I will look at a few audio amplifiers and clarify some vital terminology to aid you select the ideal amplifier for your speakers
It is hard to select the perfect audio amp because of the large number of types. All of these types have different specs. They are based on different technologies and are available in all kinds of shapes and sizes. This makes it tricky to make a decision which model to choose. You don't have to be an expert. Just follow some easy guidelines and you should be satisfied with your amplifier.
One important parameter is the size of the amp. You can get models that can fill half a room. In contrast, some of the latest miniature amplifier models are no larger than a deck of cards. Many amps are rack sized. This enables them to be stacked on top of your other audio equipment. There are some core amplifier technologies available. One technology is labeled "solid-state". Solid-state amplifiers now account for the majority of audio amps. In the past, tube amps have been popular. Even today tube amplifiers are still obtainable. Unfortunately, tube amplifiers have relatively high audio distortion which describes how much the audio signal is degraded by the amplifier.
Harmonic distortion of tube amps is often as large as 10%. Solid-state amplifiers will have less audio distortion. Still, distortion will depend on the particular audio amplifier technology. In the past, typically "Class-A" and "Class-AB" amplifiers were available which are also known as "analog amplifiers". Whereas amps utilizing these technologies typically have low audio distortion, power efficiency is merely 10% to 30%. This means that the majority of the electrical power supplied to the amplifier is wasted as heat whereas a small fraction is used to amplify the audio signal.
Tube amps will have audio distortion of up to 10%. Solid state amps will have lower audio distortion depending on the amplifier technology that is utilized. In the past, mostly "Class-A" and "Class-AB" amplifiers were obtainable which are also called "analog amplifiers". Whereas amplifiers employing these technologies normally have low audio distortion, power efficiency is only 10% to 30%. Power efficiency describes how much of the electrical power is utilized to amplify the audio versus being wasted as heat. Amplifiers with low power efficiency will need rather big heat sinks since the majority of the power is radiated.
In contrast, "Class-D" amplifiers which are also called "digital amplifiers" offer a power efficiency of usually 80 to 90%. This enables the amp and power supply to be made a good deal smaller than analog amplifiers. The downside is that many digital amplifiers have larger audio distortion than analog amplifiers although a number of of the most recent types employ a feedback mechanism to minimize distortion to levels of 0.05% and less. When picking an amp, make sure that the output power is enough to drive your speakers. The required power will be determined by how much power your loudspeakers can handle as well as the size of your room where you will be listening. Speaker power handling is given as peak power which describes the maximum amount of power during short bursts whilst average power refers to how much power the loudspeakers can handle constantly.
If you have a fairly small listening environment then 20 to 50 Watts of power should be sufficient even though your loudspeaker may be rated for 100 Watts or more. Speakers on the other hand differ in their impedance and sensitivity. As a rule of thumb loudspeakers with low impedance offer higher sensitivity. High-sensitivity speakers are easier to drive to high volume than low-sensitivity loudspeakers. Not all amplifiers can drive every speaker impedance. Find out the impedance of your speaker which is given in Ohms. Then look at your amplifier manual to make certain that your amp can drive this impedance.
Additional significant parameters are the signal-to-noise ratio and frequency response which should be in the order of at the least 100 dB signal-to-noise ratio and 20 Hz to 20 kHz frequency response for high-quality amplifiers.
It is hard to select the perfect audio amp because of the large number of types. All of these types have different specs. They are based on different technologies and are available in all kinds of shapes and sizes. This makes it tricky to make a decision which model to choose. You don't have to be an expert. Just follow some easy guidelines and you should be satisfied with your amplifier.
One important parameter is the size of the amp. You can get models that can fill half a room. In contrast, some of the latest miniature amplifier models are no larger than a deck of cards. Many amps are rack sized. This enables them to be stacked on top of your other audio equipment. There are some core amplifier technologies available. One technology is labeled "solid-state". Solid-state amplifiers now account for the majority of audio amps. In the past, tube amps have been popular. Even today tube amplifiers are still obtainable. Unfortunately, tube amplifiers have relatively high audio distortion which describes how much the audio signal is degraded by the amplifier.
Harmonic distortion of tube amps is often as large as 10%. Solid-state amplifiers will have less audio distortion. Still, distortion will depend on the particular audio amplifier technology. In the past, typically "Class-A" and "Class-AB" amplifiers were available which are also known as "analog amplifiers". Whereas amps utilizing these technologies typically have low audio distortion, power efficiency is merely 10% to 30%. This means that the majority of the electrical power supplied to the amplifier is wasted as heat whereas a small fraction is used to amplify the audio signal.
Tube amps will have audio distortion of up to 10%. Solid state amps will have lower audio distortion depending on the amplifier technology that is utilized. In the past, mostly "Class-A" and "Class-AB" amplifiers were obtainable which are also called "analog amplifiers". Whereas amplifiers employing these technologies normally have low audio distortion, power efficiency is only 10% to 30%. Power efficiency describes how much of the electrical power is utilized to amplify the audio versus being wasted as heat. Amplifiers with low power efficiency will need rather big heat sinks since the majority of the power is radiated.
In contrast, "Class-D" amplifiers which are also called "digital amplifiers" offer a power efficiency of usually 80 to 90%. This enables the amp and power supply to be made a good deal smaller than analog amplifiers. The downside is that many digital amplifiers have larger audio distortion than analog amplifiers although a number of of the most recent types employ a feedback mechanism to minimize distortion to levels of 0.05% and less. When picking an amp, make sure that the output power is enough to drive your speakers. The required power will be determined by how much power your loudspeakers can handle as well as the size of your room where you will be listening. Speaker power handling is given as peak power which describes the maximum amount of power during short bursts whilst average power refers to how much power the loudspeakers can handle constantly.
If you have a fairly small listening environment then 20 to 50 Watts of power should be sufficient even though your loudspeaker may be rated for 100 Watts or more. Speakers on the other hand differ in their impedance and sensitivity. As a rule of thumb loudspeakers with low impedance offer higher sensitivity. High-sensitivity speakers are easier to drive to high volume than low-sensitivity loudspeakers. Not all amplifiers can drive every speaker impedance. Find out the impedance of your speaker which is given in Ohms. Then look at your amplifier manual to make certain that your amp can drive this impedance.
Additional significant parameters are the signal-to-noise ratio and frequency response which should be in the order of at the least 100 dB signal-to-noise ratio and 20 Hz to 20 kHz frequency response for high-quality amplifiers.
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