Damping Factor - Interesting article


Benchmark Media published interesting article on Damping Factor.  I already knew that it does not make much difference for the damping of the membrane, but low output impedance is necessary to drive changing impedance ot the speaker (ideal voltage source).  According to this article DF=100 produces about 0.5dB variations typically, while DF=200 reduces it to 0.1dB.  DF above 200 is inaudible.

https://benchmarkmedia.com/blogs/application_notes/audio-myth-damping-factor-isnt-much-of-a-factor?omnisendAttributionID=email_campaign_5eda3b728a48f72deaf34bf2&omnisendContactID=5cf9266b15b61cc5a2a4dee7&utm_campaign=campaign%3A+AUDIO+MYTH+-+%22DAMPING+FACTOR+ISN%27T+MUCH+OF+A+FACTOR%22+%285eda3b728a48f72deaf34bf2%29&utm_medium=email&utm_source=omnisend

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@atmasphere  That's how they describe this car amp:

Speakers and subwoofers change their impedances depending on what frequency note is playing. Normally, an amplifier will change its output power according to what impedance it senses. The Constant Power circuitry Rockford Fosgate developed changes all that, allowing the amp to put out exactly the same power no matter what impedance changes happen during play.

The constant power delivery doesn't necessarily mean it is maximum power (maximum power is delivered only when load impedance is the same as the source impedance).

It is hard to say that a damping factor over 200 is inaudible, because the amps with very high damping factors do usually sound better.  The huge power supplies needed to get a high DF also contribute in other ways.  For example, my old 125 wpc Audire amps use 4 26,000 mf caps per channel (x 4 in my bi-amped system), while the contemporary Bryston with 200 wpc uses 2 4000 mf caps per channel.  Guess which amp starts losing bass at high volume?  Not the 125 wpc per channel one.
You are confusing damping factor with dynamic headroom. Damping factor is mainly a factor of feedback, especially at bass frequencies. Dynamic range is a factor of supply rail voltage and capacitor size.
Given the love of tube amplifiers, saying high DF usually sounds better is debatable.