Bass power

nag1_uk · 26th April 2005, 04:59 PM

Hi all,
Right I know you need to have more power for a bass signal then a high frequency siganl but why???
I am in the middle of my uni project writeup and I am getting a but confused!

The reason I ask is that I have done a graph showing the power consumed by the amp against the input amplitude with a sinewave input at 550Hz with, then the same with a 15KHz wave and the low frequency test consumed a lot more power!

Any technical reasons???

Thanks

Mike

tiroth · 26th April 2005, 05:24 PM

This is false: obviously, P=V^2/R which is independent of frequency.

Where you might be getting confused is that if you look at a FFT analysis of acoustic power of music signals, you will find that there tends to be more power at lower registers. Once you drop below 40-50Hz though the power again drops off.

It is also possible that the efficiencies of the drivers were simply different if you are comparing two discrete data sets instead of a general case.

nag1_uk · 26th April 2005, 06:13 PM

This was done with resistive loads so no speakers!

Bill Fitzpatrick · 26th April 2005, 06:46 PM

We need to know WHAT you are measuring, WHERE you are measuring and HOW you are measuring.

nag1_uk · 26th April 2005, 06:52 PM

I was applying a sine wave and monitoring the input amplitude (voltage) and monitoring the voltage and current drawn by the power supply, thus the power supplied.
The output of the amp was running into a resistive load.
The voltage was kept constant as normal and and current was monitored on the power supply scale.

Mike

tiroth · 26th April 2005, 07:30 PM

Either there is measurement error or the load wasn't a resistor. I lean towards the former. Are you sure your oscillator's voltage is stable as frequency is swept?

There is no getting around the fundemental physics.

nag1_uk · 26th April 2005, 09:14 PM

I was not sweeping the frequency, I was "sweeping" the input amplitude. I simply ran the test twice, one at 550Hz and the other at 15KHz.
The Load was 2 18ohm wire wound resistors in parrellel.

I am getting even more confused now. Might just miss this bit out of the experiment writeup!

Mike

Cal Weldon · 26th April 2005, 10:56 PM

In very simple terms, it seems reasonable that since the driver moves a lot further to produce a low note than a high note, the amount of power required will be more. But that only deals with a driver in the equation, not a resistive load.

Cal

johnnyx · 27th April 2005, 12:06 AM

Maybe the amp was clipping at 550Hz and not at 15kHz. Did you monitor the output with a scope? Waveform distortion could be the cause of the error.

nag1_uk · 27th April 2005, 08:40 AM

The inputs and outputs were on a scope, there was no sign off clipping. I am guessing I am going to have to re-do these reading to check now!

Thanks

Mike

26th April 2005, 04:59 PM	#1
nag1_uk diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: North Lincs	Bass power Hi all, Right I know you need to have more power for a bass signal then a high frequency siganl but why??? I am in the middle of my uni project writeup and I am getting a but confused! The reason I ask is that I have done a graph showing the power consumed by the amp against the input amplitude with a sinewave input at 550Hz with, then the same with a 15KHz wave and the low frequency test consumed a lot more power! Any technical reasons??? Thanks Mike

26th April 2005, 10:56 PM	#8
Cal Weldon Speakerholic diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: British Columbia	In very simple terms, it seems reasonable that since the driver moves a lot further to produce a low note than a high note, the amount of power required will be more. But that only deals with a driver in the equation, not a resistive load. Cal __________________ Next stop: Margaritaville Some of Cal's stuff \| Cal Weldon Consulting

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26th April 2005, 05:24 PM	#2
tiroth diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Pittsburgh, PA, USA	This is false: obviously, P=V^2/R which is independent of frequency. Where you might be getting confused is that if you look at a FFT analysis of acoustic power of music signals, you will find that there tends to be more power at lower registers. Once you drop below 40-50Hz though the power again drops off. It is also possible that the efficiencies of the drivers were simply different if you are comparing two discrete data sets instead of a general case.

26th April 2005, 06:13 PM	#3
nag1_uk diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: North Lincs	This was done with resistive loads so no speakers!

26th April 2005, 06:46 PM	#4
Bill Fitzpatrick diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Eugene, OR	We need to know WHAT you are measuring, WHERE you are measuring and HOW you are measuring.

26th April 2005, 06:52 PM	#5
nag1_uk diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: North Lincs	I was applying a sine wave and monitoring the input amplitude (voltage) and monitoring the voltage and current drawn by the power supply, thus the power supplied. The output of the amp was running into a resistive load. The voltage was kept constant as normal and and current was monitored on the power supply scale. Mike

26th April 2005, 07:30 PM	#6
tiroth diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Pittsburgh, PA, USA	Either there is measurement error or the load wasn't a resistor. I lean towards the former. Are you sure your oscillator's voltage is stable as frequency is swept? There is no getting around the fundemental physics.

26th April 2005, 09:14 PM	#7
nag1_uk diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: North Lincs	I was not sweeping the frequency, I was "sweeping" the input amplitude. I simply ran the test twice, one at 550Hz and the other at 15KHz. The Load was 2 18ohm wire wound resistors in parrellel. I am getting even more confused now. Might just miss this bit out of the experiment writeup! Mike

27th April 2005, 12:06 AM	#9
johnnyx diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: manchester	Maybe the amp was clipping at 550Hz and not at 15kHz. Did you monitor the output with a scope? Waveform distortion could be the cause of the error.

27th April 2005, 08:40 AM	#10
nag1_uk diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: North Lincs	The inputs and outputs were on a scope, there was no sign off clipping. I am guessing I am going to have to re-do these reading to check now! Thanks Mike

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