2. amps-preamps
  3. 190605-193284

Power consuption of an amplifier

Hi, friends!

Maybe you can help me to figure out the peak power consumption of my amp.

I have bought Micromega M-150 from USA, but I live in Europe now. The amp's voltage is 120v, but I have 230v in socket here. So, I'm going to buy a step-down coverter 230v to 120v. Each step-down converter is designed for some maximum load, 150W, 450W, 600W, 1500W etc. So I need to know how much power my amplifier consumes from a socket to choose a coverter.

The problem is that I found three different points of view:

1) The Micromega's manual says: 

Power consumption: Standby : 1W

2 channels -1/8 Pmax under 8 Ohms : 185W

The seller says this is the maximum and I should take converter with double reserve, let it be 450W

2) Hi-Fi News Lab Report says:

Power consumption (idle/rated o/p): 40W / 480W (3W, standby)

I was told in another audiophile forum that 480W is maximum. So we can take with reserve 600W converter.

3) On same forum another guy counted this way:

You should take the dynamic power for two channels and multiply it by two. It means like 300W*2*2=1200W. And as the dynamic power of this amp on 1Ohm is 690W you showd take at least a 1500W conerter.

So I'm confused... The converter I want (Krieger) is 1150W maximum available and costs too much with shipping.

Amp specs:

Power by channel: 150W for 8Ohms, 300W for 4Ohms (I have 4Ohms speakers)

Efficiency 95%

Two power supplies - one for each channel

I wrote to Micromega, but they were bought by another company three years ago and stopped support.

I hope someone here could help me with this problem.

iad

Showing 2 responses by mswale

mswale
236 posts
 

Most components will tell you on the back what the power draw is. This has nothing to do with Watt output for speakers.  If it says it's 400w, then you should get a at least a 600w converter. 

What is being missed is, this is MAX power draw, not continuous. That is most likely the power draw at clipping. If you listen to it at moderate volume, it is using far less power.  My Marantz is 200w, and under normal listening it is only pulling .5a 

mswale
236 posts
 

You all are getting so far into the weeds with this. Just looked up the Amp, it's a 150w class A/B made in France, after reading the manual, it states max power consumption is 185w, so it is a very efficient amp, almost class D like. 

manual

If you get a 400w transformer, you will be fine with all the dynamic headroom you need. This is nothing like my vintage class A that at idle is consuming 400w and heating my house.

If you are still concerned about it, contact the manufacture and ask them.

https://micromega.com/en/

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