Depends on hwo the gain spec is specified. Sometimes it's how many mV in to get 1 watt into an 8 ohm resistoo

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Posted by Timbo in Oz (A) on July 13, 2012 at 20:37:02

In Reply to: Basic Amplifier Question: Gain vs. Watts posted by Alan A on July 13, 2012 at 19:23:10:

Sometimes its a MV figure for the full rated output into a resistor without giving a db figure for gain. So gain figures are not always written to the '1watt out/8ohms' standard.

And no a gain figure on its own can't tell you how much power the amp delivers or how powerful it will sound in your system.

Viz. My two rebuilt LEAK Stereo 20s were originally spec'd as 125mV!!!!! in for 16 watts into 16 or 8 ohms at 1khz off the relevant output taps, with a few watts less into 20 Hz and 20 kHz. They have at least 3db less gain than that since the rebuilds. And they still give 16watts but from 20 to 20kHz and sound a lot more powerful.

Noting that two dissimilar amps with very different power outputs can still have the same gain and will produce the same output power in watts (or volts) into the same load, when fed the same size signal in mV or V.

Mind you they may still have different slew rates, decay, distortion spectra, damping factor and tonal balance.

Warmest

Tim Bailey

Skeptical Measurer & Audio Scrounger

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Basic Amplifier Question: Gain vs. Watts - Alan A 19:23:10 07/13/12 (12)

I figured it out - Alan A 11:29:49 07/15/12 (3)

You've got some of it right. - jeffreybehr 15:32:22 07/15/12 (2)

RE: You've got some of it right. - Alan A 17:18:05 07/15/12 (1)

RE: You've got some of it right. - Palustris 09:47:28 07/16/12 (0)

RE: Basic Amplifier Question: Gain vs. Watts - roscoeiii 10:07:15 07/15/12 (1)

RE: Basic Amplifier Question: Gain vs. Watts - mls-stl 11:07:53 07/15/12 (0)

RE: Basic Amplifier Question: Gain vs. Watts - mls-stl 07:44:01 07/14/12 (4)

RE: Basic Amplifier Question: Gain vs. Watts - Alan A 20:42:14 07/14/12 (2)

RE: Basic Amplifier Question: Gain vs. Watts - AbeCollins 10:11:15 07/15/12 (0)

RE: Basic Amplifier Question: Gain vs. Watts - mls-stl 06:20:49 07/15/12 (0)

Excellent and practical explanation !! -nt - AbeCollins 19:51:11 07/14/12 (0)

Depends on hwo the gain spec is specified. Sometimes it's how many mV in to get 1 watt into an 8 ohm resistoo - Timbo in Oz 20:37:02 07/13/12 (0)

Follow Ups

Depends on hwo the gain spec is specified. Sometimes it's how many mV in to get 1 watt into an 8 ohm resistoo - Timbo in Oz 20:37:02 07/13/12 (0)

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