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Are most budget & mid range amps under-powered?

I've been reading some articles by a speaker manufacturuer about how under-powered most modern amps are for the speakers they have to drive.
The basis was that for "true hifi", a system needs to be able to achieve unclipped peaks of 105dB at the listening position, often about three meters away. For 90dB/Watt @1M speakers like mine, this means I need an amp capable of over 125W per channel, which is a lot more than my NAD 50W/channel amp can manage.
The same peak from 87dB/Watt speakers would need a 250W/channel amp.
Does this sound right to you guys, and does it mean many amplifier manufacturers are under-powering their amps?
carl109
11 responses Add your response
porziob
316 posts
 
What`s your idea of mid priced? Have you heard of Adcom, Rotel & Parasound? Not everyone chooses to listen @ 105 db @ 3 meters.
jalapenos
81 posts
 
Dont get hung up on power ratings. there is no set rating system for maufacturers and, as such, the specified power output is useless in determining an amps capability. In fact, some find lower powered amps to sound better than their big watt competitors. The difference is all in an amplifiers topology and design.

You speakers are pretty efficient in my book, I wouldn't be overly concerned that your amp is under-powered...
ngjockey
1,042 posts
 
I'll agree that most systems are underpowered but I don't blame the manufacturers. In fact, some speaker makers are building much more efficient designs than years ago. Whether consumers undervalue or underestimate the virtue of dynamics is their own priority.

Too often, I've seen in these forums where wattage is directly related to volume and speaker efficiency where they seem to miss the point of peaks or distortion caused by a lack of power. Just because a speaker has a minimum wattage rating does not mean that it will reproduce a realistic crescendo or even an accurate cymbal strike at that level.
carl109 OP
134 posts
 
Porziob: "Not everyone chooses to listen 105 db @ 3 meters."
I wasn't suggesting a constant listening level of 105dB! The articles I read referred to a system being able to deliver an unclipped momentary PEAK of 105dB, which equates roughly to a live performance level, at an average listening distance of 3 meters.
Of course I've heard of brands like Rotel, but even they make amps of 50 Watts/channel, which if matched with speakers of 87dB/Watt@1meter, could only manage an undistorted peak of around 95dB.
gregm
3,405 posts
 
Dont get hung up on power ratings. there is no set rating system for maufacturers and, as such, the specified power output is useless in determining an amps capability.
??? The specified output IS the amp's capability in energy... output. You must mean s/thing else.

Carl, many "sound quality" amps are lower powered simply because it's difficult and, thereby, more expensive to market good sounding high powered amps.

However, some brands are offering reasonable wattage at reasonable prices -- as referred to above.
You'll need ~200W/channel to reach nice peaks -- but can yr speakers take this power?? For many drivers, the standard safety limit is ~100W.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,198 posts
 
I suspect many users have underpowered amps for their particular speaker application, but I would not say the amps themselves are inherently underpowered.

A good high powered amp will generally cost more though for sure.

Class D/Icepower is perhaps helping to lower the barrier for many to being able to afford high power when needed.
chadnliz
3,736 posts
 
There are a ton of amps that fall into a lower wattage output and they are for a specific use with attention to intended use and associated equipment. If a consumer is not smart enough to study up on what they truely need who's fault is it??
usblues
1,217 posts
 
You kind of need to consider the speakers along with whatever amp your using to drive them.Its not a one part equation,its a two part,cheers,Bob
learsfool
1,215 posts
 
Agree that the speakers are the important part of the equation - I use horns myself, so I don't need to worry about not having enough power.
robr45's avatar
robr45
319 posts
 
You reference peaks of 105db but then seem to be loking for an amplifier that can deliver enough power continuously.

A 50wpc amplifier that is well designed should be able to deliver far more power in a short burst than the continuous power rating might indicate.

This is referred to as headroom.
mordante
511 posts
 
I think the whole story 105dB peak is nonsense. It is just a marketing trick to sell you high powered amps. Musical Fidelity uses that trick often. I am not saying they make bad amps. But I do say most of the time you don't need more then 100watt. Even 50watt should be more then enough for most occasions. Unless you use speakers with low sensitivity and a large room etc.

I sit about 2meters from my speakers and my room is about 25square meter. I don't think I will ever need more then 100watt.

I am not sure at what sound pressure I listen at home but I would be surprised if it went over 95dB peak.
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