2. amps-preamps
  3. 190605-193284

Power consuption of an amplifier

Hi, friends!

Maybe you can help me to figure out the peak power consumption of my amp.

I have bought Micromega M-150 from USA, but I live in Europe now. The amp's voltage is 120v, but I have 230v in socket here. So, I'm going to buy a step-down coverter 230v to 120v. Each step-down converter is designed for some maximum load, 150W, 450W, 600W, 1500W etc. So I need to know how much power my amplifier consumes from a socket to choose a coverter.

The problem is that I found three different points of view:

1) The Micromega's manual says: 

Power consumption: Standby : 1W

2 channels -1/8 Pmax under 8 Ohms : 185W

The seller says this is the maximum and I should take converter with double reserve, let it be 450W

2) Hi-Fi News Lab Report says:

Power consumption (idle/rated o/p): 40W / 480W (3W, standby)

I was told in another audiophile forum that 480W is maximum. So we can take with reserve 600W converter.

3) On same forum another guy counted this way:

You should take the dynamic power for two channels and multiply it by two. It means like 300W*2*2=1200W. And as the dynamic power of this amp on 1Ohm is 690W you showd take at least a 1500W conerter.

So I'm confused... The converter I want (Krieger) is 1150W maximum available and costs too much with shipping.

Amp specs:

Power by channel: 150W for 8Ohms, 300W for 4Ohms (I have 4Ohms speakers)

Efficiency 95%

Two power supplies - one for each channel

I wrote to Micromega, but they were bought by another company three years ago and stopped support.

I hope someone here could help me with this problem.

128x128iad
iad's avatar
iad OP
56 posts
 

@mswale Nothing is written on the back (just 120v), but I agree with you about listenenig volume

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iad's avatar
iad OP
56 posts
 

@jea48, Yeah, thats what we are talking about. If we have consumption power 480W and take a transformer that can handle 1000W, isn't it enough to have a double reserve for peak power consumption? And again, if it depends on listening volume, I'm not gonna terrorize my neighbors. No matter that I love death metal, I like to listen to it on comfortable level, like a middle between relaxing and having fun you know. 

What about LLC SMPS, it's advantages are possibility of low power consumption at light-load/standby and efficiency up to 98%, M150 has 95%, which must mean that the real power consumption is not far from it's power output. Again, quote from hifinews:

M150 is reinforced by a PFC (Power Factor Correction) version of its RPS power supply. Rated at 150W/8ohm, the M-150 delivers 2x167W/8ohm and 2x315W/4ohm with 175W, 335W, 565W and 690W available under dynamic conditions into 8, 4, 2 and 1ohm loads. 

My speakers have minimum 3ohm, not less if I understand right Erin's graph:

But I don't understand what is EDPR, it's something terrifying. 

 

mswale
154 posts
 

You all are getting so far into the weeds with this. Just looked up the Amp, it's a 150w class A/B made in France, after reading the manual, it states max power consumption is 185w, so it is a very efficient amp, almost class D like. 

manual

If you get a 400w transformer, you will be fine with all the dynamic headroom you need. This is nothing like my vintage class A that at idle is consuming 400w and heating my house.

If you are still concerned about it, contact the manufacture and ask them.

https://micromega.com/en/

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