How much of an amps wattage is used?

RE: How much of an amps wattage is used?, posted on November 29, 2020 at 21:31:11
HoosierAudio Audiophile Posts: 377 Location: MidWest, USA Joined: November 28, 2005	jimbill, You would have to identify the speakers the amp is driving to get an educated guess on something like that. It would also help to know the size of the room. HA

What is the SPL of your preferred listening, the sensitivity of your speakers...., posted on November 29, 2020 at 21:32:04
viridian	...how many speakers do you listen to at once, and what is the size of your room? But the answer is probably less than 10 watts, and why really care If you are in class A or not, if you can't discern the difference aurally?

RE: How much of an amps wattage is used?, posted on November 30, 2020 at 08:37:07
E-Stat Audiophile Posts: 37650 Joined: May 12, 2000 Contributor Since: April 5, 2002	Are you referring to the B&K 200? If so, it is unlikely that amplifier runs class A to 50 watts/channel. Click here for spec page from manual. Quiescent current is too low. Please define "normal" listening levels. Do you have a SPL meter or phone app to provide a db range?

Martin Logan Ascents, posted on November 30, 2020 at 08:58:07
jimbill Audiophile Posts: 3050 Location: Texas Joined: May 31, 2004	room is open floor plan den, kitchen, breakfast room, so maybe 30'x 30' with high ceilings.

Actually the Sonata's, posted on November 30, 2020 at 09:17:09
jimbill Audiophile Posts: 3050 Location: Texas Joined: May 31, 2004	They are only 200W per channel, but double to 400W. Otherwise they have the exact same specs. I thought I heard they were 50W class A but I may be wrong. I did read where they could at the time be factory biased to 100W class A.

Two speakers , posted on November 30, 2020 at 09:19:59
jimbill Audiophile Posts: 3050 Location: Texas Joined: May 31, 2004	I'm sure you're right about the hearing aspect, especially with my vintage ears. Just asking a question.

RE: Actually the Sonata's, posted on November 30, 2020 at 09:29:21
E-Stat Audiophile Posts: 37650 Joined: May 12, 2000 Contributor Since: April 5, 2002	I did read where they could at the time be factory biased to 100W class A. Perhaps sliding bias class A. A true stereo 200 watt class A amp will necessarily weigh more than 42 lbs to dissipate the heat. A single Pass Labs XA100.8 mono class A amp weighs 99 lbs!

RE: How much of an amps wattage is used?, posted on November 30, 2020 at 15:54:32

pictureguy
Audiophile

Posts: 22597
Location: SoCal
Joined: October 19, 2008

A pass labs amp, like the XA30.5 of which much has been written about has a BIAS METER, which is NOT a power meter but rather indicates bias to the outputs.
Amp was measured by Stereophile as 30 watts without moving the meter and about 6db headroom or nearly 120 watts in A/B. At that point the meter is 'deflecting' from it's usual mid-point postion.

You should post a couple additional items?

Sensitivity of speakers.
Listening habits
Size of room in cubic feet, note any exceptional room features or treatments.
Too much is never enough

RE: How much of an amps wattage is used?, posted on November 30, 2020 at 19:20:08

hahax@verizon.net
Audiophile

Posts: 4309
Location: New Jersey
Joined: March 22, 2006

Lets pick an 85db sensitivity speaker, a bit less than average. At 1 watt into it at i meter it is playing an average of 85dB, very loud. Even at say 12 feet you are only averaging a few watts. So the amp is mostly in class A almost all the time. The difference is on very dynamic music with even 30 dB peaks. There you need tons of watts and you will probably be in class AB. But peaks are very very short, so short that on classical music they hardly affect the average power. Loud music AVERAGES only a few watts at most.

RE: How much of an amps wattage is used?, posted on November 30, 2020 at 21:03:17
6bq5 Audiophile Posts: 4390 Location: SF Bay Joined: August 16, 2001	Surprisingly few! As one has posted - with the math - probably a watt or two- Yes, I miss the "heft" of the 100 WPC amp that usually drives my speakers- However the 35 WPC that I am currently using is quite musical - and when I stop missing the Amp that is not operating - I enjoy the music! Happy Listening

At 1 watt, one meter, would it not be playing at 88db with two speakers in the room?, posted on December 1, 2020 at 08:22:50
viridian	This being independent of room gain, of course.

RE: Actually the Sonata's, posted on December 2, 2020 at 07:42:36
Rocket_Powered Audiophile Posts: 439 Location: East Coast Joined: May 15, 2020	I believe the 30watt Pass stereo class A 30.8 also weighs in at 90+lbs.

RE: Martin Logan Ascents, posted on December 2, 2020 at 16:39:11
Tre' Industry Professional Posts: 17302 Location: So. Cal. Joined: February 9, 2002	Given your speakers, you get 108db SPL at 64 watts into each speaker. Tre' Have Fun and Enjoy the Music "Still Working the Problem"

RE: How much of an amps wattage is used?, posted on December 2, 2020 at 17:01:11
Tre' Industry Professional Posts: 17302 Location: So. Cal. Joined: February 9, 2002	In a room with walls you are listening within the reverbrant field and the SPL will not fall as you increase distance. Tre' Have Fun and Enjoy the Music "Still Working the Problem"

RE: How much of an amps wattage is used?, posted on December 2, 2020 at 18:33:57

rivervalley817

not to mention ceilings and floors!

seriously, so many people forget that if they're playing a system at any appreciable volume they're listening to the speaker AND the room, and everything in it ... it becomes a synergistic system

I recommend taking a GOOD set of headphones and two good subwoofers placed near field all tuned to one another for a revelatory experience that mostly eliminates the room ... it will change your perception of what sounds involving and 'realistic' in music playback ... then come back and expound on what amplification and speakers can do ... you'll probably be bummed out about what they can't do

with regards,

Thanks, posted on December 3, 2020 at 08:35:54
jimbill Audiophile Posts: 3050 Location: Texas Joined: May 31, 2004	That kind of puts in perspective. I don't listen anywhere near that level.

My amp's wattage is all new - nt, posted on December 3, 2020 at 10:35:04
AbeCollins Audiophile Posts: 46294 Location: USA Joined: June 22, 2001 Contributor Since: February 2, 2002	.

RE: Thanks, posted on December 3, 2020 at 13:50:00
Tre' Industry Professional Posts: 17302 Location: So. Cal. Joined: February 9, 2002	Remember there are peaks 15db or so above the average but even with that 93db is LOUD. Tre' Have Fun and Enjoy the Music "Still Working the Problem"

RE: Thanks, posted on December 3, 2020 at 14:08:05

wjernst
Audiophile

Posts: 6
Location: Virginia
Joined: December 3, 2020

I have 90 dB efficient speakers (Linton Heritage). My room is 15' x 15' with an 8' ceiling, but half is vaulted to 13'. It opens up into my dining room and kitchen. On most days, I only average about 60 dB listening levels, which actually fills the room with a very listenable sound. According to my meters on the McIntosh amp, I'm using only about 3 watts of power, with maybe 30 watts for a few small transients in the music. Being a condominium, I don't envision myself getting to 85 dB levels, but my system could get there without a sweat.

RE: How much of an amps wattage is used?, posted on December 8, 2020 at 00:08:37
pictureguy Audiophile Posts: 22597 Location: SoCal Joined: October 19, 2008	Over on EMOtive Lounge, I get a hard time when I tell somebody with 98db Klipsch they do NOT NEED a KW monoblok....... Replace the original 85db example with something mid-90s just to see how nutty some people are with gigantic amps.... At least I can point to my panels being low-80s as some justification for owning even the middle sized amps I DO own.... Too much is never enough

Amp/Preamp Asylum

How much of an amps wattage is used?

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