What is the best power for an audio amplifier? This is a topic been discussed by many for a long time. Half centry ago, amps with 10-20W were considered enough for usual home use. In the beginning of 70s, most of the hi-fi amps had about a few tens of watts, but by the end of the decade, it increased to around 100W. From 80s to 90s, the pace of such a power increase started to slow down. Most of the amps we use today are still 100W to 200W.
It is interesting that the power of Hi-Fi amps has been folded from 60s to 80s. But why the trend did not continue from 80s to the following decades?
Do you think an amp with 100W to 200W enough for your use?
It is interesting that the power of Hi-Fi amps has been folded from 60s to 80s. But why the trend did not continue from 80s to the following decades?
Do you think an amp with 100W to 200W enough for your use?
What music do you listen to?
This post comes from Great Britain and applies to the European music tradition.
Until the advent of recordings and amplifiers, the loudest music that most people would have heard was that of an organ and choir in a large church or cathedral.
Try listening to a recital, concert or choral worship in such a place to give your ears a workout.
Most organists cannot resist pulling out all the stops at some point (loudest). If you are lucky then you will hear a 32 ft diapason, with nothing coupled, in the pedals below quiet chords in the manual(s) (lowest); and a 2ft flute stop on the solo manual (highest).
Andy
This post comes from Great Britain and applies to the European music tradition.
Until the advent of recordings and amplifiers, the loudest music that most people would have heard was that of an organ and choir in a large church or cathedral.
Try listening to a recital, concert or choral worship in such a place to give your ears a workout.
Most organists cannot resist pulling out all the stops at some point (loudest). If you are lucky then you will hear a 32 ft diapason, with nothing coupled, in the pedals below quiet chords in the manual(s) (lowest); and a 2ft flute stop on the solo manual (highest).
Andy
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Power at 0.01% distortion makes a lot smaller wattage figure than power at 10% distortion, despite the fact that one amplifier could do both figures. 70's advertised low distortion thus the power figures were smaller. Today advertises maximum wattage while disregarding practicalities, in order to get much bigger wattage figures. The same amplifier can be advertised either way.
Translating my earlier comments about "how loud is music?" into watts:
to make a satisfying reproduction of organ and choir, I have two way active speakers; each bass unit is driven by 100w amp. and the widebands by 180w amps.
These amps. will readily make a noise that sounds realistic in a 35 cu.m. room without turning them to maximum. Could be thought of as overkill, but power is not the only criterium for choosing to build one amp. rather than another.
Andy
to make a satisfying reproduction of organ and choir, I have two way active speakers; each bass unit is driven by 100w amp. and the widebands by 180w amps.
These amps. will readily make a noise that sounds realistic in a 35 cu.m. room without turning them to maximum. Could be thought of as overkill, but power is not the only criterium for choosing to build one amp. rather than another.
Andy
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the output SPL depends on both the amplifier and the speaker.
Use a 100dB speaker with a 1W amplifier and the maximum SPL will be around 100dB.
Increase the amplifier power to 10W and the maximum SPL will be around 110dB.
go for 100W amplifier and you end up around 120dB
go to 1000W for 130dB
But use that same 1000W into a 80dB speaker and you are back to 110dB SPL
Use a 100dB speaker with a 1W amplifier and the maximum SPL will be around 100dB.
Increase the amplifier power to 10W and the maximum SPL will be around 110dB.
go for 100W amplifier and you end up around 120dB
go to 1000W for 130dB
But use that same 1000W into a 80dB speaker and you are back to 110dB SPL
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Absolutely true.. But! where's the bragging rights in that
For some (?), Audio 'gear' is often more about Status than anything else.
Well there's bragging rights in any amp. For some, the lower the power the bigger the bragging rights - go figure
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