Selecting a superior amplifier for your speakers is not a trivial task. You wish to ensure that your amplifier matches your speakers. I will explain some main amplifier language and give some pointers to help you pick the perfect amplifier.
It is difficult to select the best audio amplifier as a consequence of the large number of models. All of these types have different specs. They are built on different technologies and come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. By following some simple rules, you will be able to select the type that best fits your application and budget.
Nearly all of today's audio amps are based on solid-state technology whereas a tiny part is based on tube technology which has been popular over a decade ago. Though, tube amplifiers have fairly high audio distortion. Audio distortion refers to how much the audio signal is being degraded while passing through the amp and is given in percent. This value is often used when evaluating the audio quality of amplifiers.
Harmonic distortion of tube amplifiers is frequently as large as 10%. Solid-state amplifiers will have less audio distortion. On the other hand, distortion will depend on the particular audio amplifier technology. In the past, mostly "Class-A" and "Class-AB" amplifiers were obtainable which are also called "analog amplifiers". This technology provides relatively small audio distortion. However, the power efficiency is merely 10 to 30%. Power efficiency describes how much of the electrical power is used to amplify the audio as opposed to being wasted as heat. Amps with low power efficiency will need fairly big heat sinks since most of the power is radiated.
Tube amplifiers will have audio distortion of up to 10%. Solid state amps will have less audio distortion depending on the amplifier technology that is utilized. Some of the most popular technologies in the past have been "Class-A" and "Class-AB" technologies. These technologies use different arrangements to amplify the audio. Amps based on any of these technologies are also referred to as "analog amplifiers". This technology offers relatively low audio distortion. On the other hand, the power efficiency is only 10 to 30%. Power efficiency describes how much of the electrical power is used to amplify the audio versus being wasted as heat. Amps with low power efficiency will require quite big heat sinks because the majority of the power is radiated.
Your amp should deliver sufficient power to drive your loudspeakers. The amount of power will depend on the power handling rating of your loudspeakers. An additional factor is the size of your room. There are two values for speaker power handling: peak and average power handling. The peak value shows how much power the speaker can tolerate for short periods of time. The average value on the other hand denotes how much power the loudspeaker can handle continuously without harm.
In a small listening environment, you might not require to drive your loudspeakers to their rated value. 20 to 40 Watts of power will most likely be sufficient. Loudspeakers though differ in their impedance and sensitivity. As a rule of thumb speakers with low impedance offer higher sensitivity. High-sensitivity speakers are simpler to drive to high volume than low-sensitivity loudspeakers. Check your amplifier manual to ensure that your amplifier can drive your loudspeaker impedance.
Additional important parameters are the signal-to-noise ratio and frequency response which should be in the order of at the least 100 dB signal-to-noise ratio and 20 Hz to 20 kHz frequency response for high-quality amps.
It is difficult to select the best audio amplifier as a consequence of the large number of models. All of these types have different specs. They are built on different technologies and come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. By following some simple rules, you will be able to select the type that best fits your application and budget.
Nearly all of today's audio amps are based on solid-state technology whereas a tiny part is based on tube technology which has been popular over a decade ago. Though, tube amplifiers have fairly high audio distortion. Audio distortion refers to how much the audio signal is being degraded while passing through the amp and is given in percent. This value is often used when evaluating the audio quality of amplifiers.
Harmonic distortion of tube amplifiers is frequently as large as 10%. Solid-state amplifiers will have less audio distortion. On the other hand, distortion will depend on the particular audio amplifier technology. In the past, mostly "Class-A" and "Class-AB" amplifiers were obtainable which are also called "analog amplifiers". This technology provides relatively small audio distortion. However, the power efficiency is merely 10 to 30%. Power efficiency describes how much of the electrical power is used to amplify the audio as opposed to being wasted as heat. Amps with low power efficiency will need fairly big heat sinks since most of the power is radiated.
Tube amplifiers will have audio distortion of up to 10%. Solid state amps will have less audio distortion depending on the amplifier technology that is utilized. Some of the most popular technologies in the past have been "Class-A" and "Class-AB" technologies. These technologies use different arrangements to amplify the audio. Amps based on any of these technologies are also referred to as "analog amplifiers". This technology offers relatively low audio distortion. On the other hand, the power efficiency is only 10 to 30%. Power efficiency describes how much of the electrical power is used to amplify the audio versus being wasted as heat. Amps with low power efficiency will require quite big heat sinks because the majority of the power is radiated.
Your amp should deliver sufficient power to drive your loudspeakers. The amount of power will depend on the power handling rating of your loudspeakers. An additional factor is the size of your room. There are two values for speaker power handling: peak and average power handling. The peak value shows how much power the speaker can tolerate for short periods of time. The average value on the other hand denotes how much power the loudspeaker can handle continuously without harm.
In a small listening environment, you might not require to drive your loudspeakers to their rated value. 20 to 40 Watts of power will most likely be sufficient. Loudspeakers though differ in their impedance and sensitivity. As a rule of thumb speakers with low impedance offer higher sensitivity. High-sensitivity speakers are simpler to drive to high volume than low-sensitivity loudspeakers. Check your amplifier manual to ensure that your amplifier can drive your loudspeaker impedance.
Additional important parameters are the signal-to-noise ratio and frequency response which should be in the order of at the least 100 dB signal-to-noise ratio and 20 Hz to 20 kHz frequency response for high-quality amps.
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