Hi guys! Thank you for this forum. I am planning to upgrade my system buying this amp. Nevertheless, I am having some trouble understanding how these amps, the DIY Amp Camp Amp (8W/channel) could drive my speakers, rated at 140W long-term capacity into 8ohm. I even read that it’s good to have an amp that doubles the speaker capacity so you don’t push your amp too far and it distorts. Isn’t 8W faaaar less than 140W? Obviously I’m missing something here, since I’ve seen pictures of your this amp driving two big Klipsch Heresys. What amazes me more is, for example, the specs for a pair of Harbeth Audio SHL5plus are “150W programme, recommended amp power = 25W per channel). I don't get it. Could anybody enlighten me, please? Thank you very much for your help.
Very quickly 🙂
Most listening occurs at levels below 1 watt. Try it:
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/...h-voltage-power-do-your-speakers-need.204857/
The power questions kicks in when you want things to get loud. You might be OK with 4 watts, however to get a detectable increase in subjective level needs you to double that (8 watts). That might be pretty loud. To get another detectable increase needs doubling again and so on. So things get big really quickly and in practice an 8 watt amp that behaves well and clips cleanly can sound pretty similar to a 40 or 50 watt design.
Your speaker efficiency plays a massive part in this. Post #52:
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/mjr-7-mosfet-amplifier-of-m-renardson.125650/post-1554817
Most listening occurs at levels below 1 watt. Try it:
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/...h-voltage-power-do-your-speakers-need.204857/
The power questions kicks in when you want things to get loud. You might be OK with 4 watts, however to get a detectable increase in subjective level needs you to double that (8 watts). That might be pretty loud. To get another detectable increase needs doubling again and so on. So things get big really quickly and in practice an 8 watt amp that behaves well and clips cleanly can sound pretty similar to a 40 or 50 watt design.
Your speaker efficiency plays a massive part in this. Post #52:
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/mjr-7-mosfet-amplifier-of-m-renardson.125650/post-1554817
It's not a beer-mug. You don't have to fill it to the rim.
My car rates 148HP and might do 115MPH. I've never been over 77MPH and rarely blip past 100HP for a second. In fact my car is pretty sweet down to 8MPH and maybe 1 net HP. Those "MAX" numbers are boasts, and often bogus boasts.
How much power you really need depends on the loudness you listen, efficiency of your speakers and the size of the room or concert hall you listen in.
Read how much power you need for typical conditions on my page.
Read how much power you need for typical conditions on my page.
For decades, the lower-power amps designed for home use satisfied consumers nicely.
In fact, most of them were/are in the ballpark of 8 to 35 watts/channel.
Browse through any Radio Shack/Allied/Lafayette/Olson/etc. catalog from 1950 to 1969 to see those products.
This was during an era of reasonable living and sensibility.
But, like inflation, and the increasing disease of manufacturer's greed, along with society's trends toward superficiality, the "wattage wars" back in the 1970's drove consumers towards what we basically have today.
In 1979 for instance, manufacturers offered amps/receivers with 350 watts/channel, and who in their right mind really needs that kind of power for home use?
The "more is better" phrase was ingrained in the public's brains to the point of making them nuts.
Just like high-powered fast sports cars - giving people that "thrill" to which they fell for - marketing designed to impress, and quite honestly, a form of manipulation to justify manufacturer's increased desire to milk more money from the public.
The ignorance of general society was/is a great thing for manufacturers to exploit.
Other audio/video products also saw benefits from the "upgrade" disease, naturally.
It's a never-ending ride on the merry-go-round geared towards a never-ending end.
In fact, most of them were/are in the ballpark of 8 to 35 watts/channel.
Browse through any Radio Shack/Allied/Lafayette/Olson/etc. catalog from 1950 to 1969 to see those products.
This was during an era of reasonable living and sensibility.
But, like inflation, and the increasing disease of manufacturer's greed, along with society's trends toward superficiality, the "wattage wars" back in the 1970's drove consumers towards what we basically have today.
In 1979 for instance, manufacturers offered amps/receivers with 350 watts/channel, and who in their right mind really needs that kind of power for home use?
The "more is better" phrase was ingrained in the public's brains to the point of making them nuts.
Just like high-powered fast sports cars - giving people that "thrill" to which they fell for - marketing designed to impress, and quite honestly, a form of manipulation to justify manufacturer's increased desire to milk more money from the public.
The ignorance of general society was/is a great thing for manufacturers to exploit.
Other audio/video products also saw benefits from the "upgrade" disease, naturally.
It's a never-ending ride on the merry-go-round geared towards a never-ending end.
In theory the 8 amp can drive the 86dB sensitive speaker to 95dB per side, 98dB for a pair, which is louder than most listen to. If it's enough depends on how big your room is and how loud you want it.
I did use my aca, when i had only one with 89dB sensitive speakers in a relative small space (3.5x6.5x2.5m) and rarely went over half the dial open on my preamp...
I did use my aca, when i had only one with 89dB sensitive speakers in a relative small space (3.5x6.5x2.5m) and rarely went over half the dial open on my preamp...
yes , somehow I agree with you , but did you ever find yourself in the situation that your car feels extremely weak and underpowered ?
It happened to me. I will never make that mistake again .
About the initial question ,
The amp Camp is a great project , especially if you are new in this diyAudio stuff, it gives you all the components to finish the amplifier, the case , the power switch , connectors , cables , wires , etc …. And that’s very important , to finish the project , I know I get exited to start projects but most of the time I don’t finish them, with the enclosure and all of that.
My one tube amp, an EL84 UL design, puts out a good 17 watts/channel, and can drive my 4 ohm air suspension floor standing Advent Maestros to annoyingly loud levels.
Of course, I have neighbors, and I'm not deaf, it's rarely above a comfortable level.
Curiously coincident with increased adoption of low efficiency acoustic suspension loudspeakers.
"How much power do I need for my speakers?"
A simple method is to look for clipping with a scope on the speaker while playing music at your levels.I could elaborate but I think most here will get it.
Music is very dynamic and bass peaks can be clipped by an amp without enough headroom.
Try it, you may be surprised, as I was.