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In Reply to: Hey Martin419, how much amplifier power do you think I really need? posted by Christine Tham on September 11, 2005 at 05:50:03:
An amplifier "power" is usually measured at the point where the amplifier notionally "clips" (ie. 1% THD + noise).However, if you do a plot of THD vs power for most amplifiers, distortion rises very rapidly way below the notional clip point. An example is the graph linked below, which is Stereophile's measurement of the Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista 300.
Note that although the amplifier's power is measured at over 300 watts, distortion rises rapidly above 200 watts.
Arguably, if you care about distortion, this amplifier doesn't really deliver much above 200 watts.
Distortion is important because I've measured my speakers and they are capable to reproducing music with as a little as 0.1% THD in the presence region (where our ears are the most sensitive). I certainly wouldn't want an amplifier generating distortion at 1% and negate all the advantages of my speakers.
Using this more conservative approach, I doubt my A5cr can deliver much more than say 150 watts, in which case the maximum I can listen to music without distortion or clipping is only about 80dB SPL.
By coincidence this is actually the level that I listen to most music, so I could argue my amplifier is really just powerful enough for my listening needs.
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Follow Ups
- An even more conservative approach to measuring amplifier power ratings - Christine Tham 06:46:54 09/11/05 (0)
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