2. amps-preamps
  3. 1370650847

Do amps have a sweet spot?

What I mean by this is do amps have an output range at which they sound better? The reason that I'm asking is that I'm now running some very small speakers (Minuet Supreme Plus) and they're probably the least demanding speakers I've had; but I've found that my setup sounds better when I have the volume turned up.

Out of curiosity, I took my Minuets to my local shop and hooked them up to an NAD C326BEE. I thought it sounded pretty darned good at "normal" listening levels. I almost bought it, but then I decided to start cranking it up to what I would call "rockin" levels and the amp started to clip. If it could have played louder, I would have bought it.

So...is it usual for an amp not to open up until you start pushing it?

My current amp is an Aragon 2004.
tonyangel
csontos
1,311 posts
 
I wasn't taking you to task. Just pointing out the op's query. Seems it got lost. I knew you'd come through.
response34's avatar
response34
169 posts
 
Every component has a sweet spot so to speak. This is where "synergy" comes into play. It's more than just the ideal operating point of a single component rather when all the components in a given system work together at their optimal levels to produce the best sound a system has to offer.
Lets say you have a perfect mate (okay, great match) between an amplifier and speakers. If the preamp is not a good fit to the amplifier (or amplifier speaker combination), you may blame the amp for the system's downfalls. Volume may get too loud prematurely or you may have to crank the volume to get the speakers to play at normal levels.
With an integrated amplifier that has been designed properly, this should not be an issue if matted with the proper speakers.
csontos
1,311 posts
 
The general behavior of all my amps is the same whether it's a 45 wpch amp or 800 wpch amp. I don't start hearing prominent inner mid-range detail until the amp is 'cookin'. Does this not stand to reason? Why would I design an amp not to perform it's best at rated output? Nothing is perfect. The whole technology is rife with compromise.
Post removed 
csontos
1,311 posts
 
No. SPL's have nothing to do with it. Like I said, they all exhibit the same behavior regardless of power rating. Obviously, SPL's are going to change accordingly. But just because it's louder doesn't mean the same things aren't going to happen. Characteristically, they are the same.
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