----Amplifier Sound Quality-----

[schackel 10+ year member]

So i am finally going to buy a amp for some components.

I am wondering what kind of things influence the sound quality of the power a amp puts out. I want to run some nice speakers but i know with out a good amp the quality speakers are kinda worthless.

so what things do yo look for in a amps specs to know it will put out clean power?

I assume that Frequency response, signal-to-noise ratio, and Total Harmonic Distortion all play roles in this but what is a good range to look for in each of these for good sound quality?

thanks

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[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

I am wondering what kind of things influence the sound quality of the power a amp puts out.

Nothing that's going to change significantly over 99% of the 12VDC amps you'll run into.

 

[midnightg35x 10+ year member]

Frequency response should be the same for virtually all amps (besides monoblock class D sub amps) of around 20-20000Hz. THD+N at rated power is probably the most important because by definition that is a measure of distortion + noise.

 

[rc10mike 10+ year member]

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/popcorn.gif.32dd9e22fd77e77bc3c907062768fcd2.gif

 

[ciaonzo 5,000+ posts]

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/popcorn.gif.32dd9e22fd77e77bc3c907062768fcd2.gif

I'm staying out of it this time.

 

[cx-7heaven 10+ year member]

So i am finally going to buy a amp for some components.
I am wondering what kind of things influence the sound quality of the power a amp puts out. I want to run some nice speakers but i know with out a good amp the quality speakers are kinda worthless.

so what things do yo look for in a amps specs to know it will put out clean power?

I assume that Frequency response, signal-to-noise ratio, and Total Harmonic Distortion all play roles in this but what is a good range to look for in each of these for good sound quality?

thanks

I'm not going to teach you everything you need to know here, as I dont know it all either. However, the amp will have much less to do with how it sounds than the speakers do. Just get a known good quality amp that puts out the right power, and you will be fine.

 

[gunz4me2 10+ year member]

I've come to the dramatic realization that changing individual drivers has a far greater impact than changing most amplifiers. When it comes to the amplifier that reproduces most of the musical content, i.e. the mids and highs, I look for the following:

1. High signal to noise ratio

2. 20 Hz to 20 kHz with +/- 1 db response across the whole spectrum

3. a reputable company

4. Class ab with certain exceptions

Also, any amplifier that does something more than amplifying the signal is a royal POS!

 

[tRiGgEr 5,000+ posts]

Simple answer, just buy a quality product and you wont have to worry.

 

[FJF 10+ year member]

I'm staying out of it this time.

Oddly enough, I'm thinking about jumping in. I'm home with the flu.

 

[chaunb3400 10+ year member]

Oddly enough, I'm thinking about jumping in. I'm home with the flu.

Don't its a trap //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[FJF 10+ year member]

so what things do yo look for in a amps specs to know it will put out clean power?
I assume that Frequency response, signal-to-noise ratio, and Total Harmonic Distortion all play roles in this but what is a good range to look for in each of these for good sound quality?

Largely, spec sheets are meaningless. They're sales tools. Witness THD that says nothing. If you want to find a good amplifier, you have to listen to it, and I don't mean on a soundboard. This does pose some difficulty, as car audio shops don't lend out gear. In my case, I bought a bunch of amplifiers over time, listened to them, and chose what worked for my needs.

 

[hockeytoker 10+ year member]

I'm not going to teach you everything you need to know here, as I dont know it all either. However, the amp will have much less to do with how it sounds than the speakers do. Just get a known good quality amp that puts out the right power, and you will be fine.

that! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[BassAddictJ 5,000+ posts]

buy my Audison LRx 4.300 //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[th3disturbed1 10+ year member]

buy a quality amp made by a reputable company

/thread

 

[FJF 10+ year member]

buy a quality amp made by a reputable company/thread

Do you really think you're qualified to close the thread with your advice? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif