I will look at a number of audio amplifiers and explain some basic vocabulary to help you choose the best amp for your speakers
It is tricky to pick the perfect audio amplifier as a consequence of the large amount of types. All of these models have different specs. They are based on different technologies and come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. However, you don't have to be a specialist to pick the perfect type. By following some fundamental rules you won't regret your purchasing decision.
The huge majority of today's audio amplifiers are solid state amplifiers versus more traditional tube amplifiers. Tube amps have been dominant a decade or so ago. Tube amplifiers, however, have a relatively high amount of harmonic distortion. Harmonic distortion refers to how much the audio signal is degraded whilst being amplified. This term is frequently used while comparing the audio quality of amps.
Tube amplifiers will have audio distortion of up to 10%. Solid state amplifiers will have less audio distortion depending on the amplifier technology that is employed. The most conventional amplifiers utilize a "Class-A" and "Class-AB" technology. These amps are also called "analog amplifiers". Whereas amplifiers utilizing these technologies generally have low audio distortion, power efficiency is merely 10% to 30%. Power efficiency describes how much of the electrical power is utilized to amplify the audio as opposed to being wasted as heat. Amps with low power efficiency will require quite big heat sinks since the majority of the power is radiated.
"Class-D" amplifiers, however, which are also referred to as "digital amplifiers" have a power efficiency of at the least 80% and are smaller and have a smaller power supply than comparable analog amplifiers. The tradeoff is that digital amps regularly have higher audio distortion than analog amplifiers. This is for the most part a consequence of the switching distortion of the output power stage. Most recent digital audio amplifiers, on the other hand, employ a feedback mechanism and can reduce the audio distortion to below 0.05%.
In contrast, "Class-D" amplifiers which are also named "digital amplifiers" have a power efficiency of normally 80 to 90%. This allows the amplifier and power supply to be made a great deal smaller than analog amplifiers. The downside is that digital amps often have larger audio distortion than analog amplifiers. This is mostly a consequence of the switching distortion of the output power stage. Newest digital audio amplifiers, on the other hand, make use of a feedback mechanism and can minimize the audio distortion to below 0.05%. When choosing an amp, ensure that the output power is adequate to drive your speakers. The required power will be determined by how much power your loudspeakers can tolerate as well as the size of your room where you will be listening. Speaker power handling capability is specified 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 whereas the average power handling value denotes how much power you can drive the speaker at continuously without damage.
If you have a fairly small listening environment then 20 to 50 Watts of power should be sufficient while your loudspeaker might be rated for 100 Watts or more. Low-impedance loudspeakers generally offer high sensitivity and are easier to drive to high volume than high-impedance speakers. Not all amplifiers can drive every speaker impedance. Find out the impedance of your speaker which is given in Ohms. Then look at your amplifier manual to guarantee that your amp can drive this impedance.
Last but not least, make sure that your amp introduces little noise and has a broad enough frequency response. High-quality amps will have a signal-to-noise ratio of at least 100 dB and a frequency response of at least 20 Hz to 20 kHz.
It is tricky to pick the perfect audio amplifier as a consequence of the large amount of types. All of these models have different specs. They are based on different technologies and come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. However, you don't have to be a specialist to pick the perfect type. By following some fundamental rules you won't regret your purchasing decision.
The huge majority of today's audio amplifiers are solid state amplifiers versus more traditional tube amplifiers. Tube amps have been dominant a decade or so ago. Tube amplifiers, however, have a relatively high amount of harmonic distortion. Harmonic distortion refers to how much the audio signal is degraded whilst being amplified. This term is frequently used while comparing the audio quality of amps.
Tube amplifiers will have audio distortion of up to 10%. Solid state amplifiers will have less audio distortion depending on the amplifier technology that is employed. The most conventional amplifiers utilize a "Class-A" and "Class-AB" technology. These amps are also called "analog amplifiers". Whereas amplifiers utilizing these technologies generally have low audio distortion, power efficiency is merely 10% to 30%. Power efficiency describes how much of the electrical power is utilized to amplify the audio as opposed to being wasted as heat. Amps with low power efficiency will require quite big heat sinks since the majority of the power is radiated.
"Class-D" amplifiers, however, which are also referred to as "digital amplifiers" have a power efficiency of at the least 80% and are smaller and have a smaller power supply than comparable analog amplifiers. The tradeoff is that digital amps regularly have higher audio distortion than analog amplifiers. This is for the most part a consequence of the switching distortion of the output power stage. Most recent digital audio amplifiers, on the other hand, employ a feedback mechanism and can reduce the audio distortion to below 0.05%.
In contrast, "Class-D" amplifiers which are also named "digital amplifiers" have a power efficiency of normally 80 to 90%. This allows the amplifier and power supply to be made a great deal smaller than analog amplifiers. The downside is that digital amps often have larger audio distortion than analog amplifiers. This is mostly a consequence of the switching distortion of the output power stage. Newest digital audio amplifiers, on the other hand, make use of a feedback mechanism and can minimize the audio distortion to below 0.05%. When choosing an amp, ensure that the output power is adequate to drive your speakers. The required power will be determined by how much power your loudspeakers can tolerate as well as the size of your room where you will be listening. Speaker power handling capability is specified 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 whereas the average power handling value denotes how much power you can drive the speaker at continuously without damage.
If you have a fairly small listening environment then 20 to 50 Watts of power should be sufficient while your loudspeaker might be rated for 100 Watts or more. Low-impedance loudspeakers generally offer high sensitivity and are easier to drive to high volume than high-impedance speakers. Not all amplifiers can drive every speaker impedance. Find out the impedance of your speaker which is given in Ohms. Then look at your amplifier manual to guarantee that your amp can drive this impedance.
Last but not least, make sure that your amp introduces little noise and has a broad enough frequency response. High-quality amps will have a signal-to-noise ratio of at least 100 dB and a frequency response of at least 20 Hz to 20 kHz.
