|
Amp/Preamp Asylum Looking for a new Amp or Preamp? If you're after tubes, post over here. |
|
|
|
Amp/Preamp Asylum Looking for a new Amp or Preamp? If you're after tubes, post over here. |
|
In Reply to: More Power Equals Better Sound posted by AudioSoul on October 20, 2011 at 22:20:48:
I would agree that your listening observation makes 100% sense. All amplifiers have a voltage/current/phase limitation that results in a "safe operating area", or area where the actual music current/voltage/phase requirements can be met without appreciable distortion. A larger amp will obviously have a larger area (all other things being equal). The result will be that you can listen at higher undistorted levels. The average power may not go up much at all, but if all the peaks are contained within the safe operating area, the sound will be much better.
I would even go further and suggest a quality amp operated within this safe area will have no sound. It only has sound when peaks start to stray outside the safe area, and distortion occurs. It is the sound of this distortion that gives the amp a "sound". While musical instrument amps (guitar in particular) are designed to operate in this area to intentionally get distortion and "sound", I would suggest this practice has no place in hi fi audio reproduction. The amp should never color the sound.
In summary I would suggest too much power is not a problem, or a benefit, but enough power (to prevent any form of distortion) is a valid requirement, and the system can easily be improved with sufficient power, compared to underpowered.
Ron
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
Follow Ups
- RE: More Power Equals Better Sound - Ron AKA 09:05:18 10/30/11 (0)
Top of Page ]
[ Contact Us ]
[ Support/Wish List ]
[ Copyright © 2025, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]