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Audio and Video Talk
General Discussion
Do we really need amplifiers with 100watts per channel?
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<blockquote data-quote="Timber_MG" data-source="post: 1172" data-attributes="member: 18"><p>It is all about the headroom. If all one listens to is pop type or a lot of modern rock music then smaller amplifier ratings are sufficient becasue the dynamic headroom required is on the order of 6dB in many cases (and you'd be surprized to see how many recordings are so heavily compressed)</p><p></p><p>HT and recordings of naturally dynamic instruments require this headroom. I generally listen at average levels around 65dB becasue I do listen a lot but when I want to listen to big works I prefer levels a little beyond that and add 20dB headroom and those "watts" are consumed more quickly than one thinks (though surprizingly many people don't really mind light clipping, especially in a party setting)</p><p></p><p>Mind you, very few speakers actualy reach the 90dB@1W@1m figure. Many are in the 86-88dB category and for small rooms that can be sufficient for many people even if it is powered by 20Wpc. Many floorstanders are speced at 2W (2.83V into 4Ohm nominal) and a good amplifier which delivers 20Wpc into 8 will deliver 40Wpc into 4 ohm if it can handle the current.</p><p></p><p>Many people think of amplifier power as a linear measure of potential loudness but in actual fact one required TEN times the power to achieve a doubling of perceived loudness (Fletcher-Monsoon curves make it a little more complex but that is the common guideline)</p><p></p><p>In the end it comes down to personal preference and room size and acoustics. I listened for many years with a cheap (i'll not mention a brand) 2x25W amp in a largish room but then again that was with 94db efficient speakers. (I'm now at 2kW and >>96dB but rarely push out a single watt)</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Timber_MG, post: 1172, member: 18"] It is all about the headroom. If all one listens to is pop type or a lot of modern rock music then smaller amplifier ratings are sufficient becasue the dynamic headroom required is on the order of 6dB in many cases (and you'd be surprized to see how many recordings are so heavily compressed) HT and recordings of naturally dynamic instruments require this headroom. I generally listen at average levels around 65dB becasue I do listen a lot but when I want to listen to big works I prefer levels a little beyond that and add 20dB headroom and those "watts" are consumed more quickly than one thinks (though surprizingly many people don't really mind light clipping, especially in a party setting) Mind you, very few speakers actualy reach the 90dB@1W@1m figure. Many are in the 86-88dB category and for small rooms that can be sufficient for many people even if it is powered by 20Wpc. Many floorstanders are speced at 2W (2.83V into 4Ohm nominal) and a good amplifier which delivers 20Wpc into 8 will deliver 40Wpc into 4 ohm if it can handle the current. Many people think of amplifier power as a linear measure of potential loudness but in actual fact one required TEN times the power to achieve a doubling of perceived loudness (Fletcher-Monsoon curves make it a little more complex but that is the common guideline) In the end it comes down to personal preference and room size and acoustics. I listened for many years with a cheap (i'll not mention a brand) 2x25W amp in a largish room but then again that was with 94db efficient speakers. (I'm now at 2kW and >>96dB but rarely push out a single watt) [/QUOTE]
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Audio and Video Talk
General Discussion
Do we really need amplifiers with 100watts per channel?
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