Weirdly not true....
Fuses (And, within limits, thermal/magnetic breaker) have time constants for modest overload measured in seconds to minutes, and that snare hit has been and gone in 100ms or so, it is surprising just how little power even a big PA uses when integrated over the sorts of time constants that matter for circuit protection.
4kW peak with the usual pro audio assumption of 8:1 peak to average is 500W average output power, maybe a KVA or so of input, and is easily within the comfort zone of a domestic outlet more or less anywhere in 230V land.
12kW of modern power amp will in reality run quite happily off a 13A supply even if the gig is a drum and bass night, but those modern amps are efficient and have PFC on the input stage to keep the I^2T at the inlet down.
Also those 32A industrial plugs are actually available scaled up for 63A and even 125A supplies (But there is something to be said for going to three phase instead if playing in that space).
Regards, Dan.
It is not really 4KW. Judge by picture of those board and so many tranisistor, this is probably Class AB. Which mean it will loss most power about 25% to 50%. It is just peak watt, not RMS. If it was 100A, then main wire would be bigger and probably need 230 V in USA. Usually, I have seem most amplifier for home use are under 15A at 115V.
Interesting perspective of Transient power from Harbeth here:
How much amplifier power do I REALLY need?
Post 9 video.
How much amplifier power do I REALLY need?
Post 9 video.
One can whittle the chassis from a solid piece of gold with a pocket knife for that price. Difference between big and shiny,..... 😕
Just some perspective - an outdoor rock concert could use amp power in excess of 100,000W, so there IS a need for behemoths like these.
A lot of the weight in a typical amp is because of the mains tranformer. If your output stage can live with an SMPS feeding the power rails, the weight can be significantly reduced.
Can't get around the mains current drawn, though. 16A, 230V is 3680VA. Subtract the inevitable losses in the power supply, losses in the power stage, power drawn by other stages and protection circuitry... no way this can give sustained 4000W RMS.
The wording of the specs is interesting. Could 'peak power output' mean 'maximum power output'? The most telling phrase is 'home use'. I don't care how large your living room is. 4000W RMS is likely to cause serious injury.
A lot of the weight in a typical amp is because of the mains tranformer. If your output stage can live with an SMPS feeding the power rails, the weight can be significantly reduced.
Can't get around the mains current drawn, though. 16A, 230V is 3680VA. Subtract the inevitable losses in the power supply, losses in the power stage, power drawn by other stages and protection circuitry... no way this can give sustained 4000W RMS.
The wording of the specs is interesting. Could 'peak power output' mean 'maximum power output'? The most telling phrase is 'home use'. I don't care how large your living room is. 4000W RMS is likely to cause serious injury.
And that is not a particularly big amp by touring rack standards...
Lab Gruppen FP14000, 7kW per channel into 2 ohms, 12kg!
Note that this 14KW rack runs from a 16A 230V circuit (4KW average power), and in practise probably does not come that close to tripping it.
http://http://labgruppen.com/view-model/fpseries/fp-14000?page=spec
The 4KW version (FP4000) lists at about £2,000 and nobody pays list in reality....
Regards, Dan.
Lab Gruppen FP14000, 7kW per channel into 2 ohms, 12kg!
Note that this 14KW rack runs from a 16A 230V circuit (4KW average power), and in practise probably does not come that close to tripping it.
http://http://labgruppen.com/view-model/fpseries/fp-14000?page=spec
The 4KW version (FP4000) lists at about £2,000 and nobody pays list in reality....
Regards, Dan.
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