a beginner amp question

[ismelllikepoop 10+ year member]

Sorry I have so many amp questions, i just dont know if i need a new one or not. What does having a higher rated amp do besides having a cleaner sound and lower noise floor? Is there a difference in sound between a 100x4 amp and a 50x4 amp if you listen to them at the same volume besides possibly a little less distortion? I currently have an infinity 54a kappa amp rated at 50x4, but every place i went to said that while it is usuable, it is not a very good amp. It gets loud enough for me, but I have to crank the volume near the max to get there (there is no audible distortion tho). Any input is appreciated.

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[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

What does having a higher rated amp do besides having a cleaner sound and lower noise floor?

Well, being a high power amp really doesn't have much if anything to do with cleaner sound or a lower noise floor. Some of the "great" older amps were no more than 25w/channel (old Monolithics). A lot home audio people use no more than 1 or 2 watts (and very efficient speakers) //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif I run horns in my car, where no more than 10w is really required for excellent output levels.

What's the difference between a higher rated amp and a lower rated amp?

Power output.

Is there a difference in sound between a 100x4 amp and a 50x4 amp if you listen to them at the same volume besides possibly a little less distortion?

Well, there is this thing called "headroom", in which people run higher powered amps at lower power levels to allow for extra "room" for large dynamic peaks and such. Is there really an audible difference? Not really, atleast not a difference that most people could hear.....

I currently have an infinity 54a kappa amp rated at 50x4, but every place i went to said that while it is usuable, it is not a very good amp. It gets loud enough for me, but I have to crank the volume near the max to get there (there is no audible distortion tho). Any input is appreciated.

As long as it works for you, that's all that matters. I think sometimes people underestimate how much 50w can do //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif That amp isn't bad at all....and as long as the gain is properly set, there is nothing wrong with going up to 75%-90% of max volume (depending on the headunit, some HU's will start to clip around 75%, some can go higher without clipping)

 

[ismelllikepoop 10+ year member]

thanks for the detailed response, i was hoping not to spend more money. i read somewhere, probably on this forum, that using a higher rated amp would increase bass response etc, is that what you mean by dynamic range room? The whole amp creating better bass response didnt really make sense to me personally, but im also a newbie

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

i read somewhere, probably on this forum, that using a higher rated amp would increase bass response etc, is that what you mean by dynamic range room?

Honestly, I'd have to read the context of that statement to really know why it was made //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[ismelllikepoop 10+ year member]

Honestly, I'd have to read the context of that statement to really know why it was made //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

I guess quotes like this one:

People I know are running 50-70rms and are loving them, 100+ they REALLY sing and midbass shines-

Doesn't a higher wattage rated amp just have the capability to get louder, and not necessarily sound different at the same volume (perhaps a little cleaner bc of less strain)?

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

I guess quotes like this oneeople I know are running 50-70rms and are loving them, 100+ they REALLY sing and midbass shines-

Sounds like that statement was directed towards a specific speaker

Doesn't a higher wattage rated amp just have the capability to get louder, and not necessarily sound different at the same volume (perhaps a little cleaner bc of less strain)?

If the extra power was used.....yeah, the higher power amp would basically just allow the speaker to play louder. That doesn't mean every speaker will actually be able handle the added power though //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif