 V line, or the impedance of each low-impedance channel.
- Mains and heat: the PS604D draws up to 700 W and the PSX4804D up to 840 W at 1/8 power into 4 Ω, so size circuits and cooling.
- Mains version: some d&b listings are US or NEMA versions; confirm the 230 V mains version and connectors for the UAE.
Most amplifiers here are 19-inch rack units: the PowerShare and PowerShareX are 1RU, and the d&b D80 and 40D are 2RU, at 19 kg and 13.3 kg. Leave space for the airflow direction Bose and d&b specify, and label each output with its zone or speaker group.
Power amplifiers in this collection
The amplifiers fall into three groups by application.
- Commercial installed sound: Bose PowerShare PS604D, PowerShareX PSX4804D, PowerSpace and PowerMatch models, and JBL CSA-2120, for zoned music and paging.
- Mixer and meeting room amplifiers: Bose FreeSpace IZA 2120-HZ, IZA 2120-LZ and IZA 190-HZ, and the Shure MXN-AMP.
- d&b audiotechnik: d&b 5D, 10D and 40D installation amplifiers, and D80, D40 and D90 touring amplifiers with touring racks.
CorporateAV.ae is an authorised dealer of Shure and a supplier of genuine Bose Professional, d&b audiotechnik and JBL Professional products in the UAE. To plan a system, use Request a Project Quote with the speaker list, line voltage or impedance, and the number of zones.
Applications and technical planning
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a 70V/100V amplifier and a low-impedance amplifier?
How does Bose PowerShare technology work?
How much power do the Bose PowerShareX amplifiers deliver?
What is the difference between the d&b D40 and the d&b 40D?
Which d&b amplifier suits a small installed system?
What is a d&b touring rack?
What is a Bose FreeSpace IZA integrated zone amplifier?
What does the Shure MXN-AMP power in a meeting room?
How much power does the d&b D80 deliver?
How do I size an amplifier for a 70V ceiling speaker system?
For help confirming the technical requirements for your project, contact CorporateAV: Call +971 56 498 8088, WhatsApp +971564988088, or email info@corporateav.ae.
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