How Much Power is Needed For My Hi-Fi Amplifier?
The two major specifications that any hi-fi amplifier buyer has to contend with are the frequency response and power rating. It is very common for an amplifier to have a power rating of hundred and eighty watts. There is a common misconception that an amplifier rating of one hundred and forty-five watts will be ideal for listening to music at normal volumes. In actual fact, amplifiers can have varying power ratings even within the same design.
For example, an amplifier may have a twenty hz, or high fidelity, rating. Despite this fact, most high fidelity amplifier consumers will still opt for a thirty hz, or low fidelity, amplifier. With the wide range of choices, it is important for the hi-fi amplifier buyer to know what specifications he wants. To help you out here are some of the most popular types of high quality speakers, like the ones found in most hi-fi amplifiers.
Cherry MX Switching A cherry MX switch is a new generation of switching devices used in Hi-Fi amplifiers. Unlike traditional spring switches, these new devices use "soft snap" tactile feeling along with a PWM (Pulse Width modulation) design. The result is a smooth transition from one zone to another. Due to their small size, Cherry MX switches are very efficient in that they only need one vertical outlet compared to two for spring switches. An added benefit of the soft snap feel is that it reduces excess RF noise and increases stability.
VA Rated Amplifier The most popular type of amplifier is the VA rated amplifier. VA stands for "vibrant efficiency ratio" and it refers to how many times the audio force is exerted per cycle. The better the ratio, the higher the efficiency. Audio force is exerted on the switch every time the switch is turned on. The total power supply, which is the constant voltage supplied to the amp, is then calculated: watts = maximum power supply voltage output / amp power. In order to determine this total, multiply the constant voltage output by the maximum wattage rating of the amp and divide the result by the total power supply voltage output.
What does this mean? If Audio Scaleurs have a desktop system with six speakers and a rock solid music foundation, you probably want your amp to be powerful enough to provide you with quality sound reproduction even at full volume. A desktop amp would probably need more power than a modest home theater amp. A good rule of thumb is to look for the manufacturers maximum power supply voltage output rating for the desktop or media center model that you are considering.
The final step in evaluating an amplifier is to evaluate the audio component values. The RMS rating of the speaker should be taken in consideration. It is the number of milliseconds it takes for the audio signal to complete one complete cycle. Next is the peak power rating of the speaker. This is the maximum instantaneous electrical current that the amplifier's power supply can provide.
One thing to keep in mind is that amplifiers are measured in ohms. This means that if the maximum supply voltage is too low, you may get little or no sound from your speaker. On the other hand, if the maximum supply voltage is too high, you may not be able to get the desired power from your amplifier. Therefore, it is important to know the exact Ohm rating of the amplifier that you are looking at.
If you are still a little fuzzy on how to judge these ratings, don't worry. It really is pretty easy. To find the actual RMS and peak power, just divide the RMS by two and round up to the nearest whole unit. Remember, a low wattage amp will have its RMS measured in milliamps (mils) while a high wattage amp will have its RMS measured in watts (watts). Also remember that a high wattage amp will need more power to produce the same volume as a lower wattage amp so pay close attention to that.