Audio amplifiers are available in a flood of diverse technologies and types. Choosing the perfect model for a specific application seems to be a overwhelming task. I will clarify some basic amplifier terms and aid you choose the right type regardless of what your particular use might be.
An audio amplifier will connect your audio source with your speakers by converting the fairly weak source signal into a powerful adequate signal to drive your loudspeakers.
Some audio sources such as surround-sound receivers already come with a built-in audio amplifier. Utilizing a separate amplifier, however, offers some advantages. One benefit is having more versatility and being able to select an amplifier that is best appropriate to drive a particular speaker. Some of today’s mini amplifier models are small adequate to conceal them almost anywhere.
Most people will look at amplifier wattage first when picking an amplifier. Output wattage is the level of energy the amplifier is capable to deliver to the speakers. Driving low-sensitivity speakers (sensitivity is shown in dB/W) requires fairly high wattage. In addition, driving outdoor speakers or speakers in a large room will require higher amplifier power. Don't overdrive your speakers however since this can irreparably damage your speakers.
Still, a 20 to 50 Watt amplifier will give you more than adequate power in most situations so don't be overly concerned about the rated amplifier wattage.
There are two conventions for specifying amplifier wattage. The first one specifies how much power the amplifier is able to supply constantly. That number is frequently labeled rms or continuous power. The next number is titled peak or maximum power and tells how much the amp can supply for short bursts. Normally you ought to select an amplifier based on rms power. Though, make sure that the amplifier has sufficient headroom or peak power to eliminate clipping of music signals.
There are other parameters that are more important than wattage when choosing an amplifier. One important parameter is known as total harmonic distortion or THD in short. No amplifier is ideal. There will be some level of signal distortion which is created by the amplifier. The amount of distortion is expressed in percent or dB. The amount of distortion varies between amplifier types. A smaller distortion means higher audio quality. Audiophile-grade amps will have distortion figures of at most 0.05% whilst consumer-grade amps have distortion of up to 10%.
An additional specification is referred to as signal-to-noise ratio. This number specifies how much undesired components such as hum and noise the amplifier will add to the audio signal. Higher-end amplifiers will attain a signal-to-noise ratio of at least 100 dB whilst consumer grade amplifiers will usually have a signal ratio of at least 80 dB.
The bulk of today’s amplifiers are based on a technology known as Class-D which offers higher power efficiency than amplifiers based an Class-A or Class-AB technologies. High efficiency means that little power is wasted as heat which can make the amplifier quite small. High power efficiency has led to the development of very small amplifiers. Some of these most recent mini amplifiers are no bigger than a deck of cards. Many Class-D amplifiers, though, have higher distortion and a lower signal-to-noise ratio than Class-A or Class-AB amplifiers. Be certain to look closely at these numbers when choosing a Class-D type amplifier.
Author Resource:
Gunter Fellbaum has been engineering audio and electronic products for over 10 years. You can find additional information about audio amplifier technologies and mini amplifier products at Amphony's website.
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