I will look at some audio amplifiers and explain some vital vocabulary to assist you pick the ideal amp for your speakers
One vital parameter is the size of the amplifier. You can get models which can fill half a room. In contrast, several of the latest miniature amplifier types are no bigger than a deck of cards. Many units will be the size of a ordinary audio rack so that you can easily stack it on top of your audio equipment.
There are various core amplifier technologies available. One technology is known as "solid-state". Solid-state amps now account for the majority of audio amps. In the past, tube amplifiers have been popular. Even today tube amplifiers are still available. Though, tube amplifiers have relatively high audio distortion. Audio distortion refers to how much the audio signal is being degraded whilst passing through the amplifier and is given in percent. This value is frequently used when evaluating the audio quality of amplifiers.
Tube amps will have audio distortion of up to 10%. Solid state amps will have less audio distortion depending on the amplifier technology that is utilized. Several of the most popular technologies in the past have been "Class-A" and "Class-AB" technologies. These technologies use different arrangements to amplify the audio. Amplifiers based on any of these technologies are also named "analog amplifiers". Audio amps which are based on these technologies normally have low harmonic distortion. Also, this technology is relatively economical. However, the drawback is that the power efficiency is merely in the order of 20% to 30%. Power efficiency describes how much of the electrical power is used to amplify the audio as opposed to being wasted as heat. Amps with low power efficiency will require quite large heat sinks since most of the power is radiated.
An audio distortion of up to 10% is normal for tube amplifiers while solid-state amps have less audio distortion depending on the particular technology. The most conventional amplifiers employ a "Class-A" and "Class-AB" technology. These amps are also known as "analog amplifiers". This technology provides fairly small audio distortion. However, the power efficiency is merely 10 to 30%. This means that the majority of the electrical power provided to the amplifier is wasted as heat whereas a small fraction is used to amplify the audio signal.
Another technology is called "Class-D". This technology offers much greater power efficiency than analog amplifiers, usually around 80 to 90%. "Class-D" amps are also referred to as "digital amplifiers". As a consequence of the switching output stage, digital amps generally have larger harmonic distortion than analog amplifiers. On the other hand, a number of of the most recent models are able to reduce distortion to 0.05% and less by using a feedback mechanism. Your amplifier should deliver adequate power to drive your speakers. The amount of power will depend on the power handling rating of your loudspeakers. One more factor is the size of your space. Loudspeaker power handling ability is given 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 continuously without damage.
If you have a relatively small listening environment then 20 to 50 Watts of power should be enough while your loudspeaker may be rated for 100 Watts or more. Loudspeakers though differ in their impedance and sensitivity. As a rule of thumb loudspeakers with low impedance offer higher sensitivity. High-sensitivity speakers are less difficult to drive to high volume than low-sensitivity speakers. Be sure that your amp can drive your speaker impedance. You can easily find the rated speaker impedance range in your amplifier's user manual.
Lastly, make 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 least 100 dB and a frequency response of a minimum of 20 Hz to 20 kHz.
One vital parameter is the size of the amplifier. You can get models which can fill half a room. In contrast, several of the latest miniature amplifier types are no bigger than a deck of cards. Many units will be the size of a ordinary audio rack so that you can easily stack it on top of your audio equipment.
There are various core amplifier technologies available. One technology is known as "solid-state". Solid-state amps now account for the majority of audio amps. In the past, tube amplifiers have been popular. Even today tube amplifiers are still available. Though, tube amplifiers have relatively high audio distortion. Audio distortion refers to how much the audio signal is being degraded whilst passing through the amplifier and is given in percent. This value is frequently used when evaluating the audio quality of amplifiers.
Tube amps will have audio distortion of up to 10%. Solid state amps will have less audio distortion depending on the amplifier technology that is utilized. Several of the most popular technologies in the past have been "Class-A" and "Class-AB" technologies. These technologies use different arrangements to amplify the audio. Amplifiers based on any of these technologies are also named "analog amplifiers". Audio amps which are based on these technologies normally have low harmonic distortion. Also, this technology is relatively economical. However, the drawback is that the power efficiency is merely in the order of 20% to 30%. Power efficiency describes how much of the electrical power is used to amplify the audio as opposed to being wasted as heat. Amps with low power efficiency will require quite large heat sinks since most of the power is radiated.
An audio distortion of up to 10% is normal for tube amplifiers while solid-state amps have less audio distortion depending on the particular technology. The most conventional amplifiers employ a "Class-A" and "Class-AB" technology. These amps are also known as "analog amplifiers". This technology provides fairly small audio distortion. However, the power efficiency is merely 10 to 30%. This means that the majority of the electrical power provided to the amplifier is wasted as heat whereas a small fraction is used to amplify the audio signal.
Another technology is called "Class-D". This technology offers much greater power efficiency than analog amplifiers, usually around 80 to 90%. "Class-D" amps are also referred to as "digital amplifiers". As a consequence of the switching output stage, digital amps generally have larger harmonic distortion than analog amplifiers. On the other hand, a number of of the most recent models are able to reduce distortion to 0.05% and less by using a feedback mechanism. Your amplifier should deliver adequate power to drive your speakers. The amount of power will depend on the power handling rating of your loudspeakers. One more factor is the size of your space. Loudspeaker power handling ability is given 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 continuously without damage.
If you have a relatively small listening environment then 20 to 50 Watts of power should be enough while your loudspeaker may be rated for 100 Watts or more. Loudspeakers though differ in their impedance and sensitivity. As a rule of thumb loudspeakers with low impedance offer higher sensitivity. High-sensitivity speakers are less difficult to drive to high volume than low-sensitivity speakers. Be sure that your amp can drive your speaker impedance. You can easily find the rated speaker impedance range in your amplifier's user manual.
Lastly, make 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 least 100 dB and a frequency response of a minimum of 20 Hz to 20 kHz.
Post a Comment