Measuring amp performance

mray · 29th February 2004, 04:30 AM

I have a question(s),

I have been having strange problems with an old ADS 860MX. I had it set up to run 60 watts X 8 channels. However I was only using the first four channels....normally wired. These were powering four Infinity Reference cockpit speakers. One of my rear Infinity's blew, no doubt to my ADS.

So I picked up an Art Series PPI A600 and have another coming for to replace the ADS that I was using. I figured 150 watts per channel would be a big improvment and looked forward to getting everything setup.

I hooked up the first PPI (only one I have so far) and everything worked fine...all the right lights come on and it's really clean, but tehre doesn't seem to be much change from my ADS.

Should there be?....at the moment it's running two two way 4X6's and it is cleaner but from a volume perspective, it doesn't seem to be much different than before. Is there a way to test for output? Is it possible the amp isn't producing it's wattage output because the speakers aren't asking for it?

What do you all think?

sreten · 29th February 2004, 02:20 PM

150W over 60W is only 4dB more.

Simply put to get twice the volume (+10dB) of 60W you need 600W.

If your normal listening level is clipping the 60w amplifier then
the 150W amplifier will sound cleaner, but basically it will only
go a couple of notches (2x2dB) louder than the 60W amplifier.

And you may be running into distortion issues of the 6x4's.

If you want serious volume levels pay particular attention to
the efficiency of the speakers fitted. For example upgrading
86/dB per watt speakers to 91dB/W speakers is the same
as upgrading a 40W head unit with a 125W amplifier.

Generally the bigger the speakers the higher the efficiencies
available, so possibly 5X7's or 6x9's could help.

sreten.

29th February 2004, 04:30 AM	#1
mray diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Seattle	Measuring amp performance I have a question(s), I have been having strange problems with an old ADS 860MX. I had it set up to run 60 watts X 8 channels. However I was only using the first four channels....normally wired. These were powering four Infinity Reference cockpit speakers. One of my rear Infinity's blew, no doubt to my ADS. So I picked up an Art Series PPI A600 and have another coming for to replace the ADS that I was using. I figured 150 watts per channel would be a big improvment and looked forward to getting everything setup. I hooked up the first PPI (only one I have so far) and everything worked fine...all the right lights come on and it's really clean, but tehre doesn't seem to be much change from my ADS. Should there be?....at the moment it's running two two way 4X6's and it is cleaner but from a volume perspective, it doesn't seem to be much different than before. Is there a way to test for output? Is it possible the amp isn't producing it's wattage output because the speakers aren't asking for it? What do you all think?

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29th February 2004, 02:20 PM	#2
sreten diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Brighton UK	150W over 60W is only 4dB more. Simply put to get twice the volume (+10dB) of 60W you need 600W. If your normal listening level is clipping the 60w amplifier then the 150W amplifier will sound cleaner, but basically it will only go a couple of notches (2x2dB) louder than the 60W amplifier. And you may be running into distortion issues of the 6x4's. If you want serious volume levels pay particular attention to the efficiency of the speakers fitted. For example upgrading 86/dB per watt speakers to 91dB/W speakers is the same as upgrading a 40W head unit with a 125W amplifier. Generally the bigger the speakers the higher the efficiencies available, so possibly 5X7's or 6x9's could help. sreten.