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But hey, I'll ask it anyways cuz newbies have to start SOMEwhere, right? :)
Right now I'm using a McCormack MicroLineDrive in its passive mode, with a Parasound HCA1000A amp (125 watts/channel) into a pair of 88db sensitive Paradigm Minimonitors. The source is a 2.5Vrms DAC.
Usually, when I listen to music, my volume setting is at the 9 o'clock position. I'm wondering though -- say, if I use a 200 watt/channel amp instead, would it necessarily mean that I'll get a much louder sound at the same 9o'clock position? Or would an increase in wattage simply imply more dynamics, more power to drive the speakers, without changing the volume (is this "loudness factor" just a separate "dB amplification" number?)? Or would it have anything to do with the input/output impedence at all?
Keith
The volume setting will depend on the gain of the amp, which is separate from the available output power. A higher power rating generally indicates that you can make the overall volume louder before going into clipping, but says little about the position of the volume control. If the gain of two amps is the same, but one has a higher power rating, the volume at a particular setting will be the same with either amp, but you can set the volume higher before hearing distortion with the more powerful amp.
Assuming that the amp in question is another Parasound unit, having
the same circuit topology, but with a heftier output (200wpc), the
simple answer is YES, you will get more volume at the same setting.
Of course the input sensitivity of the amp does factor into the equation,
but I don't think it's a problem here due to the 2.5Vrms DAC upstream.
_Spike
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