Amp experts come in plz

[garychurch84 10+ year member]

I'm not so if you interpret it that way, it's not my doing.

**** shizzzon stop annoying people lol

 

[shizzzon 10+ year member]

Gary done brought out the Asterisks. It's serious, lol.

 

[peterletran 10+ year member]

If you guys are done with the pmsing competition, can we get back to the original post? I too have a DB drive amp, and I'm concerned I'm not getting the power that the manufacturer is claiming. Even if it is "2500 watts" PEAK (a7-2500.1), I feel as though I am not getting that type of power whatsoever. I had a Memphis 1000watt that kicked harder than my DB drive on the same dual K9 12" speakers. I'm new to measuring actual output, and I do believe there is some type of science behind the clamp testing. I'm almost certain my power doesn't drop below 12volts, but I haven't hooked up any meters to monitor it. Even though the system still makes a decent amount of decibels, I don't want to put faith in a manufacturer that botches their numbers. I also hooked up a JL w7 13.5 to it, and the amp hardly moves that speaker. I smell something fishy going on here, and I just want to know some actual numbers.

 

[Wolfie62]

Volt Amps (VA) is commonly used in rating power transformers. There is a reason for that. But that is typically at 60 hz, so one variable is made non-variable. VA is not a suitable power rating for a power amplifier, since that is not the job of an amp. Unless, of course, you want to use your power amp for a welding power supply. How about rating speaker power handling by VA? Would be just as suitable, right? Wrong. For many of the same reasons.

Having said all that, if one insists on using the VA method, then AT LEAST use a signal source of one frequency from a CD or USB source. THEN clamp on the ammeter and use a VOM. THEN you can standardize your power output to a known standard.

Fact is, I used to do that years ago when building/testing my own amps. Not fullproof, but it does give a measurement to set standards by, for power output only. It in no way tells you how your amp SOUNDS.