Peak output is usually a brief transient. Many amps can provide double their rated power for brief peaks

Posted by Richard BassNut Greene on March 25, 2007 at 10:39:17

In Reply to: Loudspeaker sensitivity question. posted by Borough33 on March 24, 2007 at 21:45:44:

The power output available for brief transients without clipping is called "Headroom" and typically varies from about +1dB to +6db (+3dB is double the rated per channel power output, and +3dB Headroom (or close to +3dB) is common among decent amplifiers).

I think the tone burst timing for this measurement is 200 milliseconds and I don't recall how clipping is defined.

I'd use 10% harmonic distortion as the definition of clipping but there may be no standard, which would explain why Headroom is often not included in amplifier specs.

Most amps can provide up to double the rated power per channel (+3dB) with high levels of harmonic distortion (compared to the rated harmonic distortion) before clipping distortion becomes serious.

Fortunately no music has 105dB levels that last very long ...or we'd all be deaf.

Average power output with any amp is typically 1 watt or less.
.
.
.
.
.
.

Richard BassNut Greene
Subjective Audiophile 2007

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Loudspeaker sensitivity question. - Borough33 21:45:44 03/24/07 (14)

well there acouple issues here, lsitening distnce being one, most of us listen at least 2 to 3 metres away or more! - Timbo in Oz 21:10:11 03/26/07 (0)

Peak output is usually a brief transient. Many amps can provide double their rated power for brief peaks - Richard BassNut Greene 10:39:17 03/25/07 (0)

Re: Loudspeaker sensitivity question. "rephrased" - Borough33 09:14:12 03/25/07 (9)

My answer would be the same. - Duke 14:25:37 03/25/07 (8)

Re: My answer would be the same. - Borough33 15:17:30 03/25/07 (7)

Thanks for the link - disturbing lack of accuracy there - Duke 17:13:50 03/25/07 (6)

Re: Thanks for the link - disturbing lack of accuracy there - Borough33 17:25:33 03/25/07 (5)

How to play games with figures, names, and quotes. - David Aiken 01:39:49 03/26/07 (0)

Yup - still BS. - Duke 20:09:58 03/25/07 (0)

I'd sue! :^) - Paul Joppa 19:55:16 03/25/07 (1)

I don't do this sort of thing very often... - Duke 10:29:27 03/26/07 (0)

Damned lies - Russ57 19:10:43 03/25/07 (0)

Re: Loudspeaker sensitivity question. - RGA 07:25:37 03/25/07 (1)

Re: Loudspeaker sensitivity question. - Duke 02:53:44 03/25/07 (0)

Follow Ups

Peak output is usually a brief transient. Many amps can provide double their rated power for brief peaks - Richard BassNut Greene 10:39:17 03/25/07 (0)

You can not post to an archived thread.