If you have paid a good deal of cash on a pair of good-quality speakers, you want to be sure that you get an amplifier which will deliver excellent sound quality while meeting your budget. I will give a number of tips about audio amplifier devices to assist you make the correct purchasing decision.
It is hard to select the best audio amp due to the large number of types. All of these types have different specs. They are based on different technologies and are available in all kinds of shapes and sizes. By following some straightforward guidelines, you will be able to pick the model that best meets your application and budget.
There are some core amplifier technologies available. One technology is referred to as "solid-state". Solid-state amps now make up for the majority of audio amps. In the past, tube amplifiers have been popular. Even today tube amplifiers are still available. Tube amps, however, have a rather large level of harmonic distortion. Harmonic distortion describes how much the audio signal is degraded while being amplified. This term is often used while evaluating the audio quality of amps.
An audio distortion of up to 10% is normal for tube amps whereas solid-state amps have lower audio distortion depending on the specific technology. In the past, mostly "Class-A" and "Class-AB" amps were obtainable which are also known as "analog amplifiers". This technology provides relatively small audio distortion. However, the power efficiency is only 10 to 30%. Power efficiency refers to how much of the electrical power is in fact utilized to amplify the signal. The remaining part is wasted as heat. An amp with low power efficiency will radiate most of its power as heat.
Harmonic distortion of tube amplifiers is often as high as 10%. Solid-state amplifiers will have less audio distortion. Still, distortion will depend on the particular audio amplifier technology. Several of the most popular technologies in the past have been "Class-A" and "Class-AB" technologies. These technologies use different arrangements to amplify the audio. Amplifiers based on any of these technologies are also referred to as "analog amplifiers". Audio amps which are based on these technologies typically have low harmonic distortion. Furthermore, this technology is relatively economical. On the other hand, the downside is that the power efficiency is merely in the order of 20% to 30%. Power efficiency describes how much of the electrical power is utilized to amplify the audio versus being wasted as heat. Amplifiers with low power efficiency will need fairly big heat sinks since most of the power is radiated.
The amplifier should be able to provide enough output power to sufficiently drive your speakers which will depend not only on how much power your loudspeakers can tolerate but also on the size of your listening environment. There are two values for speaker power handling: peak and average power handling. The peak value indicates how much power the loudspeaker can handle for small periods of time. The average value on the other hand describes how much power the speaker can handle constantly without harm.
In a small listening area, you may not require to drive your speakers to their rated value. 20 to 40 Watts of power would probably be sufficient. Note though that loudspeakers vary in their sensitivity. Usually a low-impedance speaker will be simpler to drive to high volume than a high-impedance loudspeaker. Be sure that your amplifier can drive your speaker impedance. You can without problems find the rated speaker impedance range in your amplifier's user manual.
Last but not least, be 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 least 100 dB and a frequency response of a minimum of 20 Hz to 20 kHz.
It is hard to select the best audio amp due to the large number of types. All of these types have different specs. They are based on different technologies and are available in all kinds of shapes and sizes. By following some straightforward guidelines, you will be able to pick the model that best meets your application and budget.
There are some core amplifier technologies available. One technology is referred to as "solid-state". Solid-state amps now make up for the majority of audio amps. In the past, tube amplifiers have been popular. Even today tube amplifiers are still available. Tube amps, however, have a rather large level of harmonic distortion. Harmonic distortion describes how much the audio signal is degraded while being amplified. This term is often used while evaluating the audio quality of amps.
An audio distortion of up to 10% is normal for tube amps whereas solid-state amps have lower audio distortion depending on the specific technology. In the past, mostly "Class-A" and "Class-AB" amps were obtainable which are also known as "analog amplifiers". This technology provides relatively small audio distortion. However, the power efficiency is only 10 to 30%. Power efficiency refers to how much of the electrical power is in fact utilized to amplify the signal. The remaining part is wasted as heat. An amp with low power efficiency will radiate most of its power as heat.
Harmonic distortion of tube amplifiers is often as high as 10%. Solid-state amplifiers will have less audio distortion. Still, distortion will depend on the particular audio amplifier technology. Several of the most popular technologies in the past have been "Class-A" and "Class-AB" technologies. These technologies use different arrangements to amplify the audio. Amplifiers based on any of these technologies are also referred to as "analog amplifiers". Audio amps which are based on these technologies typically have low harmonic distortion. Furthermore, this technology is relatively economical. On the other hand, the downside is that the power efficiency is merely in the order of 20% to 30%. Power efficiency describes how much of the electrical power is utilized to amplify the audio versus being wasted as heat. Amplifiers with low power efficiency will need fairly big heat sinks since most of the power is radiated.
The amplifier should be able to provide enough output power to sufficiently drive your speakers which will depend not only on how much power your loudspeakers can tolerate but also on the size of your listening environment. There are two values for speaker power handling: peak and average power handling. The peak value indicates how much power the loudspeaker can handle for small periods of time. The average value on the other hand describes how much power the speaker can handle constantly without harm.
In a small listening area, you may not require to drive your speakers to their rated value. 20 to 40 Watts of power would probably be sufficient. Note though that loudspeakers vary in their sensitivity. Usually a low-impedance speaker will be simpler to drive to high volume than a high-impedance loudspeaker. Be sure that your amplifier can drive your speaker impedance. You can without problems find the rated speaker impedance range in your amplifier's user manual.
Last but not least, be 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 least 100 dB and a frequency response of a minimum of 20 Hz to 20 kHz.
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