Thd

[hatedonmostly 5,000+ posts]

I know it's not an indicator of what will sound better, but my question is this:

For an AQ 1200D:

Output Power 14.4V @ 1% THD 510X1 @ 4 ohm,870X1 @ 2 ohm,

1200X1 @1 ohm

Output Power 14.4V @ 5% THD 1470X1 @ 1 ohm

So the power handling increases as the THD increases. Obviously it won't sound as well as 5%. Is that 5% just distortion or clipping also?

Now, the specs for a Hifonics 1210D are 1200x1 @ 1 ohm @ 0.08 THD. Does this mean at 1% THD it can handle more power? 1% THD would be pretty much unnoticeable on music, so technically wouldn't that mean it can handle more power than it is rated for (assuming the rated power is accurate). (Note: I don't see how this amp can put out rated at all, however. I doubt mine was.)

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[assassyn 10+ year member]

5% thd sounds really high to me, that is clipping range .

My kicker zx1500.1 is only 1.5% thd

my home amps are .02% thd.

 

[PaulD 10+ year member]

So the power handling increases as the THD increases. Obviously it won't sound as well as 5%. Is that 5% just distortion or clipping also?

Other way around, the THD increases as power output increases. They are just rating it at a high distortion figure to get higher output levels. That probably includes some pretty heavy clipping.

Now, the specs for a Hifonics 1210D are 1200x1 @ 1 ohm @ 0.08 THD. Does this mean at 1% THD it can handle more power? 1% THD would be pretty much unnoticeable on music, so technically wouldn't that mean it can handle more power than it is rated for (assuming the rated power is accurate). (Note: I don't see how this amp can put out rated at all, however. I doubt mine was.)

Amps don't "handle" power, they "output" it thru the speaker outputs. Yes, at 1% THD, that amp will put out more power - assuming the power supply section can keep up. Most people cannot hear distortion levels below 1% on a mid/tweet amp or 3-5% on a sub amp.