+1 Not that I ever use high sensitivity speakers - the refined ones that I like all seem to be low efficiency ones: both systems (Quad 2805 and Harbeth P3ESR) are about 83 dB, apart from the 86 dB Wharfedale Diamond 9.0 in the bedroom.
Is powerfull Amps only for low sensitivity speakes?
Dear Friends,
The general amp advice for the speakers 92+ db sensitivity speakers are mostly low power amps and mainly set or pp tube devices. I wonder if you have any experience with a setup of high sensitivity speaker with 100+ watt amplifier.
My speaker is va sarastro 2 and at the moment driving it with accuphase a60 power amp. I've an opportunuty to buy Arc Gs150 amp with a good deal.
thanks for your comments
The general amp advice for the speakers 92+ db sensitivity speakers are mostly low power amps and mainly set or pp tube devices. I wonder if you have any experience with a setup of high sensitivity speaker with 100+ watt amplifier.
My speaker is va sarastro 2 and at the moment driving it with accuphase a60 power amp. I've an opportunuty to buy Arc Gs150 amp with a good deal.
thanks for your comments
Showing 8 responses by willemj
See here for Audio Precision measurement graphs of a 2x350 watt pro audio amplifier: http://www.homecinema-fr.com/forum/amplificateurs-de-puissance-haute-fidelite/mesures-ampli-yamaha-p... In short, there is no problem, and the test concludes that this amplifer is excellent for domestic high quality audio systems: CONCLUSIONS . La puissance annoncée est largement obtenue (370W Rms sans remontée de distorsion, pour 350W Rms annoncé) . Bande passante extra-large (ceux qui lui reprochent de manquer d’aigu, faudra m’expliquer...) . Distorsion infime à bas niveau, très faible jusque la limite de l’écrêtage . Pas de distorsion de croisement, toute petite remontée de distorsion dans la zone 0.5W - 8W Rms; pas mal vu le faible courant de repos de l’étage de sortie! . Un ampli que l’on peut utiliser en utilisation domestique comme en sono de qualité . Quant au prix... "honteusement bas" pour un appareil de ce niveau de perfs (400 euros chez Thomann...), de puissance et de protections. Je suis content d’avoir acheté cet ampli et son grand frère P5000S pour mon système tri-amplifié, ce P3500S va donc rejoindre mon rack pour driver les médiums CMCD-JBL. Je suis convaincu, attachant une grande importance aux résultats de mesure. (Je suis électronicien de passion et de métier) Petite anecdote je n’ai pas entendu le ventilo se déclencher pendant les phases ou je le faisais travailler à puissance max le temps de la FFT.. La résistance de puissance, elle commençait à sentir le chaud! Que reste-t-il aux "classe A" ésotériques et infiniment plus chers? je ne rentrerai pas dans ce débat... Read more at http://www.homecinema-fr.com/forum/amplificateurs-de-puissance-haute-fidelite/mesures-ampli-yamaha-p... This excellent amplifier until recently sold for 350 euro in Europe, and currently for just over $500 in the US. |
For the video of the Hilversum demo, see here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRMR9JZ1m0s |
Just look at the Audio Precison graphs at different power output levels of a 2x350 watt Yamaha p3500s pro audio amplifier: http://www.homecinema-fr.com/forum/amplificateurs-de-puissance-haute-fidelite/mesures-ampli-yamaha-p... It is true that distortion goes up a little bit at lower levels, but it is still very low and below the noise level: 0.05% at 100 mW. Look at graph 16 in particular, for the output range of 480mW to 7.7 W rms. In that range it never gets above 0.015% and rapidly descends to 0.01%. There is no way you can hear this. |
This may be interesting: http://www.harbeth.co.uk/usergroup/forum/the-science-of-audio/amplifier-matching-mismatching-and-cli... The point is that with significant dynamic range the peak power required is much higher than the average. In the quoted example, if you need 1 watt on average, you will need 160 watt to cope with a 22 dB peak above that average. |