amps signal-to-noise ratio

[4uha8ers 10+ year member]

what does the signal to noise ratio have to do with a amps sound will amps with higher s/n ratios sound cleaner then amps with lower s/n ratios just to compare a hifonics hercules-xx has a s/n ratio of 98db & a directed 1500d has a s/n ratio of 80db which will produce cleaner sound need experts opinion

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[n2audio 5,000+ posts]

http://www.bcae1.com/sig2nois.htm

80 is more than sufficient for a sub amp.

Knowing Directed it's probably rated on a much tougher scale than Hifonics anyway.

 

[Kagymp5 10+ year member]

But, doesnt the cea-2006 certified amps have the same technique used between companys to check S/N just like they do for wattage? Or am i talking out of my ***?

 

[Kagymp5 10+ year member]

Yes ... but that doesn't mean ALL amps are rated using CEA-2006 standards (i.e. HiFonics) ...

yeah i knew that not all brands used it but i didnt look online to see if Hifonics used the new standards or not so my mistake

 

[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

It's the CEA 2006 compliance that made me steer way clear of the late-model eXcelon amps.

Even the Class A/B 2 and 4-channel units has a S/N ratio of

Not so crucial for a monoblock Class D but for something you'd be driving your interior with? Not so good...

 

[BodegaBay 10+ year member]

Maybe it's me but I thought that S/N ratings were advertised much higher before CEA standards. Now I'm seeing a lot of

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

It's the CEA 2006 compliance that made me steer way clear of the late-model eXcelon amps.
Even the Class A/B 2 and 4-channel units has a S/N ratio of

Not so crucial for a monoblock Class D but for something you'd be driving your interior with? Not so good...

Even in the higher frequency spectrum it's highly unlikely the S/N ratio will make an audible difference.

 

[n2audio 5,000+ posts]

listen to the recordings on the bcae1 site (use headphones).

notice the difference between 20 and 50, and imagine doubling that difference again from 50-80. 80 dB would be nearly, if not completely inaudible, and that's using tones. That much noise behind music would equate to complete silence.