If you have paid a good amount of money on a pair of good-quality speakers, you wish to be confident that you get an amplifier which will deliver superb sound quality while meeting your budget. I will present several pointers on the subject of audio amplifier devices to assist you make the perfect purchasing decision.
A important parameter is the size of the amplifier. You can purchase models which can fill half a room. In contrast, a number of of the latest miniature amplifier types are no larger than a deck of cards. Many models will be the size of a ordinary audio rack so that you can easily stack it on top of your audio equipment.
The vast majority of recent audio amplifiers are solid state amplifiers as opposed to more traditional tube amps. Tube amplifiers have been prevalent a decade or so ago. Tube amplifiers, on the other hand, have a rather high level of harmonic distortion. Harmonic distortion refers to how much the audio signal is degraded while being amplified. This expression is frequently used while evaluating the audio quality of amplifiers.
Harmonic distortion of tube amplifiers is frequently as large as 10%. Solid-state amps will have less audio distortion. Still, distortion will depend on the specific audio amplifier technology. The most conventional amps use a "Class-A" and "Class-AB" technology. These amps are also called "analog amplifiers". This technology offers relatively low audio distortion. Though, the power efficiency is only 10 to 30%. Power efficiency describes how much of the electrical power is used to amplify the audio as opposed to being wasted as heat. Amplifiers with low power efficiency will require rather big heat sinks because the majority of the power is radiated.
Another technology is referred to as "Class-D". This technology offers much higher power efficiency than analog amplifiers, normally around 80 to 90%. "Class-D" amps are also known as "digital amplifiers". The tradeoff is that digital amplifiers regularly have higher audio distortion than analog amps. This is for the most part a consequence of the switching distortion of the output power stage. Latest digital audio amplifiers, though, utilize a feedback mechanism and can reduce the audio distortion to below 0.05%.
Another technology is named "Class-D". This technology offers far higher power efficiency than analog amplifiers, generally around 80 to 90%. "Class-D" amplifiers are also referred to as "digital amplifiers". As a result of the switching output stage, digital amplifiers generally have higher harmonic distortion than analog amplifiers. Though, a few of the newest models are capable to lower distortion to 0.05% and lower by using a feedback mechanism. Your amp should deliver adequate power to drive your loudspeakers. The amount of power will depend on the power handling rating of your speakers. One more factor is the size of your space. Speaker power handling ability is given as peak power and average power. The peak power value refers to how much power the speaker can handle for a short period of time while the average power handling value denotes how much power you can drive the loudspeaker at continuously without damage.
If your listening area is relatively small then you might not require to drive your loudspeaker to its rated power handling value. You would probably be ok having an amp that can offer 20 to 50 Watts although your speakers may be able to tolerate 100 Watts of power. Note though that speakers differ in their sensitivity. Typically a low-impedance speaker will be less difficult to drive to high volume than a high-impedance speaker. Not all amplifiers can drive any speaker impedance. Find out the impedance of your speaker which is given in Ohms. Then take a look at your amplifier manual to make certain that your amp can drive this impedance.
Lastly, make sure that your amp introduces little noise and has a broad enough frequency response. High-quality amplifiers will have a signal-to-noise ratio of at the very least 100 dB and a frequency response of at least 20 Hz to 20 kHz.
A important parameter is the size of the amplifier. You can purchase models which can fill half a room. In contrast, a number of of the latest miniature amplifier types are no larger than a deck of cards. Many models will be the size of a ordinary audio rack so that you can easily stack it on top of your audio equipment.
The vast majority of recent audio amplifiers are solid state amplifiers as opposed to more traditional tube amps. Tube amplifiers have been prevalent a decade or so ago. Tube amplifiers, on the other hand, have a rather high level of harmonic distortion. Harmonic distortion refers to how much the audio signal is degraded while being amplified. This expression is frequently used while evaluating the audio quality of amplifiers.
Harmonic distortion of tube amplifiers is frequently as large as 10%. Solid-state amps will have less audio distortion. Still, distortion will depend on the specific audio amplifier technology. The most conventional amps use a "Class-A" and "Class-AB" technology. These amps are also called "analog amplifiers". This technology offers relatively low audio distortion. Though, the power efficiency is only 10 to 30%. Power efficiency describes how much of the electrical power is used to amplify the audio as opposed to being wasted as heat. Amplifiers with low power efficiency will require rather big heat sinks because the majority of the power is radiated.
Another technology is referred to as "Class-D". This technology offers much higher power efficiency than analog amplifiers, normally around 80 to 90%. "Class-D" amps are also known as "digital amplifiers". The tradeoff is that digital amplifiers regularly have higher audio distortion than analog amps. This is for the most part a consequence of the switching distortion of the output power stage. Latest digital audio amplifiers, though, utilize a feedback mechanism and can reduce the audio distortion to below 0.05%.
Another technology is named "Class-D". This technology offers far higher power efficiency than analog amplifiers, generally around 80 to 90%. "Class-D" amplifiers are also referred to as "digital amplifiers". As a result of the switching output stage, digital amplifiers generally have higher harmonic distortion than analog amplifiers. Though, a few of the newest models are capable to lower distortion to 0.05% and lower by using a feedback mechanism. Your amp should deliver adequate power to drive your loudspeakers. The amount of power will depend on the power handling rating of your speakers. One more factor is the size of your space. Speaker power handling ability is given as peak power and average power. The peak power value refers to how much power the speaker can handle for a short period of time while the average power handling value denotes how much power you can drive the loudspeaker at continuously without damage.
If your listening area is relatively small then you might not require to drive your loudspeaker to its rated power handling value. You would probably be ok having an amp that can offer 20 to 50 Watts although your speakers may be able to tolerate 100 Watts of power. Note though that speakers differ in their sensitivity. Typically a low-impedance speaker will be less difficult to drive to high volume than a high-impedance speaker. Not all amplifiers can drive any speaker impedance. Find out the impedance of your speaker which is given in Ohms. Then take a look at your amplifier manual to make certain that your amp can drive this impedance.
Lastly, make sure that your amp introduces little noise and has a broad enough frequency response. High-quality amplifiers will have a signal-to-noise ratio of at the very least 100 dB and a frequency response of at least 20 Hz to 20 kHz.
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