What Is Considered A Good Damping Factor?

[CapWKidd 10+ year member]

Looks like allot of amps are in the 200 range... I see D amps (if they even list the spec) around 50 .... So, at what point does the damping factor become so low you get poor bass control?

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[Etac 10+ year member]

i might be wrong but im pretty sure DF affects higher freq's more than lower

im sure it does have some effect on the lower ones as well but not as noticeable

 

[snouk dogg 10+ year member]

Remember those Audison SRX1 with switchable damping factor?

On the manual, it states:

"Damping factor 300 - this setting is best for under damped loudspeaker/enclosure systems (Q of 0.7 to 1), generally definable as reflex (vented) systems.

Keeps better control of the woofer under high power applications."

"Damping factor 70 - it is especially suitable for techno, electronica and club music and is especially usable for achieving high SPL scores. We suggest its use for over damped loudspeaker/enclosure systems (Q of 0.5 to 0.7), generally definable as accoustic suspension (sealed) systems."

Hope that helps.

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

i might be wrong but im pretty sure DF affects higher freq's more than lowerim sure it does have some effect on the lower ones as well but not as noticeable

DF affects low frequency response.

Slew rate affects high frequency response.

DF can generally be ignored as a spec of any real importance. The vast majority of modern solid state amplifiers will have adequate enough damping as to not audibly affect the frequency response. DF (and slew rate) isn't a "higher is better" spec.....once the system as adequate damping (or an adequate enough slew rate) that's it; going any higher will yield zero audible benefit or difference. This level of "adequate" for damping factor is generally considered to be ~20, though some suggest as high as 50 or as low as 10. But regardless, this is a range that almost all solid state amps will fall within. Also once you take all necessary variables into consideration (which aren't accounted for in manufacturer rated DF) seemingly large difference in two amp's DF turn out to be relatively small in reality.

About the only time DF becomes an issue is with true tube amplifiers (not hybrids as the majority of car audio "tube" amps are, which only have tubes on the preamps with a solid state output).

http://www.monstercable.com/mpc/stable/tech/A2412_Damping_Factor_Article.pdf

http://www.audioholics.com/education/amplifier-technology/damping-factor-effects-on-system-response/?searchterm=damping%20factor

http://zedaudio.com/Technical/ZedManual-GREYSCALE.pdf (page 9)