Choosing the perfect audio amplifier can be overwhelming given the large number of different types and technologies. I will help you understand some of the basic amplifier jargon terms. This knowledge will help you choose the perfect amplifier.
Some audio sources such as surround-sound receivers already come with a built-in audio amplifier. Using a separate amplifier, however, offers some advantages. One advantage is having more flexibility and being able to pick an amplifier that is best suited to drive a particular speaker. Some of today's mini amplifier models can be hidden virtually anywhere due to their small size.
Most people will look at amplifier wattage first when choosing an amplifier. Output wattage is the amount of power the amplifier is able to deliver to the speakers. Driving low-sensitivity speakers (sensitivity is expressed in dB/W) requires fairly high wattage. Also, driving outdoor speakers or speakers in a large room will require higher amplifier power. You shouldn't use an amplifier with significantly higher output power than your speakers can handle. Overdriving your speakers can do irreparable damage to your speakers.
However, amplifier wattage is not everything. Good sound quality is probably more important than raw power. A 20 to 50 Watt amp should be sufficient for most real-world applications.
There are two conventions for specifying amplifier wattage. The first one specifies how much power the amplifier is able to deliver continuously. That number is often called rms or continuous power. The second number is called peak or maximum power and tells how much the amp can deliver for short bursts. Typically you should select an amplifier based on rms power. However, make sure that the amplifier has sufficient headroom or peak power to avoid clipping of music signals.
Audio quality is just as important as having enough audio power and therefore you should also look at figures such as total harmonic distortion or THD. No amplifier is perfect. There will be some amount of signal distortion which is caused by the amplifier. The amount of distortion is expressed in percent or dB. A smaller distortion number means a lower distortion of the audio signal by the amplifier. The amount of distortion will be less than 0.05% for a high-quality amplifier. Consumer type amplifiers have higher distortion figures. Typical figures are up to 10% depending on the output power.
Signal-to-noise ratio is another amplifier characteristic. This number describes the amount of noise which the amplified will add to the audio. The figure is expressed in dB. Audiophile-grade amps will have an SNR of 100 dB or higher. Consumer-grade amps will have at least 80 dB signal-to-noise ratio.
The majority of today's amplifiers are based on a technology called 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 fairly small. Some of today's mini amplifiers are no larger than a deck of cards. However, when picking a Class-D (digital) amplifier, be sure that the amplifier has low distortion and a high signal-to-noise ratio.
Some audio sources such as surround-sound receivers already come with a built-in audio amplifier. Using a separate amplifier, however, offers some advantages. One advantage is having more flexibility and being able to pick an amplifier that is best suited to drive a particular speaker. Some of today's mini amplifier models can be hidden virtually anywhere due to their small size.
Most people will look at amplifier wattage first when choosing an amplifier. Output wattage is the amount of power the amplifier is able to deliver to the speakers. Driving low-sensitivity speakers (sensitivity is expressed in dB/W) requires fairly high wattage. Also, driving outdoor speakers or speakers in a large room will require higher amplifier power. You shouldn't use an amplifier with significantly higher output power than your speakers can handle. Overdriving your speakers can do irreparable damage to your speakers.
However, amplifier wattage is not everything. Good sound quality is probably more important than raw power. A 20 to 50 Watt amp should be sufficient for most real-world applications.
There are two conventions for specifying amplifier wattage. The first one specifies how much power the amplifier is able to deliver continuously. That number is often called rms or continuous power. The second number is called peak or maximum power and tells how much the amp can deliver for short bursts. Typically you should select an amplifier based on rms power. However, make sure that the amplifier has sufficient headroom or peak power to avoid clipping of music signals.
Audio quality is just as important as having enough audio power and therefore you should also look at figures such as total harmonic distortion or THD. No amplifier is perfect. There will be some amount of signal distortion which is caused by the amplifier. The amount of distortion is expressed in percent or dB. A smaller distortion number means a lower distortion of the audio signal by the amplifier. The amount of distortion will be less than 0.05% for a high-quality amplifier. Consumer type amplifiers have higher distortion figures. Typical figures are up to 10% depending on the output power.
Signal-to-noise ratio is another amplifier characteristic. This number describes the amount of noise which the amplified will add to the audio. The figure is expressed in dB. Audiophile-grade amps will have an SNR of 100 dB or higher. Consumer-grade amps will have at least 80 dB signal-to-noise ratio.
The majority of today's amplifiers are based on a technology called 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 fairly small. Some of today's mini amplifiers are no larger than a deck of cards. However, when picking a Class-D (digital) amplifier, be sure that the amplifier has low distortion and a high signal-to-noise ratio.
About the Author:
Gunter Fellbaum has been designing audio and electronic products for over a decade. You can find further information regarding t-amp models as well as power amplifier products from Amphony's website.
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