Recommendations For Finding The Ideal Audio Amplifier
I will have a look at some audio amplifiers and clarify some important expressions to help you select the perfect amplifier for your loudspeakers
There is a variety of different audio amplifiers available which all differ in their specifications, shape and size. By following some straightforward guidelines, you will be able to choose the type that best fits your application and resources. One important criterion is the size of the amp. You can buy models which can fill half a room. In contrast, a number of of the most recent miniature amp models are no larger than a deck of cards. Numerous models will be the size of a ordinary audio rack so that you can easily stack it on top of your audio equipment.
The huge majority of today's audio amplifiers are solid state amplifiers vs more traditional tube amplifiers. Tube amps have been prevalent a decade or so ago. Tube amplifiers, though, have a fairly high amount of harmonic distortion. Harmonic distortion describes how much the audio signal is degraded while being amplified. This term is often used while evaluating the audio quality of amps.
An audio distortion of up to 10% is typical for tube amps while solid-state amps have less audio distortion depending on the particular technology. In the past, typically "Class-A" and "Class-AB" amps were available which are also called "analog amplifiers". Whereas amplifiers using these technologies usually have low audio distortion, power efficiency is only 10% to 30%. Power efficiency describes how much of the electrical power is used to amplify the audio versus being wasted as heat. Amps with low power efficiency will need relatively big heat sinks because the majority of the power is radiated. Another technology is called "Class-D". This technology offers far higher power efficiency than analog amplifiers, typically around 80 to 90%. "Class-D" amplifiers are also referred to as "digital amplifiers". Due to the switching output stage, digital amps usually have higher harmonic distortion than analog amplifiers. However, a number of of the newest models are capable to reduce distortion to 0.05% and lower by employing a feedback mechanism.
Your amp should deliver sufficient power to drive your speakers. The amount of power will depend on the power handling rating of your speakers. One more parameter is the size of your room. Loudspeaker power handling ability is specified as peak power and average power. The peak power value refers to how much power the speaker can handle for a short period of time whereas the average power handling value denotes how much power you can drive the loudspeaker at constantly without harm.
In a small listening area, you may not require to drive your speakers to their rated value. 20 to 40 Watts of power will probably be enough. Notice though that speakers vary in their sensitivity. Generally a low-impedance speaker will be simpler to drive to high volume than a high-impedance loudspeaker. Check your amplifier manual to make certain that your amp can drive your loudspeaker impedance.
Last but not least, be certain that your amp introduces little noise and has a broad enough frequency response. High-quality amplifiers will have a signal-to-noise ratio of at the very least 100 dB and a frequency response of at least 20 Hz to 20 kHz.
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There is a variety of different audio amplifiers available which all differ in their specifications, shape and size. By following some straightforward guidelines, you will be able to choose the type that best fits your application and resources. One important criterion is the size of the amp. You can buy models which can fill half a room. In contrast, a number of of the most recent miniature amp models are no larger than a deck of cards. Numerous models will be the size of a ordinary audio rack so that you can easily stack it on top of your audio equipment.
The huge majority of today's audio amplifiers are solid state amplifiers vs more traditional tube amplifiers. Tube amps have been prevalent a decade or so ago. Tube amplifiers, though, have a fairly high amount of harmonic distortion. Harmonic distortion describes how much the audio signal is degraded while being amplified. This term is often used while evaluating the audio quality of amps.
An audio distortion of up to 10% is typical for tube amps while solid-state amps have less audio distortion depending on the particular technology. In the past, typically "Class-A" and "Class-AB" amps were available which are also called "analog amplifiers". Whereas amplifiers using these technologies usually have low audio distortion, power efficiency is only 10% to 30%. Power efficiency describes how much of the electrical power is used to amplify the audio versus being wasted as heat. Amps with low power efficiency will need relatively big heat sinks because the majority of the power is radiated. Another technology is called "Class-D". This technology offers far higher power efficiency than analog amplifiers, typically around 80 to 90%. "Class-D" amplifiers are also referred to as "digital amplifiers". Due to the switching output stage, digital amps usually have higher harmonic distortion than analog amplifiers. However, a number of of the newest models are capable to reduce distortion to 0.05% and lower by employing a feedback mechanism.
Your amp should deliver sufficient power to drive your speakers. The amount of power will depend on the power handling rating of your speakers. One more parameter is the size of your room. Loudspeaker power handling ability is specified as peak power and average power. The peak power value refers to how much power the speaker can handle for a short period of time whereas the average power handling value denotes how much power you can drive the loudspeaker at constantly without harm.
In a small listening area, you may not require to drive your speakers to their rated value. 20 to 40 Watts of power will probably be enough. Notice though that speakers vary in their sensitivity. Generally a low-impedance speaker will be simpler to drive to high volume than a high-impedance loudspeaker. Check your amplifier manual to make certain that your amp can drive your loudspeaker impedance.
Last but not least, be certain that your amp introduces little noise and has a broad enough frequency response. High-quality amplifiers will have a signal-to-noise ratio of at the very least 100 dB and a frequency response of at least 20 Hz to 20 kHz.
Click for more resources regarding this very subject.
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