Re: IS there a sonic benefit to using a High-power amp...?

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Posted by Tom Gobba on January 7, 2004 at 08:17:10

In Reply to: IS there a sonic benefit to using a High-power amp...? posted by draggcj on January 7, 2004 at 07:22:24:

Some of best full range speaker drivers are low power and with very big magnets. Those drivers like Lowther has very special corn paper that are very efficient and reveals much more details than any other common speakers. This is why lots of Audiophiles is prefer low power SET amps. I have Dared VP-300B SET and just got pair of Lowther DX3 drivers. I currently mounted the drivers on a pair of small bass reflect inclosures and the results are mazing! I am planing to build a backload horn enclosure of the DX3.

Following example, I just posted on "Tube forum", show you how to select a speaker for your amp. If your listen-room size is about 20 X 15 ft you usually do not want your sound level goes beyond 102 dB. Otherwise, it is too loud. Of course, it depends on who is listening and what type music you are playing. If you have a pair of speakers with 88dB efficiency (at 1 Watt/m), so you need an amp to gain at least 14dB in order to reach 102dB level. The amp needs to power the speakers shall have at least 25 Watts (because of 10log(25/1)=14dB). However, if you have a pair of speakers with 96 dB (at 1 W/m) you need an amp to gain just 6dB to reach 102dB level. That is about 4 Watts. Yes, you just need less than 4 watts to power a 96dB speaker to reach 102dB sound level. Most of SET amp has power less than 8 Watts (300B SET amp is around 6 â€“ 8 watts, 2A3 SET amp is about 2 - 4 watts, and 45 SET is less than 1 watts). Now, the bass at down to 30 Hz is different story. Most woofers has only 75 - 80 dB at 30 Hz though. So, if you like to have your bass down to 30 Hz at 102 dB level, you need a 200 Watts of sub though. But, loudness to human ears is invers proportional to frequencey. The 30 Hz bass at 102 dB level is very very loud compareing to 10,000 Hz at 102 dB level.

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - IS there a sonic benefit to using a High-power amp...? - draggcj 07:22:24 01/07/04 (15)

If the 1st few watts are mediocre..... - Marc Bratton 18:39:48 01/08/04 (0)

Bryston 3BSST vs. 4BSST - hifi heretic 06:57:09 01/08/04 (0)

Re: IS there a sonic benefit to using a High-power amp...? - Todd Krieger 21:27:20 01/07/04 (0)

Tradeoff: same price: high power> worse sounding; lower power> better sounding - Elizabeth 20:37:32 01/07/04 (0)

More power will give you more options (e.g., Maggies) if you decide to upgrade your speakers later. [nt] - David Spear 15:02:18 01/07/04 (0)

Re: IS there a sonic benefit to using a High-power amp...? - Tom Gobba 12:58:36 01/07/04 (0)

And is there such as thing as too much power... - John B 11:12:26 01/07/04 (3)

Yes, but... - Recordfan 11:25:27 01/07/04 (2)

depends on the speaker... - pburke 12:17:23 01/07/04 (1)

well in that case.... - John B 13:09:32 01/07/04 (0)

It depends... - Recordfan 11:10:25 01/07/04 (0)

Re: IS there a sonic benefit to using a High-power amp...? - Jerry O 10:27:04 01/07/04 (0)

Re: IS there a sonic benefit to using a High-power amp...? - kureboy99 09:16:53 01/07/04 (0)

Re: IS there a sonic benefit to using a High-power amp...? - Tom Gobba 08:17:10 01/07/04 (0)

Re: IS there a sonic benefit to using a High-power amp...? - warnerwh 07:37:31 01/07/04 (0)

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Re: IS there a sonic benefit to using a High-power amp...? - Tom Gobba 08:17:10 01/07/04 (0)

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