Rockford Fosgate 5.3x manual DSM Discrete Surface Mount Technology

◆DSM (Discrete Surface Mount) Technology

The DSM (Discrete Surface Mount) manufacturing process combines the advantages of both discrete components and integrated circuitry. Rockford Fosgate is the only American amplifier manufacturer to have invested millions into this process. DSM components differ from conventional discrete components in different ways. They are more compact, more rugged, and they efficiently dissipate generated heat. Using them wherever appropriate allows the advantages associated with discrete circuitry to be retained while also providing room for both highly advanced processing features and generous PC board copper paths where needed. Their short lead-out structures allow maximum audio performance and highest signal-to-noise ratios to be obtained in amplifiers of desirable package size without resorting to “amplifier-on-a-chip” shortcuts. These advantages are shown below in Figure 1.

Figure 1

PC

Board

Thru-Hole

Component

Solder Solder

PC

Board

Surface Mount

THE RESULT: Fewer connections, improved reliability, shorter signal paths, superior signal-to-noise ratio and awesome sonic performance.

◆NOMAD (NOn-Multiplying Advanced Decision)

All Rockford Fosgate amplifiers use an analog computer process to maximize safe output power under all operating conditions. The innovative NOMAD (NOn-Multiplying Advanced Decision) system is the most sophisticated version of this technique ever used, bringing previously unavailable levels of accuracy, stability, temperature immunity and reliability to this critical process. NOMAD makes advanced decisions based on device voltages to precisely control the awesome levels of current available in the output MOSFETs to safe values – but only when absolutely needed.

THE RESULT: Extremely fast protection system that always protects the amplifier and never degrades the sound.

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