AudioNervosa
Systemic Development => Amplification and Preamplification => Topic started by: dflee on July 09, 2019, 07:01:19 AM
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I'm a complete novice when it comes to anything electric so am asking.
What makes a low wattage amp high current? And is a high wattage amp
high current in order to be high wattage or can you have a high wattage amp
with low current?
Just trying to figure something out. I've been told that a high current amp is good.
Don
ps: If this has been discussed before, please point me in that direction
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Watts = Volts x Amps(Current)
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I'm a complete novice when it comes to anything electric so am asking.
What makes a low wattage amp high current? And is a high wattage amp
high current in order to be high wattage or can you have a high wattage amp
with low current?
Just trying to figure something out. I've been told that a high current amp is good.
Don
ps: If this has been discussed before, please point me in that direction
Hi Don,
I believe many prefer higher current as linearity improves at lower current levels.
I say this because for just about any speaker, the limiting factor for current is the
signal voltage divided by the voice coil dc resistance, any inductor dc resistance, plus
speaker wire resistance and amplifier output resistance. Of course, there is inductance
with all resistances I just mentioned, so the current will be lower still.
What makes a low wattage amp high current is a combination of amplifier supply voltage,
power supply capacitance, and current that the output devices are safely capable of passing.
It is pretty difficult to have a high power amplifier with a low current rating, but it depends upon
what you mean by "low current" rating. I know that sounds like a cop out, but there are so many
variables to deal with. As the speaker impedance rises (say 16 ohms), the current requirement
lowers, yet with higher voltage amplifiers, high power can be obtained.
I hope this helps Don.
steve