WX
10000.1
Technical
Manual
from its signal-modulated power supply, eliminating many power-wasting components common to
conventional designs. The signal-modulated power supply amplifi es each polarity of the audio signal
separately through two voice coil outputs, each driving one coil of a dual-voice coil subwoofer or DVC
subwoofer array. This fresh approach… essentially a power supply with gain… results in effi ciencies
greater than 90%! SPL competitors will fi nd this very attractive and advantageous as they seek to
wring those elusive last few decibels from their vehicle. Consumers anxious to experience cutting edge
technology will appreciate the amplifi er’s ability to interface with a broad range of components and
vehicles.
The idea of a signal modulated power supply directly driving the subwoofers is an idea that we have
thought about for a few decades. Combining the conventional power supply with the amplifi er section
results in higher effi ciency than is possible with established designs. When building an amplifi er this
powerful, effi cient conversion of battery power to audio power is critical.
The basis for the Warhorse is anchored in conventional designs. There are two large DC-to-DC pulse
width modulated converters with ratios of 1:19. One converter is a positive power supply and the other
is a negative supply. Combined they are capable of 400V of peak to peak output. These power supplies
are designed to have no output until they are told to by the audio signal. Without a signal the converters
are running with the minimum pulse width.
These large converters have to be bulletproof. The MOSFETs used to do the switching are rated at
75 Volts and 170 Amps. Since there are 32 of these MOSFETs on each side of the power supply the
combined current capability is 10,880 Amps! With the output short-circuit protected at 90 Amps, the
maximum capability of the Warhorse is 12,690 Watts. That should qualify as overbuilt. The MOSFETs
chosen are the best devices to get the job done. Their typical 3.6 mili-ohms of “on” resistance is the best
available for this application, resulting in best-case effi ciency.
The small-signal processing is done in the digital domain using a modern Texas Instruments 150 M Hz
CMOS 32 bit CPU. This processor has a 12 bit ADC and 16 channels.
The Warhorse has multiple “housekeeping” power supplies to operate the processors, LEDs, protection
circuits and preamp parts. They include a + 12 Volt, +/- 5 Volt and a +3.3 Volt supply.
Transformers are among the most important
parts in a high-powered mobile amplifi er.
KICKER engineers were tasked with
building a no-compromise amplifi er, so no-
compromise transformers were paramount.
Back in the 80’s our military began using
Planar transformer design for their desirable
properties. We use very special proprietary
Planar transformers designed and prototyped
in the Kicker R&D department. Production of
the transformers in quantity has been sourced
from Tunisia. There is only one source for
transformer cores this large. The cores are
rated at 5,000 watts each and four are in
each Warhorse amplifi er.
2
