2. amps-preamps
  3. 165028-98081

enough amplifier power

I am curious as to why so many people think that their amplifiers are powerful enough for their speakers. I use a Yamamoto A-08S--around 1.5 watts output. I use it with a Fostex F-106ESR. The combination is a little ragged at low volumes, but beautifully immediate. Distorts awfully at anything approaching a decent volume. I see people using 20-100 watt amplifiers with medium efficiency loudspeakers. I do not see how this can work any better. If you work out the math, most loudspeakers need 200-500 watts minimum. That is not even taking into account low impedance loudspeakers. Do people not know what distortion sounds like? Or, compression either, for that matter? Please enlighten me.
hedwigstheme
wolfie62
353 posts
 
Sorry. I don’t get the argument here.

So the OP has a 1.5 watt amp, then complains that amplifier power is necessary to enjoy really good sound???

My speakers are rated at 90 dB/w/m. Average sensitivity. My amplifier is rated 90 w/ch clean. So??

I rarely use more than 5 watts/ch of power for loud listening levels. 

So, what am I missing here? Is 85 watts headroom not enough?? 

Is this some example of “Common Core” math???
daveman2's avatar
daveman2
58 posts
 
OP, what is your question?
g_nakamoto's avatar
g_nakamoto
348 posts
 
i used to read stereo review since the early 70's! this magazine said that you should buy a unit with the most watts you can afford! 
russ69's avatar
russ69
3,523 posts
 
"...The golden rule is that your amplifier should be about twice as powerful as your speaker can handle..."

I’ve never heard such a rule. The reality is you need an amp that at a minimum gets the job done. But if you like to really jack up the volume, you better have a good amount of headroom. RMS power is meaningless because it's the distorted peaks that kill drivers.
hedwigstheme OP
140 posts
 
OP here. I am not complaining about my amplifier. I am acknowledging the likelihood that it is not enough even for my efficient loudspeakers. I think a lot of us drive our loudspeakers to amplifier distortion on dynamic peaks. Agree or disagree is the question. Perhaps I could ask for Ralph Karsten’s opinion (@Atmasphere) since he has discussed this regarding SETs in the past. Perhaps he could take it further with amplifiers in general.
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