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amplifier DB meters

How come amps no longer have meters? I personally like them, I find it very useful to know how many watts I am using while tuning my system.

If you have a pair of speakers and they require a certain amt of power whether it be 1 watt or 100 watts isn't good to know? Lets say you are only using 4 watts to drive your speakers isn't this the only way to find out that you can use a much "smaller" amp rather than the 200watt behemoth you are currently using? Also vis-a-versa to find out you need more watts as you may be going into clipping or just always using the most you amp can give.

If an amplifier does not have meters can you hook one up or use a test meter to find out how many watts you are using?
Bob.
acoustat6
south_park
103 posts
 
One more thing- if you listen to pop/rock, there will be no peaks and you will never need more power than you see on your meters. Why? Because the mastering engineer has basically compressed the recording to have less than 5dB of dynamic range. Play a CD on your computer with a sound program and watch the "peaks" and you will see that 90% of the song is at the maximum volume you can have.

Classical is different- lots of dynamic range there.
acoustat6 OP
357 posts
 
HI Shadorne, I believe each bank is wired in just that- parallel groups in series. I have the wiring diagram and paramaters somewhere but I did this 8 years ago so I kind of forgot the details. I needed to keep it 4 ohms where my friends are wired to 2 ohms owing to the different amps we are using. I also believe it is the way Marshall stacks are wired.
An internet friend designed the speaker system and had enough custom drivers made for 3 sets (96 drivers, plus 4 to make an even 100 which was required for a price discount). He and a friend are using them with the big Soundlabs.
Bob
shadorne's avatar
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shadorne
7,467 posts
 
I needed to keep it 4 ohms

That's cool. Given your amps there should be absolutely no problem with that kind of load.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,616 posts
 
Hi Bob, if you're using a VU meter, the thing to do is to calibrate it against the load you're using- in this case your 4 ohm speakers. To do that you'll have to measure the output voltage of the amp and then calculate the current to then get to the power level. Then, using a variable resistance, set the level of the meter to a point that makes sense for you- for example 0VU = 100 watts, so +3db will then be 200 watts. That way you will have a nice relative level for your speakers. It won't be completely accurate, but it will be close.

BTW, yes, I do have a couple of Laverdas that are both riders, a '73 SF2 and a '79 Jarama (3CL).
acoustat6 OP
357 posts
 
Hi Atmasphere, I heard it through the motorcycle/audio grapevine that you are a Laverda-phile. I have a '72 SF, '74 SFC and a RGS Corsa. I have owned the SFC since the early 80s. Great bikes any chance you make it to Mid Ohio for the vintage races? Next year the rumor is that Laverda will be there with the V6!
Bob
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